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Update 1/1/17: I’ve added a video of the ground experience to the end of this post
Recently I flew from Croatia to the United States in Lufthansa First Class for 40,000 Starpoints + $300. Here’s how I booked the award.
- Trip Report: Lufthansa First Class Lounge in Munich
- Trip Report: Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt (this post)
- Trip Report: Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Frankfurt to Washington-Dulles (future post)
After a one hour flight from Munich, I arrived in Frankfurt at a remote stand. A driver held a placard for First Class and HON Circle flyers.
He directed me to a waiting Porsche SUV for me and one other passenger.
We enjoyed a 12 minute ride through the tarmacs, airplanes, service vehicles, and bowels of the airport. The highlight was having to yield to a Lufthansa A320.
The driver eventually dropped me at Terminal 1A, where my flight to Dulles would be departing, which surprised me. I was expecting to be taken to the First Class Terminal. When I said that, he said I couldn’t be taken there, but he could take me to a slightly closer terminal where I could exit security, walk to the First Class Terminal, and re-enter security.
That’s exactly what I did, which really wasn’t too difficult, since it was a short walk through the taxi parking lot, and there is no line for security at the First Class Terminal.
When I arrived at the First Class Terminal, the first thing I wanted was a meal. Unfortunately the small dining room was completely full. I was able to eat in another seating area, but since I wasn’t at a dining table, it wasn’t as comfortable.
From the buffet, I grabbed some hot items and some of my favorite fresh fruit.
The fruit was immaculate, and I love that the First Class Terminal has American crispy bacon, not flaccid “world bacon,” but some of the hot items were not hot.
Here’s what was on the breakfast buffet, which offered a much wider selection than the Munich First Class Lounge. The highlight, pictured below, was an entire honeycomb to get fresh honey.
In addition to the buffet, you can order a la carte. All food and drink is free.
Ordinarily I wouldn’t “waste” time in the First Class Terminal with sleep, but I had over five hours in Frankfurt, and I was exhausted, so I really wanted a quick nap.
Unfortunately the First Class Terminal really lags in nap options compared to other top First Class lounges. For instance, the Etihad First Class Lounge has several entire rooms with fully flat daybeds. The First Class Terminal has more private nap rooms, but only two of them, both of which were unsurprisingly occupied. That’s just not enough sleeping space for a major hub.
The back up plan is four chairs that recline almost flat in a back corner. Three were occupied, but I snagged the last one. Unfortunately I got the one that was broken and didn’t recline, so it was just a regular seat.
Sleeping just wasn’t in the cards.
Instead I decided to work. I had given my sister my European adapter in Munich since I was leaving Europe, and she was just arriving. I had no problem getting a European adapter at the Munich First Class lounge, but it took almost 10 minutes from my request in Frankfurt until one was delivered to me. I think a few other requests took priority over mine.
After working for a bit–there are plenty of comfortable areas to work, including private rooms and the internet is strong–I decided to eat some more. That morning I was ravenous.
The breakfast buffet was still out, but I’m more of a lunch guy. I asked if I could order lunch at 10:15, and the server was very obliging.
I ordered the Tom Ka Gai and fillet of beef.
Holy cow! The Tom Ka Gai, a Thai chicken soup, was the best thing I ate all day.
The fillet was delicious and wonderfully cooked.
Look at that color. 🙂
As I ate, the lunch buffet replaced the breakfast buffet. The stars of the lunch buffet are the freshly carved ham…
…and the Parmesan wheel.
I will upload a video of the whole lunch buffet (and the rest of my First Class Terminal experience) soon.
After my a la carte first lunch, I fixed a second lunch from the buffet: a plate of veggies, mashed potatoes, steak, and chicken. Everything was top notch.
In addition to the buffet and regular menu, there was an Special Menu, artfully displayed in lederhosen at each table.
You could pair your food with unlimited candy…
…and alcohol either at your seat in the dining room or at the bar.
After lunch, I decided to smoke a cigar to celebrate my good fortune at being in the First Class Terminal. The Terminal has a large Cigar Lounge, which I enjoyed on my other trip a few years back when I was offered a selection of complimentary cigars and then offered the perfect alcoholic pairing with my choice.
The alcohol remains, but apparently the actual cigars were cut a few months ago.
It’s time to re-name the space the less glamorous Smoking Room if there are no cigars.
My final stop in the Terminal was the bathroom. I had requested a bubble bath when I arrived, so that I could reserve my spot and get my rubber ducky.
At the appointed time, I went to the bathroom area and gave my name to the attendant. I was led to a large bathroom with a tub, shower, and silver rubber ducky.
Sil, my name for the ducky, and I enjoyed a leisurely and relaxing bath.
When I was done, it was time to head to my plane. This involves exit immigration in the First Class Terminal (no line of course), and a ride to the plan. Again, I got the Porsche SUV.
Several other passengers got Mercedes sedans.
I was driven directly to my 747-8, and we parked just a few feet away. We rode an elevator up to the plane and boarded for the eight hour flight to Washington.
The Good and Bad
Good: I was in a world-class lounge as part of a ticket I paid 40,000 points and $300 for; other people that day had paid more than $10,000 for their plane ticket that got them access. When I think about the lounge on those terms, or when I compare the lounge to “normal” Priority Pass or US-airline lounges, the experience was amazing. Also the Tom Ka Gai, bubble bath, transportation to and from planes in Porsches, and having an entire freaking Terminal for First Class passengers are legitimately outstanding.
Bad: But if I compare my experience to my experience a few years back in the same Terminal or to other world-class First Class lounges, it comes up short.
I couldn’t get a seat in the dining room. Some of the hot buffet items were cold. I couldn’t get a nap room or even a working nap chair. I couldn’t get an adapter quickly. I couldn’t get a cigar.
Bottom Line
To be truly special, a First Class Terminal needs to nail food, service, places to sleep, and places to work while also having something unique.
- My recent visit to the First Class Terminal featured some great food, but some food on the buffet that was cold when it was supposed to be hot.
- Service was good at times; they tried to fix my non-reclining chair, and they let me order lunch when it was still breakfast time. But I don’t think I’d be waiting 10 minutes for an adapter in the Thai or Etihad First Class lounges at their hubs.
- There was no place to sleep because of poor planning on how much space needs to be set aside for that.
- There were great places to work.
- As far as that unique offering, Lufthansa has cut the Cigar Room, which was unique. The bubble baths and car rides on the tarmac to your plane remain. The ultimate unique feature, an entire freaking Terminal, also remains.
Update
Here’s a video of my experience:
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You made it clear that you have no clue what the FCT is.
It is not intended for transiting passengers.
Then I suckered them!
And to be less glib, lest anyone think that you’re not supposed to go into the FCT if you’re connecting, you most certainly are allowed in there. Enjoy. From lufthansa.com:
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. …
Your First Class boarding pass on a Lufthansa-operated flight on the same day will give you access to the First Class Terminal. Passengers who are catching a connecting flight to their First Class flight have access to the First Class amenities provided that their First Class journey was a through booking.
I was reading through nervously waiting for the shoe to drop. To be fair, you did explain why this was “disappointing” at the end, and I can understand your justification. However, that still looks like an insanely-cool experience! More like an A- rather than an A+? 🙂
It was fine. I just wanted mooooooore.
Scott, I understand that a review is critical per se. But don’t forget as CK Louis says: you are sitting on a fucking chair flying with blinding speed through the sky…..and you simply stopping in between, getting amazing service, you haven’t really paid for it so to support this service in the long run, and your whining about minor things?????? Just don’t lose perspective on how privileged you are considering the rest of the world….
I haven’t.
I was curious if you tipped the driver? We didn’t and I’ve always wondered if we should have. He seemed to be hinting to us on the drive how he was working 3 jobs etc. I also got the sense at the FCT that because we were travelling on airmiles that the service was a cut below someone paying full fare. But that being said it was still an amazing experience.
I didn’t tip him. It didn’t even cross my mind honestly.
Tips in Europe are uncommon and unnecessary …and sometimes regarded as a gosh act.
Which lounge do you think beats FTC? I think food and drinks are one of the best, including the bubble bath.
I enjoyed my time in Bangkok in the Thai First Lounge, including massage better. I enjoyed the Etihad and Emirates First Class lounges better too.
I guess everyday there’s good and bad experiences in lounges, aircrafts and flight attendants… sounds like you just happened to come across a bad day in that terminal. I flew LH F recently back to the US thru the terminal and everything was good even though they had a security issue in the airport which delayed flights and passengers in the F Terminal were many. No rooms were available but they gave them to families which I can fully understand. Attendants were crazy busy helping everyone reschedule their flights and etc but due to the crowd, dining tables were limited but again I was fortunate to be there early to catch a table. Food was good. Overall, I still had a very good experienced at the F Terminal in Frankfurt… maybe next time will be better…
Glad to hear it! I had a better experience my other time there too.
the most interesting part of this review was the part on how to redeem it for 50k Asiana miles. that’s pretty cool but would be useless for couples or families. does LH ever release a pair of F tickets at the last minute?
Yes.
If you just want two in the lounge though, a First Class passenger can bring in a free guest as long as the guest is on the same flight, so book one First and one Biz or economy, and you can both go in.
Or if you just want two in any First Class for 50k Asiana miles, book two United First Class tickets.
You are too enamored with the chafffeured car. Its not needed after the first time. The service in the FC lounges is superior to the FCT.
Which services are those?
[…] addition to my written trip report of my recent trip to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, here is a video I shot, which shows the tarmac Porsche ride and the inside of the terminal. This […]
I know this is getting to be a few months past this post, but I’ve just recently gotten both SPG cards and I will have met the 25k spending requirements on both by May 15th, then thinking of transferring to Asiana to book LH in hopefully F from Europe to US on July 4th. I already have my flight for 2 over from ATL-LHR on Delta One booked, but I don’t have any return booked. I’m nervous about waiting until the very end to try to get a flight back in business or first. I could book Jet with AA miles from AMS-YYZ on the 4th, but I hate paying to redeposit later. If I book FRA-IAD with Asiana miles for July 5th in business, can I then change the award to first on July 4th and FRA-DTW assuming I have the miles in my Asiana account and seats become available?
I’m not 100% sure, but I would bet you could do that. Scott changed an Asiana award in 2015 without issue and didn’t incur any fees. I would call Asiana Club to be sure though. If you do end up doing that, I would be interested in their response and how it all turns out.
There is something wrong with you to give it a title like that ! Seriously !