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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 Aug 28, 2022, 1:41 pm
  #5506  
 
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A lot of white on that big menu and a pretty big step down from where things were pre-covid (and I’m not including the special items). Also, it’s not close to the FCLs in ZRH (where the food is better to begin with). It’s a shame because I like the FCT and FCLs in FRA a lot.
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 9:59 am
  #5507  
 
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Curious - do most of you eat at the FCT restaurant and then again a couple of hours later on board in F? I guess I could pull that off when I was 20 years younger, but it's unthinkable now. Of course, a different scenario with a long stay.
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 10:33 am
  #5508  
 
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I usually have soup and buffet salads at the FCT to try to keep things light so I can have things on board. I skip all bread and desserts/cheese on the ground.
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 11:07 am
  #5509  
 
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Originally Posted by cricketer
Curious - do most of you eat at the FCT restaurant and then again a couple of hours later on board in F? I guess I could pull that off when I was 20 years younger, but it's unthinkable now. Of course, a different scenario with a long stay.
For me it is all about timing. When (what seems like ages ago) I'd fly out on a 10pm flight I would eat in the lounge. With a 6pm departure for a 11-hour flight I'd eat on board because I'd go hungry otherwise. When a flight is relatively short and I want to sleep as much as I can, I would also eat in the lounge. Afternoon departures to the US or NE Asia are good for a long meal in the air especially.
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 11:39 am
  #5510  
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Originally Posted by cricketer
Curious - do most of you eat at the FCT restaurant and then again a couple of hours later on board in F? I guess I could pull that off when I was 20 years younger, but it's unthinkable now. Of course, a different scenario with a long stay.
It’s First Class, the idea is you eat when you want to, the time zones make a considerable difference, F dining onboard is supposed to be on demand although you do need to make your wishes clear to the FA’s

Freshly cooked food in LH Group FCL’s / FCT is likely to be better than reheated food inflight
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 11:40 am
  #5511  
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Originally Posted by cricketer
Curious - do most of you eat at the FCT restaurant and then again a couple of hours later on board in F? I guess I could pull that off when I was 20 years younger, but it's unthinkable now. Of course, a different scenario with a long stay.
It’s First Class, the idea is you eat when you want to, the time zones make a considerable difference, F dining onboard is supposed to be on demand although you do need to make your wishes clear to the FA’s

Freshly cooked food in LH Group FCL’s / FCT is likely to be better than reheated food inflight
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 11:40 am
  #5512  
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Originally Posted by cricketer
Curious - do most of you eat at the FCT restaurant and then again a couple of hours later on board in F? I guess I could pull that off when I was 20 years younger, but it's unthinkable now. Of course, a different scenario with a long stay.
It’s First Class, the idea is you eat when you want to, the time zones make a considerable difference, F dining onboard is supposed to be on demand although you do need to make your wishes clear to the FA’s

Freshly cooked food in LH Group FCL’s / FCT is likely to be better than reheated food inflight
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 12:45 pm
  #5513  
 
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Agree with MichielR and chris63 . It's all about timing/circumstances. Sleeping on the flight, is my priority #1 and the FAs will bring it whenever you want it. However, the quality of the food onboard is nothing to get too excited about (and has gone downhill over the last 5 years) and is much better in the lounges (usually).
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 1:13 pm
  #5514  
 
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Originally Posted by NYC1
Agree with MichielR and chris63 . It's all about timing/circumstances. Sleeping on the flight, is my priority #1 and the FAs will bring it whenever you want it. However, the quality of the food onboard is nothing to get too excited about (and has gone downhill over the last 5 years) and is much better in the lounges (usually).
I will say I appreciated the chance to get a sleeping room in the FCT and catch up on my rest when I was flying IAD-FRA-CPT.
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 1:47 pm
  #5515  
 
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Originally Posted by DCAhome
I will say I appreciated the chance to get a sleeping room in the FCT and catch up on my rest when I was flying IAD-FRA-CPT.
For sure. If possible, I try to avoid long stays that would warrant using the sleeping room -- sacrilege, I know, on FT -- but I appreciate that on some routes it makes sense/there's no better alternative.
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 4:05 pm
  #5516  
 
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Agree with all of the comments on timing as the main factor and the difference of food quality at the lounge vs. in the air.

Try to eat at the lounge for quality reasons if timing makes sense and use food/drink on board as “entertainment“ on routes where maximizing sleep is not a priority. In these cases, focus is on the starters (usually good quality and small in size) rather than on the often underwhelming mains.
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Old Aug 29, 2022, 7:43 pm
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Originally Posted by NYC1
Agree with MichielR and chris63 . It's all about timing/circumstances. Sleeping on the flight, is my priority #1 and the FAs will bring it whenever you want it. However, the quality of the food onboard is nothing to get too excited about (and has gone downhill over the last 5 years) and is much better in the lounges (usually).
With you on the sleeping - and as someone who prefers slightly warmer cabins, LH F is a fabulous place to sleep. Agreed the food was much better 20 years ago when I first experienced it!

Originally Posted by worldclubber
Agree with all of the comments on timing as the main factor and the difference of food quality at the lounge vs. in the air.

Try to eat at the lounge for quality reasons if timing makes sense and use food/drink on board as “entertainment“ on routes where maximizing sleep is not a priority. In these cases, focus is on the starters (usually good quality and small in size) rather than on the often underwhelming mains.
Yep - this is precisely my strategy. In theory. Eat a main in the lounge (though the new menu looks less exciting), and maybe a dessert if I'm hungry with a lot of time, and then do the caviar, appetizers, and dessert in the air.

In practice (and to be clear, although i"ll have two LH F round trips this year, this is usually a once in a few years experience for me) I end up needlessly eating too much inbound into FRA, and find myself unable to stomach anything in the lounge, with the hunger only returning on the second flight (think US-FRA-India trips).

SFO-FRA-DEL coming up, and cleared into F on both sectors outbound. Polaris lounge is getting boring food-wise, so I'll probably eat on board for the first sector, try and resist the scrambled eggs (because it's still cool to me, not because they taste special), then have a meal in the lounge before staying awake and snacking all the way into DEL. Where I'll be eating a lot as well, because, what better thing is there to do in DEL?
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Old Sep 26, 2022, 11:28 am
  #5518  
 
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Originally Posted by cricketer
With you on the sleeping - and as someone who prefers slightly warmer cabins, LH F is a fabulous place to sleep. Agreed the food was much better 20 years ago when I first experienced it!
I hate the warm cabins :/ It seems random too, sometimes its 24C, sometimes its 19C, I wish there was consistency.
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Old Sep 27, 2022, 5:58 am
  #5519  
 
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Hi all, quick question, I am flying SIN-FRA-SIN on LH metal in First (on the 748 - can't wait!). It's a code share SQ ticket from Sydney. Can I use the FCT in FRA?
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Old Sep 27, 2022, 7:14 am
  #5520  
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Yes, as long as the flight is operated by Lufthansa.
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