Always Flyin

[added by Kiwi Flyer]

Link to FRA HON/F Terminal Meets

[end add]

[added by totti]
Referring to this thread the First Class Terminal Frankfurt is open every day from 5:30 a.m. until the last passenger has left.

[end add]

[added by Oliver2002]

The official access policy was posted by runabout here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...1&postcount=23

Note as of November 2007, it has been reported that arriving F pax with onward connections in C no longer have access to the FCT but have to settle for the FCLs instead. See post #930.

alanw reports that access is again possible if arriving in LH F and departing in C. See post #1171

[end add]




I thought it prudent to post this as a new thread since the details seem to get buried in other threads, or mixed in with threads about the two HON Circle/First Class LOUNGES in the A and B piers in Terminal 1.


The new Lufthansa HON Circle/First Class TERMINAL is located ground-side on the upper, departure level in a separate building, 200 meters west of Terminal 1. The building is emblazoned in large letters with "First Class Terminal". Slow down as you approach the terminal building in a car or you will miss the sharp turn-off for the terminal. LH says they will valet your car for you, which I presume means return it to the rental car company or park your private car in the parking lot.

If you do drive past the first class terminal, it is a very short walk back from the ground-level hotel van drop-off area at Terminal 1. Stay on the ground level as you pass the queue of taxis and walk-up to the building. A "personal assistant" will come down in the lift, open the glass security door, and escort you upstairs to the lounge.

Upon entering the lounge, either by arriving by car at the upper level, or from the lift if entering from the ground level, you will first go through security (x-ray of your bags and metal detector). The personal assistant will take your ticket and passport and return later with your boarding pass. Your passport will be retained for passport control.

[Note: this was an issue for me as my flight was to the U.S. and I am a dual-citizen of the U.S. and an E.U. country. I had entered Germany on my E.U. passport, but had provided my U.S. passport for check-in purposes since I would be using it to enter the U.S. I would normally show my U.S. passport at check-in, but my E.U. passport at departure passport control. Here, they combine both functions in one. The problem was that there was no arrival stamp in my U.S. passport. I explained the situation to the personal assistant, who presumably explained it to passport control, and there was no problem.]

I won't attempt to fully describe the lounge, but it is very nice and very complete. The staff are very attentive. There is a large selection of newspapers and magazines as you enter the lounge. There is a very, very impressive bar with a long list of top-notch libations. Next to it is a sit-down restaurant area. A smoking room is across from the restaurant area. I saw a very swanky B&O stereo system in there. There is a large amount of sitting area. There are about six private work cubicles with glass doors for privacy. Wireless internet access is free (same as the Vodophone in the main airport, but you don't actually have to pay for it). There are a few showers and a couple of rooms in which to take a nap. The whole lounge is quite spacious (about 1,800 square meters) and was not busy at all when I was there last week (from 08:00 to 10:00). My only real criticisms are that there is not much of a view, the modern style furniture is not all that comfortable to sit in, and they need more electric outlets throughout the lounge, which wasn't a problem for me since I grabbed a cubicle.

When your flight is ready for boarding, your personal assistant will fetch you and take you downstairs in a lift, where the government immigration officers will look at your boarding pass and then return your passport. Yes, security and passport control are all self-contained in the lounge. You will then be introduced to your driver, who will drive you directly to the plane in either a Mercedes S-class or a Porsche Cayenne. You will be admonished for security reasons not to open a window or door of the vehicle, which I presume is to prevent you from dropping anything onto the tarmac.

The car will stop right at the aircraft. The driver will help you with your bags and escort you onto the aircraft.

By far the best first class lounge experience I have ever had.

So, who gets into the terminal?

1. Members of Lufthansa's HON Circle, which is achieved by anyone who collects 600,000 HON Circle miles within a period of two calendar years. These are status miles which are collected aboard flights operated by Lufthansa, Lufthansa Regional, Austrian Airlines Group, LOT Polish Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Air One, or United Airlines;

2. Passengers originating travel in Frankfurt in first class on a Lufthansa flight; or

3. Passengers connecting in Frankfurt to a Lufthansa flight in first class, or passengers arriving in Frankfurt in first class on a Lufthansa flight and connecting to a European flight, even though that flight is in business class. In these situations, you will have to make your way from the main terminal building to the First Class Terminal. You can either walk it as described above, or apparently go to the LH first class check-in area in Terminal 1 and they will have a car pick you up and take you to the First Class Terminal.

My personal opinion is that, if I was connecting, I would not bother to go to the First Class Terminal, but would use the new HON Circle/First Class lounges in Terminal 1, which are every bit as nice. You are only giving up the car ride to the aircraft, which seems like a fair trade-off compared with the hassle of getting to the new Terminal. If I was going bother to use the Terminal, I would walk rather than hassle with a car ride over.

Here are what I believe to be unclear or unanswered questions about the new HON Circle/First Class Terminal:

1. Can it be used solely as an arrivals lounge, i.e., you are terminating travel in Frankfurt after arriving in first class on a Lufthansa flight? There have been conflicting statements about this in various threads. It is clear that the HON Circle/First Class Lounges in Terminal 1 can be so used. It is not clear about the new Terminal.

2. Can it be used as a connecting lounge if, after arriving in Frankfurt in first class on a Lufthansa flight, the outbound flight is on another carrier?

UA 882

Thanks for all the info! Very, very good post!!

NeoOfTheCRS

Always Flyin,

Thanks this should be a sticky! Great post!

Babu

Well done!

Nobbi

Thanks for that great description. Just did it several days ago. Excellent narrative!





I wasn't aware that if you do a F to C (intr-europe) LH connection that you could use the FCT and get driven to the plane. Is that really true?

I think I would still not bother exiting and going thru security at the FCT just for that. I really enjoyed the 1A lounge awaiting my onward flight to MUC in C.

NeoOfTheCRS

If you are connecting onward without using the First Class Terminal, do you have to go throught security screening again? Since I am connecting onward to VCE I know I don't have to go through customs or immigration.

flysurfer

There is no way you will NOT have to clear customs and immigration, as you are traveling to Italy, which is part of the Schengen EU. But don't worry, they'll probably let you in.

No security screening in FRA for you, though.

Also no C&I for you in VCE, cuz it's a "domestic" flight within Europe.

Nobbi

Remember though: if there's "checked" baggage which is retrieved at the final destination, you technically do go thru customs there.

flysurfer

Absolutely. Same with intra-German connections. However, coming from the US, the OP won't probably even see a customs agent, and contrary to the US, there's no paperwork involved in the entire C&I process. This also means that everything is happening rather quickly, AND there's a dedicated immigration fast lane in FRA for pax with close connections.

Dennis

But only if you are on a flight(!, no Airrail ;-) ) operated by Lufthansa, Lufthansa Regional, Austrian Airlines Group, Air Dolomiti
Definitly NO.
I had a long discussion about this and now it´s clear that you have to have a flight going on to... as the procedure is that you´ll be driven to your flight and it´s not usual/allowed that you step into that FCT and go out again (after security).

NeoOfTheCRS

In another thread, I thought a poster said that as a LH F Class passenger arriving in FRA, you can ask the purser on your arriving flight to have a "personal assistant" escort you through Immigration and Customs and then to the First Class Terminal.

Is this the case? Has anyone done this before? If so does it work well? I am taking my wife and we have never connected through FRA before and I wouldn't mind being led around by the hand

flysurfer

LOL! They might actually do it, but only if the status on your BP says KID, for Kindergarten

UA 882

I just wanted to confirm again if that is true... Sorry!

Nobbi

From all I've read now: YES!

Dennis

I asked yesterday this question to PAs in the FCT and they said no!
Only Exception is if you´re a HON.