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:
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:
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.
- 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.
The FRA F/HON First Class Terminal FCT FAQ
#5626
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: A3 Gold, AA Platinum, Marriott & Discovery Platinum, IGH Diamond
Posts: 889
It's first time I'm flying in LH C in more then 20 years, looking forward to the experience (not)
Having access to FCT helps, I dig the showers there.
Thanks for clarification,
El Puerco Volante
#5627
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: LH M&M, BA EC, DL SM
Posts: 5,732
Have a great trip nevertheless. If you are lucky and get an empty seat next to you, LH C is not all that bad. Flying with a companion, I actually find it better for sleeping than 4A on LX. It's is just the crawl over somebody or have somebody crawl over you layout that can make it a not so pleasant experience.
#5628
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX/NYC
Programs: Bonvoy Ambassador, HH G, BR Diamond/*G, BAEC Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 567
I have to agree with chris63 here. Even ignoring the B transfer situation, the FCT gets lately quite often filled to the limit. Thursday morning was a good example. The sole waitress, while putting on a brave face and trying her best (in case some of the staff managers read this, she is absolutely great, the type of person you would not want to lose, always pleasant and helpful in my many interactions I had with her, her attitude on Thursday was world class), but she simply was overwhelmed. I did a pragmatic self service, including getting my drinks myself from behind the bar and cleaning up the table (having a table itself felt like a lottery win) to get something breakfast like. Not a premium experience, I guess, and other passengers were clearly not amused. Only reopening FCL B will structurally change that, I guess.
Having said that, the Asian lady that was my point of contact during my stay was wonderful.
#5629
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,662
Considering Do&Co lose the contract 1st May, not a whole lot of motivation around at FCT….
#5630
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 193
F fares
Not exactly on topic but I didn't want to create a brand new thread for an F related query.
I've always wanted to fly F with any airline really. Last time I thought about it was pre covid. I could regularly see long haul flights in F from DUB or MAN for about E3.5 to E4.5k. Didn't actually get to use them back then for whatever reason.
Now post covid any fares I see are more like 6.5 to E7.5k. Can anyone tell me the reasons? I assume its covid related but can't really figure out why exactly. It's it less capacity more demand higher operating costs etc.
I'm being made redundant this year from my long time career and was thinking of using some of my golden handshake to take an F flight. However realistically I'm thinking the only option is BA to SFO or AA to LAX. These are both about 4k. But I know BA and AA aren't really in the same league as other airlines. Even looked at Singapore but their fares are more like 14k.
I've always wanted to fly F with any airline really. Last time I thought about it was pre covid. I could regularly see long haul flights in F from DUB or MAN for about E3.5 to E4.5k. Didn't actually get to use them back then for whatever reason.
Now post covid any fares I see are more like 6.5 to E7.5k. Can anyone tell me the reasons? I assume its covid related but can't really figure out why exactly. It's it less capacity more demand higher operating costs etc.
I'm being made redundant this year from my long time career and was thinking of using some of my golden handshake to take an F flight. However realistically I'm thinking the only option is BA to SFO or AA to LAX. These are both about 4k. But I know BA and AA aren't really in the same league as other airlines. Even looked at Singapore but their fares are more like 14k.
#5631
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,729
There are many, but I believe the #1 is pent-up demand. The world is coming back to normal after a difficult 2,5 years, there's quite a bit of saved-up cash in the richer strata of society, and cabins are quite simply full.
#5632
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,587
There's still dumping going on by LH/LX in various markets. Have a look at the fares posted here:
https://travel-dealz.eu/category/flights/first-class/
They still exist.
https://travel-dealz.eu/category/flights/first-class/
They still exist.
#5633
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,662
There's still dumping going on by LH/LX in various markets. Have a look at the fares posted here:
https://travel-dealz.eu/category/flights/first-class/
They still exist.
https://travel-dealz.eu/category/flights/first-class/
They still exist.
For the occasional traveller a good TA would help.
#5634
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 193
BA seems more appropriate with say 5 days in SFO.
Out of curiosity if people have tried them, how does the Concorde room compare to the FCT?
#5635
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Birmingham, UK
Programs: LH HON**
Posts: 147
as for the FCT, it’s calm, generally quiet (although too busy at peak times currently as FCL B is closed), the food is good, the drinks are good, the bathrooms are good, and you don’t have any worry about when to go to board your flight. Altogether a much more relaxing experience.
full disclosure, I have only been to the Concorde room twice (last year) and to the FCT many times.
#5636
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
In my opinion the FCT is a lot better than the Concorde room. The Concorde room is comfortable enough and has nice champagne, but the toilets are bad and you still have to walk/train through the terminal to the overcrowded gate areas. Plus there is annoying background music playing all the time. I haven’t eaten in the Concorde room so can’t comment on the food.
as for the FCT, it’s calm, generally quiet (although too busy at peak times currently as FCL B is closed), the food is good, the drinks are good, the bathrooms are good, and you don’t have any worry about when to go to board your flight. Altogether a much more relaxing experience.
full disclosure, I have only been to the Concorde room twice (last year) and to the FCT many times.
as for the FCT, it’s calm, generally quiet (although too busy at peak times currently as FCL B is closed), the food is good, the drinks are good, the bathrooms are good, and you don’t have any worry about when to go to board your flight. Altogether a much more relaxing experience.
full disclosure, I have only been to the Concorde room twice (last year) and to the FCT many times.
BA F is more like a glorified business class and nowhere near what LH, LX, SQ, CX and AF (these are my favoured F airlines) offer. No wonder that BA is cheaper. And AA is worse than many airlines in C.
#5637
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,662
For the cheapest routes I think you need a 14 day stay. That on top of an already expensive F flight would eat up a huge portion of my redundancy dream.
BA seems more appropriate with say 5 days in SFO.
Out of curiosity if people have tried them, how does the Concorde room compare to the FCT?
BA seems more appropriate with say 5 days in SFO.
Out of curiosity if people have tried them, how does the Concorde room compare to the FCT?
I always had good flights in BA F but if you look at the BA forum there are horror stories & BA F is not in the same league as LX or LH & i like the Concorde room, i’m English but it is very busy & cannot be compared to LHG FCL’s or FCT
Given the USD strength SFO is going to eat 💰 , you could look at BOG, ex ARN for something more affordable & exotic
Google flights date graph will show you the deals
#5638
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008
Concorde Room is a very comfortable, well-run lounge. But, basically, it's just another lounge: getting to it, and getting to the gate from the lounge, isn't any different to that experienced by folk using the run-of-the-mill lounges, and not much different to those travelling in (gulp!) economy-class. You could even find yourself squashed on a bus on twixt gate and aircaft.
On the other hand the FCT is a very different experience. No point in going through the well-catalogued, very real and very significant perks that give an initial kick to your trip.
The onboard experience with LH/LX is a more exclusive, better organised and (generally) far better executed experience than on BA. But, there again, the fares deserve consideration - and (again, generally) they reflect that superior service.
#5639
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,587
Unless the money is going to burn a hole in your pocket or you’re retiring from the police, just wait. The airline industry is so cyclical they will be begging pax to book. More and more capacity is coming back online.
Just as soon as I think I’ve missed a deal, there’s another one.
Just as soon as I think I’ve missed a deal, there’s another one.
#5640
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 17,008