I have not experienced AF's La Premiere Lounge @ CDG nor LH's FCT @ FRA. I'm thinking about doing F on the A380 either on CDG-SFO or FRA-SFO.

Who has the overall edge @ CDG vs FRA from the moment of check-in->Lounge->escort to plane?

SFO777 has done reviews of both in the trip report sections with lots of pictures and comments. Might be worth searching through.

I personally would go with LH FCT as I think the check-in process is different than other F check-ins and the experience is more refined than that of AF. If there is option of getting an AF 77W with their private suites that might be worth the experience over the AF A380 F cabin .

+1 for checking SFO777's excellent trip reports. I know that he's rated AF F the best overall F experience (including lounge and other on-the-ground treatment) he's had. But perhaps it hinges on which AF plane he's flown.

My own reaction which does not include the new AF suite leaned slightly to LH over AF. I found the AF lounge striking, but not comfortable or warm, an environment that you admire, but don't feel fully welcome. Many of the seats are uncomfortable. Food and drink in both are to a high standard, although I'll give the nod to AF for wine. If FRA/CDG is your origin, the FCT is more intimate because of the wholly segregated terminal. No need to interact with the hoi polloi at all. Security is a breeze there. Yes, it is separated at CDG as well, but it doesn't have quite the feel of the FCT. If transiting though, you do have the walk to the FCT or you have to settle for the FCLs in the terminal, which though very good don't have quite the panache of the FCT and may not include the car to the plane.

They are both very high quality products.

Having experienced both on more than one occasion I'd go for AF as long as they're not on strike

The AF experience was smoother and escorted all the way. On both airlines we connected from LHR in biz - LH you were on your own until Frankfurt where the car met the plane then dropped you at the terminal and you had to make own way to the FCT. AF we were escorted at LHR through security, to the lounge, from the lounge to the plane after everyone else had boarded, at CDG taken to the lounge and afterwards driven to the long haul. The amenities are great at both lounges but for style and an added panache I'd take AF. Also I found at time of travel LH were considerably more expensive. The AF380 may not be the newest seat but that cabin feels like an elegant warehouse compared to LH and I like the space rather than more enclosed suites.

I've never had the chance to try either, but from what I've read, the LH FCT seems like it could probably be the best pre-flight experience that you could get.

I didn't get any special treatment connecting from MUC, although they did acknowledge that they had dropped the ball as I boarded the MUC-CDG flight. I've only done AF twice (in the modern era - used to fly it back in the day before they had a real first lounge and had 12 first class seats on a 747) but have had more experience with LH and found them smoother. I agree that the AF lounge has more style, but felt that sometimes they sacrificed substance for that style.

In the end it's horses for courses. Both products are really excellent. Personally, between the two, I would probably choose the product based on price because they are close enough in quality as to make little difference.

I've heard AF > LH and from a food/drink perspective, AF hands down.