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Old Jul 29, 2013, 5:44 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: supine
Do I have entitlement to access the First Class Terminal (FCT) in FRA?
- Yes, if you are departing from FRA on a flight operated by LH/LX/OS, and at least one of the following is true:
  • The class of service on your departing flight from FRA is F.
  • You have arrived on a confirmed F segment on LH or LX metal, on the same day, even if the ticket of that F segment is different from the ticket of the segment from FRA.
  • You will be departing on a confirmed F segment on LH or LX metal, on the same day from a connecting station, and the ticket of that F segment is the same ticket as the segment from FRA. Separate tickets means you are not entitled to FCT access.
  • You hold HON status.
  • You are invited as a guest by someone who meets the above criteria, and you meet the requirements of a guest as discussed later in this FAQ.


But the LH website contradicts the above:"Access to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport is only possible with a confirmed same-day departing First Class flight on Lufthansa or SWISS. HON Circle Members may access the First Class Terminal with a same-day departing flight on Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines. Access to the First Class Terminal is not permitted for arriving passengers."

- The above has been on the web site for some time, and does not appear to be the actual policy, as many here attest from personal experience.

What are the opening times of the FCT?
- 0530 to 2200 daily

Where is it located?
- About 200 metres to the west of Terminal 1

If arriving in FRA on a LH operated flight in F, will I get a car transfer from the arriving flight?
- Ordinarily, no. However, if you hold HON status, you're arriving / departing from an apron position and your onward flight is operated by LH / LX / OS, LH aims to send a car to meet you from your arriving aircraft. See for more info. NB If you do get the car service on arrival, you will be driven to the main arrivals area and not the FCT, as this does not offer immigration and customs facilities for inbound passengers.

How do I get to the FCT in FRA?
- The First Class Terminal at Frankfurt is located close to Terminal 1. You can reach it by car via the access road to Terminal 1: the entrance to the First Class Terminal is off this road, approximately 200 metres before you get to Terminal 1. When arriving on public transport, the First Class Terminal is only a few minutes’ walk from Terminal 1.

Locations of Lufthansa lounges at Frankfurt Airport

The FCT is a departure terminal/lounge and is not meant for transfer pax. Transfer pax can use the FCLs located in the main terminal building which offer the same amenities as the FCT. There is no transfer or shuttle to the FCT. You can walk to the FCT, though.

If on departure level take the escalator down to arrival, walk out of the terminal and turn left. You will pass the bus shuttles to the airport hotels and taxis. Cross the street - whilst waking under the access road above to departures - you will see taxi divers' coffee shop to the right - and more taxis parked to your left. You will see the First Class Terminal across the street. Cross the street in front of the coffee shop, turn right and the First Class Terminal is on your left. Go through the automatic doors and take the elevator to the main reception area.

Pictorial guide may be found here.

If the FCT is not meant to be a transfer lounge then why do some people use it as such?
- Aside from the experience, there are practical reasons for you to consider using the FCT for a connection:
  • If you have a long layover, the FCT will be less crowded than the FCL B (but more crowded than the even newer FCL A by A13).
  • If your connection requires clearing passport controls, it is faster to do it at the FCT where you will surrender your passport upon admittance and get it back moments before you are driven to your plane. Presumably if immigration has questions they will deal with it while you are lounging in the FCT versus waiting until you depart for your plane. Note that permanent residents of the USA who are heading back to the USA from FRA or a connecting airport should also surrender their green card, but gently but firmly request it be returned quickly. The German immigration people don't need your green card, and LH only needs it to enter into the passenger record, so there is no reason why your personal assistant cannot return it to you soon after.
  • You do not have to waste time walking from the FCL to a gate position that is potentially more distant from the lounge than your arriving gate, or worse yet, is actually a bus to a plane parked at an apron position in the middle of the tarmac. You will leave the FCT after boarding starts and a driver will take you to the plane wherever it is.
  • If your plane is parked at a jetway, you will be whisked to the front of the line of pax boarding in the jetway, saving even more time.
  • If your connection requires going through security, you are guaranteed to have a much faster and gentler screening at the FCT than going through security in the main terminals, and if you are carrying valuables, the FCT checkpoint eliminates all angst about theft or forgetting them.


How many guests am I permitted in the FCT?
- One, assuming a lower cabin class and that they will be travelling on the same flight as you. If they also are confirmed to travel in F, they too will be entitled to a guest, meeting the same criteria
- Anyone with a confirmed segment in F is also entitled to bring in their spouse/partner and/or children, provided they are departing on the same flight, irrespective of the cabin class they are travelling in

I’m arriving on LH/LX/OS C and departing TG/SQ/etc. F, do I get in to the F terminal?
- No, but you will have access LH Senator (Star Alliance Gold) Lounges which are designated as First Class Lounges for Star Alliance carriers.

I'm arriving on TG/SQ/etc. F and departing on LH, Swiss, Austrian C do I get in to the FCT?
- Not unless you hold HON status, otherwise you will have access LH Business Lounges unlesss you hold Star Alliance Gold status and access to LH Senator (Star Alliance Gold) Lounges. Certain airlines (e.g. SQ) have arrangements for arriving F passengers to access LH Senator Lounges regardless of their status.

I’m arriving on any carrier in any cabin class and departing same day on LH/LX F do I get in to the FCT?
- Yes.

I'm arriving on LH / LX F and departing same day on another carrier in any cabin class, will I have access to the FCT?
- Yes, if your onward flight is operated by LH, Swiss or Austrian Airlines Group. Otherwise, you will only have access to the LH First Class Lounges or (if eligible) the lounge of the airline operating your onward flight.

What is the minimum connect time between flights in order to use the FCT?
- 90 mins is recommended, however some have observed that 60 mins is acceptable, while others still have got away with just 20 mins. Bear in mind, if in transit, that you will need to factor in the time between arrival and departure

Do I need to tip the staff in the FCT?
- According to LH policy, FCT staff are not allowed to accept gratuities.

What's the food like in the FCT?
- Well above the standard of anything you might expect from any airline in the air, a cut above lounge food of any other airline and equivalent to a smart restaurant in any major city

VAT Refund
- Yes, but there is a $75 trip fee and CC refund only.

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The FRA F/HON First Class Terminal FCT FAQ

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Old Mar 4, 2019, 7:25 am
  #4456  
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
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I was very irritated to have to take a bus but then when I checked into FCL B I realized that I didn’t go through security again and all was good. Then situation turned south when I learned the LHR gate was on the other B pier as opposed to just below the FCL as usual.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 8:11 am
  #4457  
 
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Originally Posted by sophialite
I was very irritated to have to take a bus but then when I checked into FCL B I realized that I didn’t go through security again and all was good. Then situation turned south when I learned the LHR gate was on the other B pier as opposed to just below the FCL as usual.
I don't really understand: There are many non-Schengen gates (all close to the FCL and no need to clear security or a passport check) and a few Schengen B-gates that are never used for LHR-flights. So where exactly did the situation turn south?
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 8:22 am
  #4458  
 
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It was a 10 minute walk instead of a 2 minute walk. The problem is that LHR flights have a mini-passport check. And if you’ve taken a bulkhead seat, you need to board early even with priority or you risk running out of overhead space. Basically this means I have to leave the FCL for mini check 30 minutes before boarding to get the quick stamp, go back and then come back early enough to still get front of line.

in the grand scheme of the universe, a very minor inconvenience, but definitely an inconvenience compared to the departure gate being just below the lounge (B23, 24, 25 I think).
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 8:52 am
  #4459  
 
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Originally Posted by sophialite
in the grand scheme of the universe, a very minor inconvenience
I agree

But thanks for the explanation and I do see your point that it could be better.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 9:01 am
  #4460  
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Originally Posted by worldclubber


Hate buses, too. But on a windy and rainy day, it can be better than the walk to the FCT, which involves going landside and airside again.
A fit Young Man like yourself, it’s a walk in the park & you can stay undercover thanks to the roadway for 99.5% of the way.
Global321 and schlang like this.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 9:05 am
  #4461  
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Originally Posted by sophialite
. And if you’ve taken a bulkhead seat, you need to board early even with priority or you risk running out of overhead space.
This bit is really annoying, fortunately as HON the FA’s are usually reminded ( if necessary) by the driver from FCT they need to find somewhere for my carryon
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 9:25 am
  #4462  
 
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Jfk - muc (lh f) - fra - bkk (tg f)

I am flying JFK - MUC on LH F, connecting to FRA and then from FRA to BKK on TG F. Will I have access to FCT in FRA using my MUC F ticket? I assume I should be able to access First Class lounge in both MUC and FRA (is that the case), but was curious about FCT. Thanks
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 9:45 am
  #4463  
 
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Originally Posted by chris63


This bit is really annoying, fortunately as HON the FA’s are usually reminded ( if necessary) by the driver from FCT they need to find somewhere for my carryon
They should do that for any bulkhead passenger. Or, alternatively, let me put my handbag in the seat next to me and wrap a seatbelt around it. The FAs occasionally let me do it depending on how strictly they interpret the rules.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 9:53 am
  #4464  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Originally Posted by ekartash
I am flying JFK - MUC on LH F, connecting to FRA and then from FRA to BKK on TG F. Will I have access to FCT in FRA using my MUC F ticket? I assume I should be able to access First Class lounge in both MUC and FRA (is that the case), but was curious about FCT. Thanks

FCL yes, as a same day arriving F class passenger, assuming that your MUC-FRA ticket is on the same reservation as JFK-MUC. FCT not, as that is only for departing or connecting pax.
As per TG F, I believe it's only LH SEN you'll get, sadly.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 9:57 am
  #4465  
 
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Originally Posted by Fabo.sk
FCL yes, as a same day arriving F class passenger, assuming that your MUC-FRA ticket is on the same reservation as JFK-MUC. FCT not, as that is only for departing or connecting pax.
As per TG F, I believe it's only LH SEN you'll get, sadly.
Do you mean I'll get FCL access in MUC but not in FRA? I thought I could use my JFK - MUC ticket (same day arrival) for access to FCL in FRA.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 10:11 am
  #4466  
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
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Originally Posted by ekartash
Do you mean I'll get FCL access in MUC but not in FRA? I thought I could use my JFK - MUC ticket (same day arrival) for access to FCL in FRA.

If your JFK--MUC and MUC--FRA are on the same ticket, you'll get access to the FCLs in FRA. If they are not, you won't. In any case you won't have access to the FCT.

You will have access to the FCLs in MUC.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 10:13 am
  #4467  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Originally Posted by NYC1
If your JFK--MUC and MUC--FRA are on the same ticket, you'll get access to the FCLs in FRA. If they are not, you won't. In any case you won't have access to the FCT.

You will have access to the FCLs in MUC.
Thank you. Yep JFK-MUC-FRA-BKK are all on one ticket. Appreciate it.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 12:05 pm
  #4468  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Originally Posted by ekartash
Thank you. Yep JFK-MUC-FRA-BKK are all on one ticket. Appreciate it.
FRA-BKK is also on the same ticket?

In that case you might have access to the FCT though I'm not 100% sure. Worth a try if you have enough time.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 12:21 pm
  #4469  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
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Originally Posted by Fabo.sk
FRA-BKK is also on the same ticket?

In that case you might have access to the FCT though I'm not 100% sure. Worth a try if you have enough time.
Since they don't drive you to a TG flight from the FCT there is no access to the FCT in FRA, but to one of the FCLs.
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Old Mar 4, 2019, 1:10 pm
  #4470  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Originally Posted by Fabo.sk
FRA-BKK is also on the same ticket?

In that case you might have access to the FCT though I'm not 100% sure. Worth a try if you have enough time.
No access, strictly for LH Group flights only.
worldclubber is offline  


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