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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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Old Apr 23, 2023, 2:19 pm
  #5731  
formerly known as DeltaNYC
 
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Was at the FCT recently. It had been a while (6 yrs?) since I last passed through it... and the experience wasn't the same. It felt understaffed with at times only 1 server manning the restaurant and the bar. And the food variety and quality was better on my previous visits. The actual flight, on the other hand, was as excellent as ever.
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Old Apr 24, 2023, 8:03 am
  #5732  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Originally Posted by chris63
It was good to hear that all the good FCT / FCL Staff are remaining with the new caterer from 1st May & next week it is the Asparagus festival
That’s nice. Just about the time to have some seasonal.

Originally Posted by chris63
Don’t start me on Worldshop
They run out of ducks. I’ve tried twice.Should be some more next week.
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Old Apr 24, 2023, 8:49 am
  #5733  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Originally Posted by Patrickschmidt

They run out of ducks. I’ve tried twice.Should be some more next week.
I can confirm no Worldshop ducks at FRA today. They seem to be overwhelmed by demand.
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Old Apr 24, 2023, 2:02 pm
  #5734  
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Originally Posted by worldclubber
I can confirm no Worldshop ducks at FRA today. They seem to be overwhelmed by demand.
Yes, that was one of the issues, the other might warrant a separate thread, awaiting a response from M&M.
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Old Apr 24, 2023, 2:04 pm
  #5735  
 
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Originally Posted by chris63
Yes, that was one of the issues, the other might warrant a separate thread, awaiting a response from M&M.
Looking forward to your report.
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Old Apr 28, 2023, 5:47 am
  #5736  
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
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I was back there mid week.
I never have seen the FCT this full at around 9 am. All tables occupied, only a few seats left. There was a (short) line for security and also a wait at passport control.
Food selection (menu) was same as at my last visit, service was ok.
Cloth towels instead of paper this time in the bathroom.
Black ducks only.
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Old Apr 28, 2023, 9:32 am
  #5737  
 
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Originally Posted by Unterwegs
I was back there mid week.
I never have seen the FCT this full at around 9 am. All tables occupied, only a few seats left. There was a (short) line for security and also a wait at passport control.
Food selection (menu) was same as at my last visit, service was ok.
Cloth towels instead of paper this time in the bathroom.
Black ducks only.
Had the same situation on my last LH F outbound a few months ago, then switched all of my business to LX. One can only hope that the reopening of the FCL in B will take some pressure off the FCT. Let's see what the situation is like after mid-May.
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Old Apr 29, 2023, 9:49 pm
  #5738  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Super random, but I did fly out of it during ... I want to say the 14th off the top of my head. I recall seeing an "Asian Breakfast" for the orderable breakfast menu that day.

I asked a male server and he said they were out and I asked him what was on it out of curiosity and mentioned something about miso soup possibly.

I later asked a female server and mentioned that even though they were out, what was on it? She was shocked and said you can order it, and mentioned the soup and some dumplings and egg rolls. I opted to just order the dumplings and got some shrimp/pork dumplings with soy sauce which was... mm... alright? Haha, I didn't have high expectations, just curious what I'd be served. Does anyone know what is the full Asian breakfast?

I'm still mystified why the male server said they were out
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Old Apr 30, 2023, 1:45 am
  #5739  
 
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Originally Posted by buggy51
Super random, but I did fly out of it during ... I want to say the 14th off the top of my head. I recall seeing an "Asian Breakfast" for the orderable breakfast menu that day.

I asked a male server and he said they were out and I asked him what was on it out of curiosity and mentioned something about miso soup possibly.

I later asked a female server and mentioned that even though they were out, what was on it? She was shocked and said you can order it, and mentioned the soup and some dumplings and egg rolls. I opted to just order the dumplings and got some shrimp/pork dumplings with soy sauce which was... mm... alright? Haha, I didn't have high expectations, just curious what I'd be served. Does anyone know what is the full Asian breakfast?

I'm still mystified why the male server said they were out
Some of the staff there are just bad, some overwhelmed, etc.

This is what it has been looking like for years (picture from last fall):



FCT Asian breakfast

Probably previously frozen convenience dumplings and spring rolls, but still comfort food.
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Old Apr 30, 2023, 4:18 pm
  #5740  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Ah! Haha, I only got 5 dumplings but they were tasty though a bit different than I expected.

Thanks for the info! I was just curious trying to eat everything and not explode...
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Old May 1, 2023, 6:20 am
  #5741  
 
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Originally Posted by buggy51
Ah! Haha, I only got 5 dumplings but they were tasty though a bit different than I expected.

Thanks for the info! I was just curious trying to eat everything and not explode...
Let’s wait and see whether the new caterer offers an Asian breakfast at all.
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Old May 4, 2023, 6:23 am
  #5742  
 
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Arriving in FRA in LH F class and transferring on a different reservation to LHR in Y, same day, Do I get FCL/FCT access?
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Old May 4, 2023, 6:28 am
  #5743  
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Originally Posted by DrHalxx
Arriving in FRA in LH F class and transferring on a different reservation to LHR in Y, same day, Do I get FCL/FCT access?
Yes arriving on LH F gives you access to FCL.
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Old May 4, 2023, 6:32 am
  #5744  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Originally Posted by andywaw
Yes arriving on LH F gives you access to FCL.
FCT?
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Old May 4, 2023, 6:41 am
  #5745  
 
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Originally Posted by DrHalxx
FCT?
You might get lucky but on a separate ticket you will probably be refused entry. Definitely refused entry if you're on BA to LHR.

The FCL B is your best bet (open from 10 May) if your onward flight is on LH but you probably won't be driven to the plane.
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