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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 Nov 20, 2017, 3:33 pm
  #3961  
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Originally Posted by chris63
Used to be the case but multiple times now, arriving from MAN, I have had to go through security after Limo drop off at B or A, after making it clear to the Driver I have arrived from UK & therefore ‘clean’ arrival .
only sure way to painlessly connect at FRA on F arrival & departing connections from UK is via FCT
As far as I know AEUW only operates at certain times of the day (usually morning) and I suspect "BEUW" is the same if it still exists. I don't think FRA has bus gates for clean non-Schengen arrivals which are open at all times.
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Old Nov 20, 2017, 4:56 pm
  #3962  
 
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Old Nov 20, 2017, 9:48 pm
  #3963  
 
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Reading the wiki, I don't think I'm allowed access to the FCT, but thought I'd double-check anyways.

Flying F from DEN-MUC, then onwards MUC-FRA-IST.

MUC-FRA-IST transfer all in the same day.

I'm guessing since I'm not arriving in FRA in F, I don't have access to the FCT correct?
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 12:07 am
  #3964  
 
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Originally Posted by pentiumvi
Reading the wiki, I don't think I'm allowed access to the FCT, but thought I'd double-check anyways.

Flying F from DEN-MUC, then onwards MUC-FRA-IST.

MUC-FRA-IST transfer all in the same day.

I'm guessing since I'm not arriving in FRA in F, I don't have access to the FCT correct?
If the segment FRA-IST is on LH and not TK then you have FCT access, otherwise you can use the FCL. A same day bp for LH or LX F always counts for access in most cases.
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 10:49 am
  #3965  
 
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Originally Posted by cyborg
Ok, yeah got the joke. Of course I would prefer to walk straight to the FCT. I was concerned about the availability of showers. The Welcome Lounge has never been a problem. I enter the lounge and go straight to the shower. The FCL and FCT in my experience can have a waitlist for a shower. I'm doing a 2.5 hour F > J connection and prefer the FCT to the FCL for all the reasons mentioned in this thread.
I have never experienced any long wait for a shower room at the FCL or FTC in all my travel history with LH.
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 11:56 am
  #3966  
 
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 12:27 pm
  #3967  
 
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Originally Posted by cyborg
Thanks NA-Flyer.

One time, a few years ago I did have to wait in the FCL B, but that was on a 5 hour connection. This is a 2:50 connection using the FCT, so I was just curious enough to ask.

Cheers,

-Cyborg
As the FCT is mostly used as a departure lounge, not a transfer lounge, there is hardly ever a wait for the showers. I only once had to wait, maybe 15 minutes during busy times in the morning. More often had to wait at the FCL A in the morning. Even then, a 15 or 30 minute wait means you can just have a meal first.
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 1:19 pm
  #3968  
 
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Originally Posted by pentiumvi
Reading the wiki, I don't think I'm allowed access to the FCT, but thought I'd double-check anyways.

Flying F from DEN-MUC, then onwards MUC-FRA-IST.

MUC-FRA-IST transfer all in the same day.

I'm guessing since I'm not arriving in FRA in F, I don't have access to the FCT correct?
IF MUC-FRA is on the same ticket as DEN-MUC, then yes; if not, you are out of luck.
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 1:21 pm
  #3969  
 
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Originally Posted by cyborg
One time, a few years ago I did have to wait in the FCL B, but that was on a 5 hour connection. This is a 2:50 connection using the FCT, so I was just curious enough to ask.
2:50 is plenty, including a shower, even if some people are taking a long bath with a duck.
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 2:13 pm
  #3970  
 
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 8:14 pm
  #3971  
 
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Originally Posted by worldclubber
IF MUC-FRA is on the same ticket as DEN-MUC, then yes; if not, you are out of luck.
I should've clarified.

DEN-MUC-FRA-IST all on one ticket and all on LH.

So is the criteria for FCT just a same day F boarding pass, regardless of arrival airport?
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Old Nov 21, 2017, 11:27 pm
  #3972  
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Originally Posted by pentiumvi
I should've clarified.

DEN-MUC-FRA-IST all on one ticket and all on LH.

So is the criteria for FCT just a same day F boarding pass, regardless of arrival airport?
FCT is officially for First Class passengers & HON Circle members originating & departing from FRA, it is not for connecting passengers, however as yet the Staff are not enforcing this 👍

on your ininerary you are entitled to use a FCL at FRA, as a connecting passenger having arrived same day in F, you will probably be allowed access to FCT but not under the access rules for FCT.
worldclubber and 1flyer like this.
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Old Dec 11, 2017, 9:58 am
  #3973  
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
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Had an early morning visit to FCT yesterday before out to BOS at 10:55. The driver to aircraft gave us a 1 minute detour by all the heavy aircraft which was so so special.

Overall still the most memorable lounge experiences Ive had. Very thankful.

Cant help but notice general cost cutting in the lounge compared to a visit back in 2014.

Any anecdotal evidence to news articles that communicate what is specifically cut and why?

I saw no labelling of buffet items (weird), maybe this was an off day. Most importantly it seems the offering quality and selection of cheeses and meats as well as desserts has been compressed and degraded. No more cigar selection and the amenities in the bathing rooms do not match Lufthansa First in anyway. Lastly the christmas display or special cookies which I have seen in the past was non existent.

Regardless, menu food was super tasty and the Bollinger was nice. Glad to be able to enjoy. Look forward to going back.

General hospitality from the two service attendants was not awesome. One did ok, but was quite forgetful (maybe overworked), the other was not pleasant in the slightest.
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Old Dec 11, 2017, 10:01 am
  #3974  
 
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Originally Posted by michaelpowell44
General hospitality from the two service attendants was not awesome. One did ok, but was quite forgetful (maybe overworked), the other was not pleasant in the slightest.
On a recent paid F trip at the FCT I handed over my United FF card for them to notate - was handed back same BP without a FF number and no credit for the flight/s I took!

At least UA swiftly cleared that up...
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Old Dec 11, 2017, 10:15 am
  #3975  
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Originally Posted by SuperFlyBoy
On a recent paid F trip at the FCT I handed over my United FF card for them to notate - was handed back same BP without a FF number and no credit for the flight/s I took!

At least UA swiftly cleared that up...
Sometimes it's just impossible to replace FF number, but retroclaim is possible. They should have specifically warned you though.
Fabo.sk is offline  


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