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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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Old Sep 23, 2019, 11:54 pm
  #4711  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Originally Posted by worldclubber
(Almost) anything beats the stupid idea of a Grappa bar at the A lounge. The reason must be that it is a lot cheaper for the caterer than the champagne bar.
Yes, beverages are not the strong point at ZRH FCL’s ..... certainly saving them money, never seen anyone actually partake of the Grappa.
chris63 is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2019, 12:29 am
  #4712  
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 8
Hi all! I have a question regarding access to FCT:

I have a ticket that's booked as: KBP-ZRH-HKG, with the ZRH-HKG being in LX F.
With a separately booked ticket departing the same day as ZRH-HKG, will I be admitted to LH FCT at FRA if my ticket is FRA-ZRH-KBP?

So my ticket would be (parenthesis means same ticket)
(FRA-ZRH-KBP)-(KBP-ZRH-HKG) all in same day!
K9TSP is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2019, 1:48 am
  #4713  
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
Posts: 123
According to the rules you only have access if it's on one ticket. In practicality you might experience a different handling.
Fireflyer05 is offline  
Old Sep 24, 2019, 1:56 am
  #4714  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 286
No chance that you will be allowed in - will result in a walk of shame.
MultiFlyer is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2019, 1:31 am
  #4715  
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 149
About to book ZRH-FRA-MUC-MEX on aeroplan miles, short flights in J, MUC-MEX in F.

LX has confirmed via Twitter DM I’d get access to LX F lounge in the morning of a same day long haul in LH or LX F.

In FRA, I understand the FCT is still allowing usage as a connecting lounge so I shouldn’t have problems there, right? Would really like to try the car transfer 🙂
tajee165 is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2019, 1:39 am
  #4716  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
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If all the flights in on same booking, then yes, you can also use the FCT in Frankfurt.
Enjoy!
Raul_R is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2019, 3:12 am
  #4717  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
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Originally Posted by tajee165
About to book ZRH-FRA-MUC-MEX on aeroplan miles, short flights in J, MUC-MEX in F.

LX has confirmed via Twitter DM I’d get access to LX F lounge in the morning of a same day long haul in LH or LX F.

In FRA, I understand the FCT is still allowing usage as a connecting lounge so I shouldn’t have problems there, right? Would really like to try the car transfer 🙂
Yes, on one through ticket you would have access to all the FCL’s & FCT.
chris63 is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2019, 12:36 pm
  #4718  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: ZRH
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Posts: 318
Originally Posted by MultiFlyer
No chance that you will be allowed in - will result in a walk of shame.
At least FCL A/Z, B access? Have the same routing in mind.
lx343 is offline  
Old Oct 5, 2019, 4:05 pm
  #4719  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: USA, France
Programs: LH HON*****, AF/KL Gold; HHilton Diamond; Marriott Gold; IHG Platinium; Avis PresClub
Posts: 934
Originally Posted by lx343
At least FCL A/Z, B access? Have the same routing in mind.
No access to FCT or FCL according to the rules on the FRA - ZRH - KBP legs. Same is valid for ZRH.
Reality may be different.
athome is offline  
Old Oct 12, 2019, 5:21 pm
  #4720  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,345
Hi, I am flying on one ticket from US-FRA in LH F and connecting onwards to a non-schengen EU destination in LH J (this flight does not offer F). My connection time is 2.5hrs.

If I clear customs in FRA, would I be able to access FCT?
nas6034 is offline  
Old Oct 12, 2019, 5:53 pm
  #4721  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Australia
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Originally Posted by nas6034
Hi, I am flying on one ticket from US-FRA in LH F and connecting onwards to a non-schengen EU destination in LH J (this flight does not offer F). My connection time is 2.5hrs.

If I clear customs in FRA, would I be able to access FCT?
Yes
cbourl is offline  
Old Oct 12, 2019, 6:16 pm
  #4722  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,345
Originally Posted by cbourl
Yes
Thank you.
nas6034 is offline  
Old Oct 12, 2019, 6:49 pm
  #4723  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Australia
Programs: LHSen UA1K VAGold QFSilv HHon Diamond ShangrilaJade Radisson Gold SPG Gold Marriott Gold Hertz Presi
Posts: 1,049
Originally Posted by nas6034
Thank you.
No problems
If you have time id quicky hopo into one of the F lounges B Gates or A gates before the trek t oFCT FCT is a bit more croweded usually than the F Lounges
cbourl is offline  
Old Oct 13, 2019, 12:25 am
  #4724  
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Originally Posted by nas6034
Hi, I am flying on one ticket from US-FRA in LH F and connecting onwards to a non-schengen EU destination in LH J (this flight does not offer F). My connection time is 2.5hrs.

If I clear customs in FRA, would I be able to access FCT?
You do not have to physically clear customs, just walk though the green lane if you have nothing to declare, you will need to do passport control as you exit FRA & enter Schengen, on your way to FCT, which you can use on such an F connection.
chris63 is offline  
Old Oct 13, 2019, 2:44 am
  #4725  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Global
Posts: 5,998
Originally Posted by chris63
You do not have to physically clear customs, just walk though the green lane if you have nothing to declare, you will need to do passport control as you exit FRA & enter Schengen, on your way to FCT, which you can use on such an F connection.
Isn't the green lane = customs nothing to declare lane?
Global321 is offline  


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