The FRA F/HON First Class Terminal FCT FAQ

Oct 4, 21, 11:45 pm - Wikipost

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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, even if the ticket of that F segment is different from the ticket of the segment from FRA. For example, if you were to fly FRA-MUC in Y or J, connecting on the same day to an ex-MUC flight in F on LH, you would be 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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Jul 30, 22, 1:58 pm

#5461

econjon

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: San Diego, CA

Programs: Yes.

Posts: 490

2 hours worth the trek?

We land at 8am (F ex USA) and have connecting Schengen flight at 1030am. Is it worth the trek over to the FCT. I’m mostly in it for the ride across the tarmac, but the wife is not so keen on a 20 minute walk to do it…

Jul 30, 22, 2:03 pm

#5462

NickRivas

Join Date: Oct 2019

Location: Vienna, Austria

Posts: 491

Quote:

Originally Posted by econjon

I'd say sure why not...but with your wife not wanting to walk 20 mins, I could've guessed you're coming from the US without you mentioning it

cmon people

mercflight and pdeut like this.

Jul 30, 22, 2:06 pm

#5463

theKrafty1tar

Join Date: Jun 2018

Location: WRO/BOS

Programs: LH HON/AF Gold

Posts: 182

Quote:

Originally Posted by econjon

Where are you connecting to? I personally would prefer to just relax in FCL A and enjoy the tarmac views and avoiding another security check (even though it is much easier at the FCT, I just hate having to take out all my liquids, electronics etc). But the transfer from FCT certainly is enjoyable too

Jul 30, 22, 2:08 pm

#5464

econjon

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: San Diego, CA

Programs: Yes.

Posts: 490

Lol yep Iah-Fra, then fra-fco. Do they do the car ride from fcl?

Jul 30, 22, 2:09 pm

#5465

econjon

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: San Diego, CA

Programs: Yes.

Posts: 490

Also is there not a security check post immigration and customs if staying in terminal for fcl A?

Jul 30, 22, 2:16 pm

#5466

theKrafty1tar

Join Date: Jun 2018

Location: WRO/BOS

Programs: LH HON/AF Gold

Posts: 182

Quote:

Originally Posted by econjon

Also is there not a security check post immigration and customs if staying in terminal for fcl A?

Since you're arriving from the US ("clean transit") you wouldn't have to go through transit security to get to FCL A, only passport control. Although security is easy at FCT (no lines), it's still a security check, which I personally would want to avoid.

EDIT: I'm basing this on the assumption that your IAH-FRA flight arrives at the Z gates (MOST US flights do) If your IAH-FRA arrives at the B gates, then you would have another security check regardless. In this case I'd go to FCT.

You'd only get a car/van transfer to your flight from the FCL if it departs from a remote stand. Looks like all FCO flights are mainline, so you wouldn't get the car transfer if you went to the FCL.

Jul 30, 22, 2:41 pm

#5467

econjon

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: San Diego, CA

Programs: Yes.

Posts: 490

Quote:

Originally Posted by theKrafty1tar

we are scheduled to land at z gates and now our flight is delayed so maybe a moot point. Also we are so used to perche k that I forget about hassles of security!

Am I wrong that it is a 15-20 minute walk from post customs z gate to fct?

Jul 30, 22, 3:24 pm

#5468

theKrafty1tar

Join Date: Jun 2018

Location: WRO/BOS

Programs: LH HON/AF Gold

Posts: 182

Quote:

Originally Posted by econjon

Yeah, precheck is easy to get used to. I'd say the walk would be 10-15 minutes max. No matter what you decide, it should be a great experience. Enjoy!

Jul 30, 22, 3:47 pm

#5469

econjon

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: San Diego, CA

Programs: Yes.

Posts: 490

Thanks to all for great advice/comments. I’ll post a follow up…

Jul 30, 22, 5:27 pm

#5470

seanp7

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: NYC, FLL

Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Silver

Posts: 5,405

Quote:

Originally Posted by econjon

Yes, in my opinion - if you land at 8am, or ahead of schedule. It's not a crazy walk (don't you want to walk after the flight anyway?) and the tarmac ride is certainly worth it (for most).

Also if there's a delay in the FRA-FCO flight, it's all managed for you at the FCT and you can just enjoy yourself until the staff call you for the car transfer.

Jul 30, 22, 10:10 pm

#5471

Viennafly

Join Date: Oct 2005

Location: FRA

Programs: LH SEN**

Posts: 543

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanp7

Also if there's a delay in the FRA-FCO flight, it's all managed for you at the FCT and you can just enjoy yourself until the staff call you for the car transfer.

It is also possible that your FRA-FCO flight has a tarmac position, which then would include a bus ride from the gate to the plane. Unless your incoming flight is late, I would therefore go to the FCT. Also the walk from the FCL A to gate A36/38/... or A66/68 is probably as far as to the FCT.

seanp7 likes this.

Jul 30, 22, 10:41 pm

#5472

chris63

Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV

Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.

Posts: 6,773

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viennafly

If the FCO flight has an outside position they would drive you from FCLA to the aircraft.

Totally agree that it can be a very long walk to far A gates from FCLA

In all cases coming from Z i would go to FCT

seanp7 likes this.

Jul 31, 22, 1:24 am

#5473

econjon

Join Date: Jun 2011

Location: San Diego, CA

Programs: Yes.

Posts: 490

It was quite the walk from our arrival gate to FCT (especially confusing between the taxi stands and terminal) but we’ll worth it!! Cheers

seanp7 and DCAhome like this.

Jul 31, 22, 1:58 am

#5474

chris63

Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV

Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.

Posts: 6,773

Quote:

Originally Posted by econjon

It was quite the walk from our arrival gate to FCT (especially confusing between the taxi stands and terminal) but we’ll worth it!! Cheers

The walk from gate to the exit is the long part, from the A exit it’s very close, once you can see the Taxi stand the FCT building is visible

seanp7, Global321, econjon and 1 others like this.

Aug 8, 22, 12:25 pm

#5475

mationsbuds

Join Date: Oct 2019

Programs: SQ, QF, AM

Posts: 16

Hey guys, I'm flying into FRA on QR and flying out on LH F - intending to exit the terminal to check out the FCT, but wanted to check if prior to doing so, I would be able to also check out the F lounges in the main terminal itself? And if so, if there are any recommended F lounges to visit? Thanks much!

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