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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 May 6, 2019, 4:54 pm
  #4501  
 
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Originally Posted by croomes


Quick question then....does the FCL not have the duckies? Is it just the FCT that has them?

No. Both the FCT and the FCLs usually have the regular ducks. Some times, any one of them (FCT/FCL; but more FCLs than FCT) can run out of the regular ducks (how that's even possible is another story...). For the special ducks, the FCT is usually better than the FCLs (again, no acceptable justification). YMMV.
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Old May 6, 2019, 6:25 pm
  #4502  
 
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Originally Posted by croomes
Quick question then....does the FCL not have the duckies? Is it just the FCT that has them?
All of them have them. Best for special ducks so far this year have been FCT and FCL at MUC (satellite).
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Old May 7, 2019, 10:09 am
  #4503  
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Originally Posted by croomes


Quick question then....does the FCL not have the duckies? Is it just the FCT that has them?
All FCL’s & FCT are supposed to have the Ducks, FCT is best bet for not running out of them.
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Old May 17, 2019, 2:15 pm
  #4504  
 
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Customs stamp for VAT refund

I have an overnight connection in Frankfort arriving from Trieste, staying overnight at the FRA Sheraton and continuing onto the US in Lufthansa first class the following morning. I would like to visit the first class terminal in the morning before my flight, but would also like to obtain a customs stamp in order to get a VAT refund on a few items purchased while in Italy. I see the wiki mentions a 75 euro fee for the customs officer to come over to the FCT to give the stamp but that isn't practical in my case given the amount of my refund! So I believe my options are: (1) check bags through to my US destination at the Trieste airport and obtain the customs stamp there but not have access to my luggage while overnight in Frankfort; or (2) go into Terminal 1 at FRA on the morning of my flight pass through immigration, obtain the customs stamp, pass back through immigration, exit terminal 1 and then go to the FCT.

I am hoping there is another option I am overlooking or perhaps there is now a customs office in the FCT because neither of the options mentioned are appealing!

Thank you for any comments.
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Old May 17, 2019, 2:46 pm
  #4505  
 
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If you stay at the sheraton anyway, do customs at main terminal, then walk over to FCT?
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Old May 17, 2019, 9:21 pm
  #4506  
 
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Originally Posted by daumueller
If you stay at the sheraton anyway, do customs at main terminal, then walk over to FCT?
+1. This said, I can't imagine the 75 EUR fee being that big an issue for someone ticketed in F on LH.
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Old May 17, 2019, 9:25 pm
  #4507  
 
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Originally Posted by mmff
+1. This said, I can't imagine the 75 EUR fee being that big an issue for someone ticketed in F on LH.
Seems like the issue here is that the VAT refund is not greater than 75 EUR...
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Old May 17, 2019, 9:44 pm
  #4508  
 
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Originally Posted by sophialite


Seems like the issue here is that the VAT refund is not greater than 75 EUR...
Absolutely!!!!
And in FCT LH don't arrange it -you have to call DE Zoll yourself and see if they are prepared to schlepp to the FCT
Easiest is at MXP Fly from MXP-ZRH, use stuff as soon as you are back in ZRH Just take receipts and goods (they never wanna see them ) to Premier Tax Free etc before you check in then check in bags
As we all know Frankport Corporation makes FRA very difficult and no premier security except the rather nasty security at FCT Try ZRH where it is all effortless and then connect to Schleppsfurt Airport for LH F BTW we are allowed to walk through E Terminal ZRH with a champagne glass from First Lounge E Gates ZRH to smoking room This is STRICTLY VERBOTEN in DE MUC FRA!!!!

Last edited by cbourl; May 17, 2019 at 9:51 pm Reason: Addition
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Old May 17, 2019, 9:50 pm
  #4509  
 
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Originally Posted by sophialite
Seems like the issue here is that the VAT refund is not greater than 75 EUR...
That's pretty much the same thing, isn't it? The typical LH F flyer wouldn't go out of their way at FRA early in the morning to save 75 EUR. Time is money and those passengers tend to value their time highly. If the VAT refund amount isn't high enough, most of them likely forget about it unless they can get it with minimal hassle.
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Old May 18, 2019, 2:35 am
  #4510  
 
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Originally Posted by entrada
I have an overnight connection in Frankfort arriving from Trieste, staying overnight at the FRA Sheraton and continuing onto the US in Lufthansa first class the following morning. I would like to visit the first class terminal in the morning before my flight, but would also like to obtain a customs stamp in order to get a VAT refund on a few items purchased while in Italy. I see the wiki mentions a 75 euro fee for the customs officer to come over to the FCT to give the stamp but that isn't practical in my case given the amount of my refund! So I believe my options are: (1) check bags through to my US destination at the Trieste airport and obtain the customs stamp there but not have access to my luggage while overnight in Frankfort; or (2) go into Terminal 1 at FRA on the morning of my flight pass through immigration, obtain the customs stamp, pass back through immigration, exit terminal 1 and then go to the FCT.

I am hoping there is another option I am overlooking or perhaps there is now a customs office in the FCT because neither of the options mentioned are appealing!

Thank you for any comments.
If the item is in your checked luggage, you don't need to go through immigration. You can drop of your checked luggage at the customs counter in Terminal 1 (landside)
If the item is in your hand luggage, you can ask for a ride from the FCT to the FCL B. They might grant an exception and drive you there (depending on how many cars they will need in the next XX minutes). From the FCL B, it is a 5-7min walk to the customs office.

AFAIK you can't go through the reimbursement procedure in Trieste. Only at the last stop/airport before leaving the Schengen area.
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Old May 18, 2019, 3:10 am
  #4511  
 
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Just fly thru Zuerich Switzerland and its effortless!!!!!!!!!! No FRAport rubbish!
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Old May 18, 2019, 5:49 am
  #4512  
 
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Originally Posted by cbourl
Just fly thru Zuerich Switzerland and its effortless!!!!!!!!!! No FRAport rubbish!
i have to say... apart from being hard to read, your posts also are not helpful. How is adding an extra stop in ZRH improving anything/making it easier than walking to customs in FRA?

also, lounges have their own smoking rooms so why would you need to leave the lounge with a glas to go smoking?!
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Old May 18, 2019, 6:46 am
  #4513  
 
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Originally Posted by daumueller


i have to say... apart from being hard to read, your posts also are not helpful. How is adding an extra stop in ZRH improving anything/making it easier than walking to customs in FRA?

also, lounges have their own smoking rooms so why would you need to leave the lounge with a glas to go smoking?!
My thought exactly. ^

We just have to be careful not to feed the troll.
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Old May 18, 2019, 6:52 am
  #4514  
 
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Originally Posted by daumueller


i have to say... apart from being hard to read, your posts also are not helpful. How is adding an extra stop in ZRH improving anything/making it easier than walking to customs in FRA?

also, lounges have their own smoking rooms so why would you need to leave the lounge with a glas to go smoking?!
you aint flown thru Zuerich then! No smoking room ZRH E Gates Smoking room just in ZRH A Gates with lotsa Davidoff cigars - oh my word Lufti stopped their grates cigars in F Lounges and F Terminal
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Old May 18, 2019, 7:16 am
  #4515  
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Originally Posted by cbourl
And in FCT LH don't arrange it -you have to call DE Zoll yourself and see if they are prepared to schlepp to the FCT
Utter nonsense. Your PA will call and customs agents will come.
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