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

Old Jul 29, 2010, 10:01 pm
  #691  
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 119
Originally Posted by ismann
You basically repeated the quoted rule verbatim, so yes, you're correct. Access to the FCL isn't unconditional - the condition required for access is same-day arrival or departure in LH/LX F. Since you will satisfy the condition, you will be granted access. (Sorry for being so snarky - couldn't help it ).
That's nice and all, but the "rule" posted here on FT (as helpful as I think FT is!) actually contradicts what Lufthansa says on their website.

The above link says "1) Access to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport is only possible if you have a confirmed First Class flight on Lufthansa or SWISS or, for HON Circle Members, on Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines flights with a same-day departure."

My situation is not the case; while I arrive in LH F, my same-day departure is not in F on either LH or LX.
elitelite is offline  
Old Jul 29, 2010, 10:22 pm
  #692  
 
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mind the difference between First Class Lounge and First Class Terminal. Your quote is regarding the terminal not the lounge.


Originally Posted by elitelite
That's nice and all, but the "rule" posted here on FT (as helpful as I think FT is!) actually contradicts what Lufthansa says on their website.

The above link says "1) Access to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport is only possible if you have a confirmed First Class flight on Lufthansa or SWISS or, for HON Circle Members, on Lufthansa, SWISS or Austrian Airlines flights with a same-day departure."

My situation is not the case; while I arrive in LH F, my same-day departure is not in F on either LH or LX.
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Old Jul 30, 2010, 7:47 am
  #693  
 
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Originally Posted by FTMucGer
mind the difference between First Class Lounge and First Class Terminal. Your quote is regarding the terminal not the lounge.
Agreed, and it's easy to understand why the FCT rule is in place when the only way to exit the FCT is with a ride to your plane. Since they only give rides to LH, LX and OS planes, departing on one of those airlines is a condition of access to the FCT (but not the FCL).
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Old Jul 30, 2010, 8:17 am
  #694  
 
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Originally Posted by FTMucGer
mind the difference between First Class Lounge and First Class Terminal. Your quote is regarding the terminal not the lounge.
Even then, if you look at the matrix at the top of the lufthansa.com page I linked to, the First Class Lounge specifies a "same-day First Class boarding pass". Nothing about departure or arrival, but if I'm coming from the states, the departure is not same-day.

Perhaps the website itself needs to be a little clearer.
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Old Jul 30, 2010, 8:40 am
  #695  
 
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Originally Posted by elitelite
Even then, if you look at the matrix at the top of the lufthansa.com page I linked to, the First Class Lounge specifies a "same-day First Class boarding pass". Nothing about departure or arrival, but if I'm coming from the states, the departure is not same-day.

Perhaps the website itself needs to be a little clearer.
this doesn't talk about the departure day from the USA, but the departure from Germany
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Old Jul 30, 2010, 9:05 am
  #696  
 
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Originally Posted by elitelite
Even then, if you look at the matrix at the top of the lufthansa.com page I linked to, the First Class Lounge specifies a "same-day First Class boarding pass". Nothing about departure or arrival, but if I'm coming from the states, the departure is not same-day.

Perhaps the website itself needs to be a little clearer.
You're right, lh.com should elaborate that "same-day" means same-day departure OR same-day arrival. The FAQs here add that crucial piece of information, though I don't think there's any contradiction.
ismann is offline  
Old Jul 31, 2010, 11:41 am
  #697  
hch
 
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Originally Posted by ismann
Agreed, and it's easy to understand why the FCT rule is in place when the only way to exit the FCT is with a ride to your plane. Since they only give rides to LH, LX and OS planes, departing on one of those airlines is a condition of access to the FCT (but not the FCL).
You can leave the FCT just fine through the front door. I have done so multiple times for various reasons.
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Old Jul 31, 2010, 12:09 pm
  #698  
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Originally Posted by hch
You can leave the FCT just fine through the front door. I have done so multiple times for various reasons.
Did you get kicked out for misbehaving ?
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Old Jul 31, 2010, 6:01 pm
  #699  
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Originally Posted by Rambuster
Did you get kicked out for misbehaving ?
Speak for yourself !
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Old Aug 19, 2010, 9:51 am
  #700  
 
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How's the food at FCL A compared to FCL B and FCT? Is the presentation the same?
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Old Aug 19, 2010, 1:38 pm
  #701  
 
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Originally Posted by Buster CT1K
How's the food at FCL A compared to FCL B and FCT? Is the presentation the same?
Yes, basically the same although a few dishes may vary.
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Old Aug 19, 2010, 4:58 pm
  #702  
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Originally Posted by Buster CT1K
How's the food at FCL A compared to FCL B and FCT? Is the presentation the same?
Yes- the same.
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Old Aug 23, 2010, 8:16 am
  #703  
 
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MUC-FRA-JFK FCL/FCT options/advice

I have a flight coming up from Munich to NY JFK via Frankfurt. Munich to Frankfurt is LH Y (wl in C) and Frankfurt to JFK is LH F. I'll have about 2.5 hours in Frankfurt.

Having read the previous posts, are the following assumptions correct:

@ MUC
- I can use the F checkin and FCL
- no car to FRA flight since flight to FRA will most likely be from gate

@ FRA
- probably arrive at the A schengen area
- can access the FCL at A schengen but will not get car service since most likely JFK flight will be out of A non-schengen
- or can access FCL B non-schengen and can get car service to JFK flight
- or access the FCT by leaving the T1

If the above is correct, what would be the recommendation?

Seems like FCL A schengen is the least hassle but will not be able to get the full experience.

FCL B non-schengen and FCT will be a hassle/hike, but would provide a fuller experience.

Any additional experiences, words of wisdom from the FCL/FCT veterans would be much appreciated.
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Old Aug 23, 2010, 8:32 am
  #704  
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The FCT - not because of the full/fuller experience but because it will mean less hassle through immigration and security.
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Old Aug 23, 2010, 10:15 am
  #705  
 
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if you are taking the afternoon flight to JFK pls do yourself a favor and just stick with A FCL, did that few days ago and outstanding service there also SAME as B or FCT, since you are arriving from a "clean" flight you will not have to go through a second screen but just an immigration clearance, they do have F/C lines (left side)...again not worth the trouble to bother with B or FCT

Originally Posted by Infinite1K
I have a flight coming up from Munich to NY JFK via Frankfurt. Munich to Frankfurt is LH Y (wl in C) and Frankfurt to JFK is LH F. I'll have about 2.5 hours in Frankfurt.

Having read the previous posts, are the following assumptions correct:

@ MUC
- I can use the F checkin and FCL
- no car to FRA flight since flight to FRA will most likely be from gate

@ FRA
- probably arrive at the A schengen area
- can access the FCL at A schengen but will not get car service since most likely JFK flight will be out of A non-schengen
- or can access FCL B non-schengen and can get car service to JFK flight
- or access the FCT by leaving the T1

If the above is correct, what would be the recommendation?

Seems like FCL A schengen is the least hassle but will not be able to get the full experience.

FCL B non-schengen and FCT will be a hassle/hike, but would provide a fuller experience.

Any additional experiences, words of wisdom from the FCL/FCT veterans would be much appreciated.
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