Community
Wiki Posts
Search
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.

Print Wikipost

The FRA F/HON First Class Terminal FCT FAQ

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 7, 2023, 12:53 pm
  #5701  
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Programs: oneworld, * Alliance, Marriott Bonvoy, HHonors, WoH
Posts: 2,120
Originally Posted by hugolover
Is that your auction? Looking at your other stuff I must say that's a pretty smart way to offset the cost of HON for a bit of paper. How did you get the LH wine glasses?
Naughty!
Not my account but you would save the currency converson fee plus ask all the questions from seller in native language
Jaenks is offline  
Old Apr 10, 2023, 5:03 am
  #5702  
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Birmingham, UK
Programs: LH HON**
Posts: 147
[QUOTE=747jetter;35150703]. Anything on arrival in MEX? Golf car to immigration maybe?

No arrival service in MEX anymore, but last time I arrived there I was through immigration in a couple of minutes.
EJJBHX is offline  
Old Apr 10, 2023, 5:04 am
  #5703  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: VIE/PRG
Programs: FB Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,592
[QUOTE=EJJBHX;35157762]
Originally Posted by 747jetter
. Anything on arrival in MEX? Golf car to immigration maybe?

No arrival service in MEX anymore, but last time I arrived there I was through immigration in a couple of minutes.
Yep, nothing happened yesterday. Ground services both in Frankfurt and Mexico on arrival were the weakest part and absolutely far away from competition.
EJJBHX likes this.
747jetter is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2023, 10:06 am
  #5704  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON***, FB Silver, BA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt GP, Hertz Gold, GHA Black
Posts: 830
Finally! HON flying 4Y have now access to the FCT in FRA.
chris63, EJJBHX and LEON_ like this.
HKG1111 is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2023, 10:58 am
  #5705  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,654
Originally Posted by HKG1111
Finally! HON flying 4Y have now access to the FCT in FRA.
Just a shame HON have to use 4Y.
gojko88, EJJBHX and pdeut like this.
chris63 is online now  
Old Apr 20, 2023, 12:17 pm
  #5706  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: VIE/PRG
Programs: FB Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,592
Originally Posted by HKG1111
Finally! HON flying 4Y have now access to the FCT in FRA.
Great for HON, shame for F payers.
747jetter is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2023, 12:22 pm
  #5707  
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,728
Originally Posted by 747jetter
Great for HON, shame for F payers.
I don't expect this will somehow lead to a huge influx of 4Y-flying HONs that were previously pariahs from the FCT.
Fabo.sk likes this.
gojko88 is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2023, 2:54 pm
  #5708  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ZRH
Programs: LX HON***, FB Silver, BA Silver, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt GP, Hertz Gold, GHA Black
Posts: 830
Originally Posted by 747jetter
Great for HON, shame for F payers.
dont worry, LH is working step by step to reduce FCL payers by having less F Seats in FRA and implement Allegris on top.
chris63, EJJBHX and LEON_ like this.
HKG1111 is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2023, 2:57 pm
  #5709  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: VIE/PRG
Programs: FB Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,592
Originally Posted by HKG1111
dont worry, LH is working step by step to reduce FCL payers by having less F Seats in FRA and implement Allegris on top.
No need to worry, just used LH after years a couple of days back and going this weekend in F again, perhaps last for another five years. I was speechless when I found out what a joke the ground experience has became. I used to love it.
747jetter is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2023, 3:43 pm
  #5710  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: USA, France
Programs: LH HON*****, AF/KL Gold; HHilton Diamond; Marriott Gold; IHG Platinium; Avis PresClub
Posts: 934
Originally Posted by 747jetter
No need to worry, just used LH after years a couple of days back and going this weekend in F again, perhaps last for another five years. I was speechless when I found out what a joke the ground experience has became. I used to love it.
What changed so dramatically to the worse?
athome is offline  
Old Apr 20, 2023, 3:47 pm
  #5711  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: VIE/PRG
Programs: FB Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 1,592
Originally Posted by athome
What changed so dramatically to the worse?
FCT was crowded, disappointing quality of a la carte, quite a few bottles on bar menu not available, no car to take me from remote stand to terminal and honestly very full FCT, perhaps so many HON after covid if you guys had it easier to gain. And I really hated shared van to the plane but I guess it has never been a sure thing to go alone / with your companion. On board I was lucky with only 4/8 and fantastic crew, this Saturday we have 8/8 so I wonder if it will impact the service.

Last edited by 747jetter; Apr 20, 2023 at 4:25 pm
747jetter is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2023, 2:26 am
  #5712  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Frankfurt
Programs: LH, A3, BA
Posts: 327
Originally Posted by 747jetter
No need to worry, just used LH after years a couple of days back and going this weekend in F again, perhaps last for another five years. I was speechless when I found out what a joke the ground experience has became. I used to love it.
I think you might have been unlucky as well as a victim of timing. They are working to improve the product, FCL B should be available soon, which will reduce load of FCT (and staff is longing for that), catering gets a bump (hopefully) with Käfer taking over. Also, with regularly 2 visits a week, I can say that it really varies and even in current conditions I have most of the time a good to great service experience. No pick up from remote stand never happened to me once, and conversations with drivers suggest that restaffing of drivers has been successful. So, bottom-line, I would reassess from May onwards. Agree with you though that service should not be roller coaster for a true F ground product.
Jensens is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2023, 8:20 am
  #5713  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London | Sydney
Programs: LH HON, QF CL, SQ TPPS, AF Plat, VS Gold, VA Plat, EK Gold, HH Diamond, WoH Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,528
Originally Posted by Jensens
FCL B should be available soon
Target date May 10 as of this week
Jensens, chris63 and EJJBHX like this.
vantage03 is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2023, 4:14 pm
  #5714  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: USA, France
Programs: LH HON*****, AF/KL Gold; HHilton Diamond; Marriott Gold; IHG Platinium; Avis PresClub
Posts: 934
Originally Posted by 747jetter
FCT was crowded, disappointing quality of a la carte, quite a few bottles on bar menu not available, no car to take me from remote stand to terminal and honestly very full FCT, perhaps so many HON after covid if you guys had it easier to gain. And I really hated shared van to the plane but I guess it has never been a sure thing to go alone / with your companion. On board I was lucky with only 4/8 and fantastic crew, this Saturday we have 8/8 so I wonder if it will impact the service.
Crowded FCT --> too many HONs and too many F class seats available.
Shared Van --> too many HONs and too many F class seats available.

Potential Solution:
1. Reduce number of available F class seats (to only 4 per aircraft)
2. Access to FCT only for HONs and F Class passengers which paid a full F (not O, not A) fare
3. Get rid off all the HONs complaining on the forum --> I will have the FCT all to myself

Is that the way you propose LH shall go?
chris63, mpw81 and hugolover like this.
athome is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2023, 5:43 pm
  #5715  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,064
Originally Posted by athome
Crowded FCT --> too many HONs and too many F class seats available.
Shared Van --> too many HONs and too many F class seats available.

Potential Solution:
1. Reduce number of available F class seats (to only 4 per aircraft)
2. Access to FCT only for HONs and F Class passengers which paid a full F (not O, not A) fare
3. Get rid off all the HONs complaining on the forum --> I will have the FCT all to myself

Is that the way you propose LH shall go?
What about option #4? HONs no longer have access to the FCT, only F pax
cfischer is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.