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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 May 10, 2022, 2:41 pm
  #5326  
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
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Originally Posted by chris63
Not necessarily, the OP stated next day connecting flight, so bags would be better being checked through
Kinda case by case for overnight these days but yah i also figured if one is staying a night, theres likely some item they would want to take out from the baggage anyway
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Old May 10, 2022, 3:10 pm
  #5327  
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Originally Posted by onewaylove
Kinda case by case for overnight these days but yah i also figured if one is staying a night, theres likely some item they would want to take out from the baggage anyway
Yes but surely you can pack enough into carry on for an overnight rather than complicate things so much, having to ask FCL Staff to ask for the bag to be kept & then having to go to retrieve it ….
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Old May 10, 2022, 5:37 pm
  #5328  
 
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Originally Posted by chris63
Yes but surely you can pack enough into carry on for an overnight rather than complicate things so much, having to ask FCL Staff to ask for the bag to be kept & then having to go to retrieve it ….
I wouldnt do it but some would lol
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Old May 10, 2022, 10:00 pm
  #5329  
 
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Originally Posted by Dirigible
Based on this thread, my understanding is that if I am flying UA-ticketed on LH metal, I should be able to access the FCT in FRA. Is that correct?

My flight has an overnight layover in FRA - would I be able to access the terminal twice? (once evening of arrival, again next day morning of departure)
I think "it depends". Which is the LH F flight?

I would try to go to the LH F lounges on arrival, and FCT on departure:
  • If the second flight is in LH F, then you should check in at the FCT.
  • If the LH F flight is the first flight, and you're taking the most direct option with a forced overnight, then I would still go to the FCT in the morning. Tell them you arrived in LH F the day before, but had to overnight in FRA.
  • You could probably go to the LH F lounges on arrival.
  • The LH FCT is a departure lounge only, so you couldn't get access on the arriving flight.
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Old May 10, 2022, 10:42 pm
  #5330  
 
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An overnight stay does not give access the next day… so I’d rather avoid the risk of being sent away
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Old May 10, 2022, 11:16 pm
  #5331  
 
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Does the lounge still have cigars?
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Old May 11, 2022, 1:26 am
  #5332  
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Originally Posted by Ijones027
Does the lounge still have cigars?
No, the sponsor that provided them stopped some years back.
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Old May 15, 2022, 9:20 am
  #5333  
 
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COVID Tests in Lobby?

I read that the FCT was offering Covid Tests In the lobby back when most int’l travel required test results to travel.

Is this still available today? I am traveling CPT-FRA-ORD and need an antigen test for FRA-ORD so wondering if I wait until I get to FRA and get test in FCT or get the test in CPT. Would I be able to board CPT-FRA without a test given my onward flight to the US requires it?
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Old May 15, 2022, 9:24 am
  #5334  
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Originally Posted by FoxFlyer
I read that the FCT was offering Covid Tests In the lobby back when most int’l travel required test results to travel. Is this still available today? I am traveling CPT-FRA-ORD and need an antigen test for FRA-ORD so wondering if I wait until I get to FRA and get test in FCT or get the test in CPT. Would I be able to board CPT-FRA without a test given my onward flight to the US requires it?
You need to take your test in CPT as you will not be permitted to board CPT-FRA without the test results.
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Old May 15, 2022, 11:04 am
  #5335  
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Originally Posted by FoxFlyer
I read that the FCT was offering Covid Tests In the lobby back when most int’l travel required test results to travel. Is this still available today? I am traveling CPT-FRA-ORD and need an antigen test for FRA-ORD so wondering if I wait until I get to FRA and get test in FCT or get the test in CPT. Would I be able to board CPT-FRA without a test given my onward flight to the US requires it?
Are you in CPT or still in the US? If still in the US, get a couple of BinaxNOW kits before you depart and use the Navica app. You get certified test results with pdf printable letter within 20 minutes of taking the test anywhere in the world with internet... hotel room, restaurant, airport lounge.
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Old May 15, 2022, 11:12 am
  #5336  
 
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The FCT doesn’t offer it but there is a huge test center at the airport so you could swing by on the way to the FCT (did exactly that this week)
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Old May 17, 2022, 4:39 pm
  #5337  
 
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Just wanted to double check the current rules since I know this wasn't allowed in the past.. But many things have changed with Covid. Have MAN-FRA-SIN with the FRA-SIN sector operated by SQ but on a LH codeshare. Anyone have any experience if one can gain access to the FCL (not FCT) on a codeshare with LH flight number?
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Old May 17, 2022, 5:27 pm
  #5338  
 
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Originally Posted by pogonation
Just wanted to double check the current rules since I know this wasn't allowed in the past.. But many things have changed with Covid. Have MAN-FRA-SIN with the FRA-SIN sector operated by SQ but on a LH codeshare. Anyone have any experience if one can gain access to the FCL (not FCT) on a codeshare with LH flight number?
No, it’s got to be LH metal.
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Old May 18, 2022, 1:55 am
  #5339  
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Originally Posted by pogonation
Just wanted to double check the current rules since I know this wasn't allowed in the past.. But many things have changed with Covid. Have MAN-FRA-SIN with the FRA-SIN sector operated by SQ but on a LH codeshare. Anyone have any experience if one can gain access to the FCL (not FCT) on a codeshare with LH flight number?
No, you would have had to come from a LH group flight in F or be HON, for FCT the departing flight must be on LH group metal.
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Old May 18, 2022, 8:25 am
  #5340  
 
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And how about SQ metal FRA-SIN as a HON? Do I get to use FCL, or is it still Senator? Would be coming form a stopover from LH metal the day prior, if that matters.
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