After an incredible flight on Singapore Airlines Suites Class to Frankfurt it was almost time to turn around and head home. I would have loved to stay in Germany longer than a few hours, but sadly I had an obligation on Monday morning and had to go back to Chicago. I didn’t really think this trip through so I had to scramble to book a flight home!
My original plan was to book a Europe to US round trip which would give me a “free flight” back to Europe at a later date. This way I’d also earn a few miles along the way. I searched around, but given the last-minute booking there were no cheap options. Instead I started searching for another award flight. At first I found a few great economy award flights on United. I continued searing for favorable flight and started noticing more “exciting” options. In the end I decided to book a Lufthansa First Class flight home. In doing so I’d not only get to experience another incredible first class product, but I’d also have access to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal!
Accessing The Lufthansa First Class Terminal
Access to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal is a little more complicated than a traditional first class lounge. The lounge is technically a Lufthansa Hon Circle Lounge which significantly limits who can access the lounge. Lufthansa Hon Circle Members of course have access to the First Class Terminal when flying Lufthansa or Swiss. Otherwise only passengers with a same-day first class ticket on Lufthansa or Swiss Airlines may access the First Class Terminal. Per Lufthansa’s website arriving Lufthansa first class passengers who are connecting to a non-first class flight may not access the first class terminal. You can view the official Lufthansa lounge access policies here.
Getting To The First Class Terminal
Now that you know if you can even get in, it’s important to know how to physically get there. When I landed in Frankfurt a Lufthansa representative greeted me and asked if I had a connecting flight. Our conversation was a bit confusing. At first I attributed the confusion to the language barrier, but I quickly realized how ridiculous my answers were.
CS: “Do you have a connecting flight?”
ME: “Yes, I’m on flight LH402”
CS: “Is that to Newark?”
ME: “Yes”
CS: “But didn’t you just come from JFK”
ME: “Yes”
CS: “SECURITY!”
With that out of the way I proceeded through customs and exited the airport. Once outside I turned left (West) and made my way to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal. The walk took about 5-10 minutes once outside. If you pass roughly a million taxis you’re heading the right way!
Connecting passengers have to exit a secured area and walk a few minutes to get to the terminal. I wish there were some type of car service to take you to the terminal, but I understand why there isn’t. Luckily security only takes a few seconds. First class passengers can also access the first class lounge in the airport, but where’s the fun in that.
First class passengers may be dropped off directly in front of the first class terminal or they can opt to valet their personal or rental car instead.
Entering The Lufthansa First Class Terminal
If you opt to walk to the Lufthansa First class terminal the below picture shows the lower lobby entrance. The lower lobby is a mostly empty room with an elevator which leads to the main lobby.
After passing through the sliding doors you use the elevator to the left to access the main lobby. The large wooden sign next to the elevator makes it difficult to miss.
Once inside the main lobby a Lufthansa representative greets you and verifies your travel documents. If you need a boarding pass or anything else there are essentially gate agents who there to assist. Once customs verifies your travel documents a customer service representative directs you through a private security screening. After passing through security you are free to enter the lounge area of the terminal.
I didn’t want to take pictures of the security lanes given I had the lovely “SSSS” stamped on my boarding card. The private security screening area reminded me of what Jason Borne uses to access his safe deposit box. The area is the most attractive security lane I’ve passed through. Security took just moments and before I knew it I was inside the private first class lounge.
Lufthansa First Class Terminal Lounge
I entered the lounge just after 11:00AM (local) and was one of maybe 10 people in the lounge. As the day progressed the terminal filled up, but never felt crowded.
As you enter the lounge you first pass a private duty-free shop. Next you pass though a set of opaque sliding glass doors which lead to you the main room pictured below.
The First Class Terminal Lounge is a large room partially divided into smaller seating areas. The area seen above is the main portion of the lounge which features many smaller sitting areas and a giant curved TV viewing area. Behind the TV is a glass enclosed cigar bar and the restrooms and bathrooms are at the end of the hall.
To the left is another smaller seating area (pictured below), a Lufthansa customer service desk, and a special nap/massage chair area.
A closer look at the snacks offered at each snack station.
Small tables with various snacks and drink menus are located in the center of most seating arrangements or located throughout the lounge. When I visited the lounge there were a variety of nuts, dried fruits, and wasabi nuts at each table. Also, no matter how crowded the lounge was it seemed all snack stations were fully topped off at all times.
Before you ask, yes, each of those containers is filled to the top with only Haribo Gummy Bears! The only issue with the display is that the small plates only accommodate 20 bears. Luckily, Lufthansa also includes “to go” bags and you can take as many as you want with you! These containers also remained full throughout my time in the lounge. I tried to make a dent in the display, but ended up with a stomach ache instead.
Lufthansa First Class Terminal Amenities
One of the first things you’ll notice when walking into the First Class Terminal is the full service bar. Located against the wall of the lounge is a full bar with nearly every type of liquor imaginable.
Guest may of course order beverages from the bar, but a server came around periodically to take drink orders. There is also a full service restaurant and buffet located to the left (as pictured) of the bar. At this point in my “trip” I couldn’t possibly eat any more food so I’ll have to go back to review the restaurant potion of the lounge.
In addition to the bar and restaurant the Lufthansa First Class Terminal also features a cigar lounge, shower rooms, bath rooms, massage chairs, office space, and nap rooms. I was torn between using a nap room or a bath room. After a cup of coffee I decided to take a shower bath to freshen up before my long flight back to New York.
Lufthansa First Class Bath Room
Bathrooms located at the far end of the terminal are available on a first come first served basis. There is a bathroom attendant who assigns you a bathroom to use and a bell to ring in case they are away. I specifically called these rooms bathrooms because they feature a huge bath for passengers to relax in while they wait for their flight. The room is quite spacious for a lounge restroom and offers a shower, sink (with toiletries), a bath, and a toilet. When I first entered the room I intended to use she shower, but the bath was too tempting to pass up.
Next to the bath the bathroom attendant put a small container of bath salts and a famous Lufthansa rubber duck before I entered.
Of all the airport lounge bathrooms I’ve been to this was by far the most impressive. The bathroom itself must have been about 200 square feet. The bath filled up quickly and I ended up taking a nearly 20 minute uninterrupted bath.
Lufthansa First Class Terminal Limo Service
After my bath it was nearly time for my flight. I went to the bar for a delicious german beer while I waited. As I waited my Lufthansa concierge checked-in to see if there was anything I needed prior to leaving. I declined and she then directed me to the interior elevator which leads to the First Class Terminal “limo” service. Once downstairs there is a quick customs check prior to leaving the terminal.
One of the most insane features of the Lufthansa First Class Terminal is the private car service. Lufthansa ground services drive all FCT passengers to their gates in a variety of cars. Some passengers ride in a luxury Mercedes van, a Porsche Cayenne or Panamera, or an AMG Mercedes “Limo.”
I wish I took more pictures as we drove to our plane, but looking around the airport while driving at tarmac level was simply too mesmerizing. The drive took just a few minutes and before I knew it we pulled up to our Boeing 747-8i.
Once at our plane the drive took me up to the jet bridge by elevator and escorted me onto the aircraft. There was a line of passengers waiting to board the plane, but the drive pushed them aside to get me to the front of the line.
Lufthansa First Class Terminal Service
The services offered at the Lufthansa First Class Terminal are what set this lounge apart from others. As you enter the terminal a Lufthansa Concierge helps you get settled. The concierge then takes your passport and boarding card down to customs for a security check. After a short wait the concierge returned my boarding card and dropped off a second rubber duck. German customs officials return passenger passports as you leave the terminal.
When I entered I told her it was my first time in the lounge and she made sure I experienced everything the lounge had to offer. She even arranged for the Mercedes limo to take me to my gate rather than riding with other first class passengers on my flight in the van. Overall the first class service customer service representatives were some of the most friendly airline employees I’ve experienced.
Final Thoughts
The Lufthansa First Class Terminal is officially my favorite airline “lounge” in the world! After a while all airline lounges seem the same. Free food, free drinks, snacks, showers, etc. are all common today, but the services set this lounge apart. Security, which you clear prior to entry, takes less than a minute. Once past security you can wait in the lounge until escorted to your plane. You don’t have to worry about missing your flight or leaving the lounge early. Also as an avgeek the opportunity to drive at tarmac level to the plane is a fantastic perk. If you are thinking of using miles or points for Lufthansa First Class make sure to book a flight departing from Frankfurt and visit the Lufthansa First Class Terminal!
