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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 Jan 9, 2022, 10:21 am
  #5236  
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Originally Posted by NYC1
As usual, chris63 is spot on.
Many thanks, sent you the cash 💰 by P.M.

Plus, the drinks are on me at FCT
MichielR and DoctorORD like this.
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Old Jan 9, 2022, 11:52 am
  #5237  
 
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Thumbs up

Originally Posted by chris63
Wow, that’s a big change, requiring a 3rd vaccination 💉, booster
The German government decided that a 3rd vaccination is necessary enter restaurants . That's the reason for the change at the lounges.
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Old Jan 9, 2022, 2:20 pm
  #5238  
 
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Originally Posted by chris63
Wow, that’s a big change, requiring a 3rd vaccination 💉, booster
or double vaccination and test (which most destinations require anyway)
chris63 and DoctorORD like this.
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Old Jan 9, 2022, 2:38 pm
  #5239  
 
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Originally Posted by GlobalNomad
Heads up lounge access rules have changed again since yesterday. I was turned away trying to enter a SEN lounge which is no big loss in these times. But it would be a huge disappointment if you end up missing a visit to FCT/FCL.

Double vaccinated is no longer enough!
Originally Posted by athome
The German government decided that a 3rd vaccination is necessary enter restaurants . That's the reason for the change at the lounges.
As usual there are exceptions to the rule. Bavaria has decided to evaluate the 2G+ rule so for now (don't know if/when things will change) the MUC lounges are still 2G:

***FFP2 mask obligatory. Guests need to provide either a proof of vaccination or an evidence of recovery (2G). Children between the age of 12 and 17 are exempt from these regulations.***
No additional test or booster jab required, yet.

lh.com states that 2G+ only applies to the lounges in FRA, but if you search the lounge directory it will show that 2G+ is required at other LH lounges in Germany.

https://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/flight-information.html

Lufthansa asks all passengers to observe the "2G+ access rules" for all lounges at Frankfurt Airport. This also includes the entire First-Class Terminal.

Access may only be granted to passengers if the following certificates are presented:

· a proof of vaccination (analogue or digital proof of a vaccination series completed more than 14 days ago of a vaccine approved by the German Paul Ehrlich Institute) or a proof of recovery (digital or analogue PCR/LAMP/TMA test proof that is at least 28 days and no more than six months old).

AND

· a negative Corona test result (PCR, Antigen, RT-LAMP or TMA). The test must not have been performed for more than 48 hours. If it is an antigen test, it must have been carried out within 24 hours. (Passengers with a triple vaccination ("boosted") do not need an additional test).

Lufthansa regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers by these rules.
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Old Jan 9, 2022, 3:01 pm
  #5240  
 
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Originally Posted by chris63
Many thanks, sent you the cash 💰 by P.M.

Plus, the drinks are on me at FCT
I’ll take a Christmas duck instead.
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Old Jan 10, 2022, 3:12 am
  #5241  
 
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The 2G+ for FRA lounges is because the city of Frankfurt has been declared a hotspot. Yesterday it had one of the highest incidences for new cases in the entire country.

As others have noted you need:
  • To have a booster vaccination; OR
  • To have vaccination AND a negative test (48hr PCR, 24hr antigen); OR
  • To have evidence of recovery AND a negative test (48hr PCR, 24hr antigen)
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Old Jan 16, 2022, 4:21 am
  #5242  
 
Join Date: May 2018
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Originally Posted by YYCCL3
Depends what time your flight arrives. FCL A is only open until 2. If you can enter Germany (and are vaccinated plus boosted OR tested within 24 hours) you can access FCL A before 2 or the FCT until 10.
My flight is LHR-FRA, 1:40 connection, FRA-ORD. I'm triple boosted and will have a Rapid Antigen test completed. Flight arrives in FRA at 9:05am. Assuming the connection time is enough( I don't think it is), would I be able to go to the FCT without needing any additional testing to continue my flight to the US?

Last edited by diverg; Jan 16, 2022 at 4:31 am
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Old Jan 16, 2022, 4:46 am
  #5243  
 
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Originally Posted by diverg
My flight is LHR-FRA, 1:40 connection, FRA-ORD. I'm triple boosted and will have a Rapid Antigen test completed. Flight arrives in FRA at 9:05am. Assuming the connection time is enough( I don't think it is), would I be able to go to the FCT without needing any additional testing to continue my flight to the US?
If you've got 3 doses of a vaccine approved by the EMA then you're totally good. Also with 2 doses plus the antigen test within 24 hours would do...

1h40 is doable if the line at passport control isn't too long. You wouldn't be able to relax much but maybe you could get in a glass of bubbles and a drive to the plane...
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Old Jan 16, 2022, 4:49 am
  #5244  
 
Join Date: May 2018
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Originally Posted by YYCCL3
If you've got 3 doses of a vaccine approved by the EMA then you're totally good. Also with 2 doses plus the antigen test within 24 hours would do...

1h40 is doable if the line at passport control isn't too long. You wouldn't be able to relax much but maybe you could get in a glass of bubbles and a drive to the plane...
Thanks. I've been trying all kinds of ways to try to find something that would give me a slightly longer connection, but flight times to the US just not allowing much of a connection time. Its either 1 to 1 1/2 hours or 12+ hours overnight. Not going for that.
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Old Jan 26, 2022, 11:43 am
  #5245  
 
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Is it safe to assume that any taxi driver in downtown Frankfurt would have familiarity with the FCT and how to get there? My German is essentially non-existent, so having to explain it would be a recipe for disaster.
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Old Jan 26, 2022, 1:52 pm
  #5246  
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Originally Posted by akober220
Is it safe to assume that any taxi driver in downtown Frankfurt would have familiarity with the FCT and how to get there? My German is essentially non-existent, so having to explain it would be a recipe for disaster.
Yes. Just say 'airport' or 'Flughafen'. You are going to terminal one, and the taxi driver will drive up a slope ramp which curves to the left to line up with the terminal. Just before you get there, in the curve, you'll see the FCT on the right. You can point that out to him but 'Lufthansa First Class Terminal' will also do the trick.
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Old Jan 26, 2022, 3:08 pm
  #5247  
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Originally Posted by akober220
Is it safe to assume that any taxi driver in downtown Frankfurt would have familiarity with the FCT and how to get there? My German is essentially non-existent, so having to explain it would be a recipe for disaster.
Google maps on your phone, picture of that on your phone

But so many Taxi drivers understand English in Frankfurt anyway IME.
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Old Jan 26, 2022, 7:31 pm
  #5248  
 
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Originally Posted by akober220
Is it safe to assume that any taxi driver in downtown Frankfurt would have familiarity with the FCT and how to get there? My German is essentially non-existent, so having to explain it would be a recipe for disaster.
AFAIK Uber works in Frankfurt, this way you can put the address in ahead of time.
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Old Jan 26, 2022, 8:31 pm
  #5249  
 
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As you approach the airport keep your eyes peeled. The FCT will be on the right side of the road leading to the main terminal. Just before the main terminal, there will be a little off-ramp to make a sharp right. There is (was) a sign right before the turn saying something like First Class. That little off-ramp will lead you to the entrance to the FCT (it’s about 20-30 yards from that right turn). It’s easy to miss. Worst case, if you miss it, just get out at the terminal and walk back or have the taxi do the loop again.
NYC1 is online now  
Old Feb 23, 2022, 5:05 pm
  #5250  
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 46
how do I post in my flyertalk

hi, new to my flyer talk and not sure how I post and how I figure out where to post. my question is : I am flying first class Lufthansa from US to Frankfurt and have a 3 hour layover until I continue to Viena via business class (also on Lufthansa), there is no such thing as first class from Frankfurt to Viena. my question is :1) can I use the first class terminal and should I?
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