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

Old Nov 17, 2010, 8:46 am
  #886  
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Originally Posted by marks88
Or would the FCL be much easier and quicker?

Cheers.
Yes.
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Old Nov 17, 2010, 9:23 am
  #887  
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Originally Posted by marks88
I'm flying KIX-FRA-EWR - all on LH F, with a 2h layover in FRA. (Don't ask why ) Is 2h enough time when connecting between these countries to go to the FCT? Or would the FCL be much easier and quicker?
Your KIX flight is likely to arrive at a C or B gate. If it's B it will be through security and a short walk to the B FCL. If you arrive in C it'll be a longer trek through security to the B FCL.

The EWR flight will almost certainly depart from an A gate and they'll drive you to your plane from the lounge. Much easier than going to the FCT.
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Old Nov 17, 2010, 9:28 am
  #888  
 
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Originally Posted by marks88
I searched and couldn't find a direct answer (FAQ comes close, though!).

I'm flying KIX-FRA-EWR - all on LH F, with a 2h layover in FRA. (Don't ask why ) Is 2h enough time when connecting between these countries to go to the FCT? Or would the FCL be much easier and quicker?

Cheers.
KIX flights tend to land at B so FCL B would be a very good option for you since your EWR flight will be departing from A...in case you get C arrival form kix i would still use FCL B, for two hours its not worth the hassle to go to FCT
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Old Nov 21, 2010, 9:48 am
  #889  
 
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Hello everyone!
It's my first post here, although I read FT for more than a year...
I have a question regarding FCT access (I couldn't find a response... sorry if it's already been aswered): I'm flying EZE-GRU-FRA-CDG (GRU EZE in C with TAM, EZE-FRA in F with LH and FRA-CDG in C with LH). I'll only check in at TAM counter in GRU, so all the boarding passes is "TAM issued". With this BP will I have acess to the FCT? Or I must fly on LH metal AND have a LH issued BP?
by the way: does anybody know how is the lounge at EZE for F passengers on LH?
Thanks everybody!
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Old Nov 21, 2010, 10:31 am
  #890  
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Originally Posted by leoninet
I'm flying EZE-GRU-FRA-CDG (GRU EZE in C with TAM, EZE-FRA in F with LH and FRA-CDG in C with LH). I'll only check in at TAM counter in GRU, so all the boarding passes is "TAM issued". With this BP will I have acess to the FCT? Or I must fly on LH metal AND have a LH issued BP?
Welcome to FT and the M&M Forum, leoninet!

As long as you arrive in F on LH metal you will have access to the FCT/FCL. Who printed the BP should not make any difference but you may want to have your BP reprinted in EZE if you want your BP in one of these.

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Old Nov 21, 2010, 11:04 am
  #891  
 
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Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
Welcome to FT and the M&M Forum, leoninet!

As long as you arrive in F on LH metal you will have access to the FCT/FCL. Who printed the BP should not make any difference but you may want to have your BP reprinted in EZE if you want your BP in one of these.


Many thanks, NewbieRunner!!

Now I'm jealous about this BP!! I would really like to have one like this, but I'm afraid to check in at EZE again because it's a 1H 40Min connection.... considering imigration process, I'm not sure if it's enough time... I arrive at 16:20 and the LH counter closes at 17:10 (the flight leaves at 17:55...). And I won't have time to go to the lounge...I've been some times in EZE, and the queues are veeery lonnng...
What do u think?
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Old Nov 21, 2010, 11:15 am
  #892  
 
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Many thanks NewBieRuuner!!

I'm jealous about this BP! I would really like to have one like this, but the connection between flights is just 1H 40Min.... I'm afraid I won't have time to check in again, considering the immigration process...What do u think? I've been some times in EZE and the queues are soo looong...and I also want to stay/visit for a while the EZE lounge...
My flight arrives at 16:10 and the LH check in closes at 17:10 (the flight leaves EZE at 17:55...)
Thanks again!

Last edited by leoninet; Nov 21, 2010 at 11:25 am
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Old Nov 21, 2010, 11:25 am
  #893  
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Originally Posted by leoninet
I'm jealous about this BP! I would really like to have one like this, but the connection between flights is just 1H 40Min.... I'm afraid I won't have time to check in again, considering the immigration process...What do u think?
I've never been to EZE but don't they have an airside transfer desk?
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Old Nov 21, 2010, 11:28 am
  #894  
 
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Originally Posted by NewbieRunner
I've never been to EZE but don't they have an airside transfer desk?
No ideia...never been in connection there. I will try to find out...

Last edited by leoninet; Nov 21, 2010 at 11:38 am
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Old Nov 21, 2010, 12:50 pm
  #895  
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Originally Posted by leoninet
does anybody know how is the lounge at EZE for F passengers on LH?
There's a 50-seat UA "Red Carpet Club" and that's it. Not much if the 744 to FRA is going out even half full in C and F, and that's without adding in *G members and passengers on other *A flights.

Reports suggest it's a typical RCC: better than waiting outside, if it happens to be cold or raining, but not worth making a special effort to spend time in.
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Old Nov 21, 2010, 11:02 pm
  #896  
 
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I was "invited" to go to the Amex lounge at EZE when using LH F. Very very poor lounge.
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Old Nov 22, 2010, 2:14 am
  #897  
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And to add, leoninet: the F BP wallet is very nice, but at the outstations there are occasions that you dont get one! (happened to me in CPT). I would expect that when you ask nicely they will give you one as you enter the FCL (or FCT where appropriate) when you arrive in FRA (they keep them at the desk where you enter). I find the FCL staff in FRA very accomodating.
Certainly not worth risking to miss your connection !
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Old Nov 22, 2010, 4:22 am
  #898  
 
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Originally Posted by aurigakb
I was "invited" to go to the Amex lounge at EZE when using LH F. Very very poor lounge.
Well EZE isn't a gem.
When I am through the airport and made it up the stairs into the F-cabin, welcomed by the FA whom I saw hours ago checking out at the Hilton, I feel the urge to kiss the floor for being home and having the insanity called EZE behind me. Love Argentina, but EZE....
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Old Nov 22, 2010, 4:50 am
  #899  
 
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Originally Posted by mamb0
Well EZE isn't a gem.
When I am through the airport and made it up the stairs into the F-cabin, welcomed by the FA whom I saw hours ago checking out at the Hilton, I feel the urge to kiss the floor for being home and having the insanity called EZE behind me. Love Argentina, but EZE....


Thanks everyone for the responses!! So, I would not risk my connection flight... I'm just afraid of not been so "welcomed" at the FCT, despite everybody says it´s Ok.... the lack of a clear rule (considering my case) make me not feel so comfortable...I´ve read a report in another site that states LH did not allowed a passenger arriving in F (with a connection on LH in C) to the FCT....they "invited" the pax to the FCL...this situation would be very embarrasing for me...
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Old Nov 22, 2010, 6:43 am
  #900  
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Originally Posted by leoninet

Thanks everyone for the responses!! So, I would not risk my connection flight... I'm just afraid of not been so "welcomed" at the FCT, despite everybody says it´s Ok.... the lack of a clear rule (considering my case) make me not feel so comfortable...I´ve read a report in another site that states LH did not allowed a passenger arriving in F (with a connection on LH in C) to the FCT....they "invited" the pax to the FCL...this situation would be very embarrasing for me...
With only a 2 hour layover in FRA, I wouldn't bother with the FCT. Just use one of the FCLs. You don't need to be "invited". Your First Class BP (regardless of who issued it) is all you need for access. And even if you lose your BP, the FCL agent can check her computer and verify your itinerary.
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