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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 Sep 13, 2010, 6:18 am
  #766  
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
 
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Note to all wise members: if you are irritated by threads that should belong somewhere, please alert a moderator to the fact and we will rush to the rescue. Like in this case, but I just saw it while reading FT.

Alternatively the proportion of the 'how do I maximise...' threads can be easily bought down by opening new wonderful topics where you contribute or point out a wonderful or terrible aspect of M&M

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Old Sep 17, 2010, 9:57 am
  #767  
 
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Arriving LH F but connecting LH Y?

Flying into FRA on LH metal in F and have a 5 hour connection onto LHR. I know I'll have access to the FCL but if I got bored and decided to check out the FCT, would I be sent away because I'm arriving in FRA with a boarding pass from the day before coming from LAX. I checked out previous posts and most were connecting in J but I'm still waitlisted for that segment so if it never clears, can I still go to the FCT arriving in F but flying out in Y (all on LH metal).
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Old Sep 17, 2010, 10:02 am
  #768  
 
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you are good to go to the FCT
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Old Sep 17, 2010, 10:35 am
  #769  
 
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Thanks ^

Now I just have to keep my head down when asking for the ride to my flight to LHR if I'm still in Y. The driver will probably mumble something about another cheap traveller who snuck his way into the FCT.
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Old Sep 17, 2010, 10:37 am
  #770  
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Originally Posted by silver-tls
Thanks ^

Now I just have to keep my head down when asking for the ride to my flight to LHR if I'm still in Y. The driver will probably mumble something about another cheap traveller who snuck his way into the FCT.
I've flown Y a bunch of times on short-haul and never heard a single comment at the FCT. Enjoy your flight and the FCT !
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Old Sep 17, 2010, 12:35 pm
  #771  
 
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Thanks - will definitely consider checking out the FCT if the wife doesn't feel like staying at FCL B's spa. Anyone know what the treatment costs are?
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Old Sep 17, 2010, 2:23 pm
  #772  
 
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Originally Posted by silver-tls
Anyone know what the treatment costs are?
They used to have the price list online - but it seems to have disappeared. But when I was last there about two months ago the prices were reasonable (80-100 EUR massage, etc)
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Old Sep 17, 2010, 5:03 pm
  #773  
 
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Originally Posted by TRAVELSIG
I've flown Y a bunch of times on short-haul and never heard a single comment at the FCT. Enjoy your flight and the FCT !
Did you get a driver to your Y flight?!

Apparently the rule is you must have F BP for the same day.... so if you arrive from JFK in LH F and are connecting on LH J to London (as I am) , I'm not sure they will let you in (as your F BP will be date the previous day).

"First Class Terminal
Entry to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt is reserved for Lufthansa First Class passengers and HON Circle Members, departing from Frankfurt that day on a flight operated by Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines Group, Lufthansa, Lufthansa Regional or SWISS."

I guess that's open to interpretaion.. it does not say you have to be a First Class passenger also departing in First Class. However, the LH rules also do refer specifically to "connecting/arriving" from F when they apply the the lounge (not terminal).

"The First Class Lounge in Pier B is available to Lufthansa First Class passengers and HON Circle Members, who are departing from Frankfurt, changing flights there or arriving on the same day."

http://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/First...nkfurt#ancAbT8

Has anyone actually been on such an itinerary and had success or disappointment with FCT access?

Last edited by maxmin; Sep 17, 2010 at 5:05 pm Reason: fixed URL link
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Old Sep 18, 2010, 5:47 am
  #774  
 
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FRA-MIA LH First Class, Lounge issue...

Hi,
Have searched both here on FT and on LH.com but found no answer to my problem.
Am departing FRA-MIA on LH 462 First class and seeing that I've been to the FCT a few times, would rather use the FCL in TER B. Have noticed that most flights to MIA depart from TER C which does not have a FCL.
So my question is, can I use the FCL in TER B even if my Flight departs from TER C and if yes, how do I get to my departing gate in TER C? Have an American Passport with a Unbefristet Niederlassungserlaubnis for Germany, so Passport control will not be an issue.
Thanking you in advance for any and all help with this issue...have a nice weekend

trier48
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Old Sep 18, 2010, 6:06 am
  #775  
 
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Originally Posted by trier48
So my question is, can I use the FCL in TER B even if my Flight departs from TER C and if yes, how do I get to my departing gate in TER C?
they'll drive you, just like from the FCT...
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Old Sep 18, 2010, 8:14 am
  #776  
 
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LH will permit entrance and there will be a car transfer to the plane.
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Old Sep 18, 2010, 8:58 am
  #777  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Posts: 945
Originally Posted by maxmin
Did you get a driver to your Y flight?!

Apparently the rule is you must have F BP for the same day.... so if you arrive from JFK in LH F and are connecting on LH J to London (as I am) , I'm not sure they will let you in (as your F BP will be date the previous day).

"First Class Terminal
Entry to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt is reserved for Lufthansa First Class passengers and HON Circle Members, departing from Frankfurt that day on a flight operated by Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines Group, Lufthansa, Lufthansa Regional or SWISS."

I guess that's open to interpretaion.. it does not say you have to be a First Class passenger also departing in First Class. However, the LH rules also do refer specifically to "connecting/arriving" from F when they apply the the lounge (not terminal).

"The First Class Lounge in Pier B is available to Lufthansa First Class passengers and HON Circle Members, who are departing from Frankfurt, changing flights there or arriving on the same day."

http://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/First...nkfurt#ancAbT8

Has anyone actually been on such an itinerary and had success or disappointment with FCT access?
you will be allowed as long as the connecting flights are on LH/LX/OS irrespective of class of travel (bother C and Y are OK)
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Old Sep 18, 2010, 11:57 pm
  #778  
 
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Nice...wonder what would happen if I gave them my Y boarding pass for the connecting flight and then showed them the arriving F BP when they're ushering me to the exit and pointing me in the direction of the main terminal!
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Old Sep 20, 2010, 2:49 pm
  #779  
Ari
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Originally Posted by silver-tls
Thanks ^

Now I just have to keep my head down when asking for the ride to my flight to LHR if I'm still in Y. The driver will probably mumble something about another cheap traveller who snuck his way into the FCT.
I have never had anyone from LH or LX look down their nose at me for using an award ticket-- IMO, they just don't do it. I have had a nice comment or two when traveling in paid-F (A, actually), but I don't believe that is the norm.
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Old Sep 20, 2010, 6:17 pm
  #780  
 
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apart from being fobbed off by the LH concierge at the arrival gate in FRA term B.(he had an even more important passenger to greet, duh!)mrs and I had a fabulous experience we arrived FRAfrom BOS in F and waited 8hours for our biz LH flt to GDN ,we d planned to visit the FCT but were guided by LH staff to FCL B . wow day room to sleep through the rush ,and then we had the lounge mostly to ourselves no more than 8 other passengers at any time. Then shower change and a wonderful lunch , service 2nd to none white gloves to handle cutlery, great wine recommendations,treated warmly and attentively by all F LH staff ,felt no need to explore the FCT next time perhaps already planning next F award trip. we have trip report planed but 4 more F flights to go
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