Lufthansa today has launched a dedicated TWITTER account specifically for the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt. Subscribers will be kept up to date with news and information as it relates to FCT. Additionally, the account will be able to interact and reply to questions posed by Lufthansa’s First Class Passengers and HON Circle members.
The twitter handle is @FirstClassTerm
As is the tradition with Lufthansa for the last several years, a special version of the First Class Duck will be available between NOW and Christmas (as long as supplies last). Additionally, there will be a very rare duck only available for 2 days, December 31 and January 1 for passengers visiting Lufthansa’s First Class Lounges and Terminal.
The Christmas Duck for this year will be the same version used a few years ago and will be from among the following group:
For Passengers visiting First Class Lounges in Germany or the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt on December 31 or January 1 will receive this ultra-rare duck known as ‘Chimney Sweeper’:
If your travels involve Lufthansa’s First Class services during the Holidays, please make sure to collect these ducks and add them to your travel memories!!
Earlier this year on a trip to Hong Kong, I transited through Frankfurt which afforded me a 17 hour layover between flights that allowed me to visit with a few friends from Lufthansa as well as to take in several hours of plane-spotting.
A few hours before my flight to Hong Kong, I made my way over to one of my favorite destinations in the world, Lufthansa’s award winning First Class Terminal (FCT),to prepare for the 12 hour flight to Hong Kong later that evening. When I arrived, I found the FCT empty since most of the late afternoon departures have taken place and passengers had yet to begin arriving for their late night departures to Asia. This became a great opportunity to capture some of the FCT’s highlights.
Before starting to take pictures, I made sure to ask for permission. Lufthansa has a fairly strict policy that does not allow photography in Lounges and the FCT, ESPECIALLY if there are other passengers present. Lufthansa does this to protect the identity and privacy of their passengers. If you are planning on taking photos in an LH Lounge, I strongly suggest you ask for permission.
Once given the “OK”, I made my way around the FCT to take my photos which are shown below. There are not too many more words that I have to describe just how fantastic this First Class amenity is, so I’ll let the pictures tell the story. However, no matter how many pictures or reviews you read about the FCT, nothing replaces actually experiencing it for yourself. It becomes another destination on your trip!
Comfortable and ample seating is the norm for the FCT
Each sitting area is appointed with a variety of nuts and dried fruit, along with a Buffet and Beverage menu. FCT staff will serve you at your seat.
The FCT offers a variety of seating options. In this area, passengers have the opportunity lay down in a chaise-style seat to catch a quick nap before a flight. No worries about oversleeping for your flight, a Personal Assistant will wake you when it’s time to go. Ask me how I know! 🙂 Unfortunately there was no “Snooze Button”……
The FCT also has private kiosks available for those needing to access the internet.
The superbly appointment bar has virtually any liquor or cocktail that you can think of. In all my travels, I have not seen any other airline’s lounge bar come close to the FCT bar. That being said, I recommend you try a Lufthansa Cocktail. It is a combination of Lufthansa’s own Orange-Apricot Liquor and a dash of Sprite. You’ll want more than one…..
Various sitting areas are designed for specific purposes – this area is centered near a TV. You’ll see their are lounge-style chairs along the window for more comfort.
The FCT has a full service kitchen that provides both a comprehensive buffet and a complete a-la-carte menu. The dining area has dedicated seating for those wishing to eat at a table. Additional seating is located to the right of the barrier for a total of 4 tables.
The outstanding self-serve buffet is stocked with a fresh variety of foods, from local favorites to ethnic themed options along with salads and cold plate options. Additionally there are dedicated carving stations that serve fresh cold cuts.
Next to the Buffet is a self-serve cocktail area stocked with popular options such as vodka, whiskies and brandies.
A closer look at the self serve options
A Bang & Olufsen Stereo is located in the dedicated “Cigar Room”. The room is equipped with a humidor along with a selection of ports and other after dinner cocktail options.
In addition to the public sitting areas, the FCT has day/sleep rooms that are available for passengers who have a long lay over and want to sleep for a few hours between flights. The room is well appointed for someone who needs to recharge.
Another of the Day Rooms available in the FCT
The private bath and shower rooms are meticulously maintained and stocked with everything you would need to refresh yourself before a flight. An attendant is available to provide you with personal care items such as toothbrushes, shaving kits, etc. and yes the Rubber Duck as well!
One of the private baths in the FCT, complete with Rubber Duck. I’ve had readers tell me they thought they could not take the duck. Please don’t make that mistake, it is a fantastic souvenir!
This is taken in a private shower room. The shower is located to the right of the sink and is equipped with a refreshing ‘rainfall’ shower head.
Following up on their Award from Skytrax, Lufthansa First Class Services has earned yet another trophy for their mantle. This time, The American Academy of Hospitality Services awarded Lufthansa its FIVE STAR DIAMOND AWARD for three different categories: Lufthansa’s onboard First Class product, The First Class Terminal in Frankfurt and for Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge in New York’s JFK Airport.
The award ceremony took place in Frankfurt at the First Class Terminal. Jens Bischoff, LH’s Chief Commercial Officer took time to comment on this accomplishment: “Today marks another milestone for Lufthansa on our way to becoming the industry’s leading airline for premium travel. Our customers are appreciating the numerous service upgrades we have invested in, both on board and on the ground, with the industry’s leading organizations taking note of our accomplishments. Today, we are very excited to receive this award from the Academy which has evolved into an international powerhouse network that values the very highest quality and hospitality.”
Congrats to Nico and her team! 🙂
A big CONGRATS to Nicola and her First Class Services Team!!!
Lufthansa has been awarded the 2013 Skytrax award for “BEST FIRST CLASS LOUNGE” during a ceremony at the Paris Air Show last week. Lufthansa certainly faced formidable competition from the likes of Singapore, Asiana, Cathay Pacific, Emirates and others but at the end of the day walked away with very well deserved award.
The award took into consideration all of Lufthansa’s First Class Lounges in Munich and Frankfurt including the venerable First Class Terminal (FCT) (which in my opinion is a travel destination in itself!). Over the years I have made many pilgrimages to Lufthansa’s First Class Lounges and FCT as well as to Singapore Airlines and Asiana First Class lounges and I’m trying to be impartial here, but I can see where Lufthansa deserves the award over the others.
When you visit one of Lufthansa’s First Class lounges, the high quality of the facility, dining and staff is evident. You know as soon as you enter one of the Lounges that you are in for a treat. Lufthansa’s staff is always ready and willing to help travelers even it means going well out of their way to accommodate a passengers needs or request (more on that later). The selection of food and beverages is on par with the finest restaurants and the facilities are always modern with up to date amenities, clean and easily accessible.
Fantastic amenities include Day Rooms for resting in privacy, spa services, private bath and shower facilities, private business workstations, dedicated Cigar Rooms with great cigar and apertif selections and private Mercedes or Porsche vehicles that will transport you to your plane allowing you to miss the stress of the passenger terminals. The list goes on an on! 🙂
Oh, and then there are the First Class Ducks that are given to visitors as souvenirs (if you take the time to grab a shower or enjoy a bath). My brace of 36 ducks always puts a smile on my face and instantly transports me back to those fantastic lounge experiences. For me, especially with the FCT, it becomes a mini-vacation within my trip and often I’ll go out of my way to make sure I can pass through Frankfurt to get my ‘fix’. Like flying from Chicago to Hong Kong via Frankfurt for example…..
If you have ever had the opportunity to visit one of Lufthansa’s First Class Lounges, I think you know exactly what I mean.
One First Class Terminal experience will ALWAYS stand out for my wife and I during one of our trips.
2 years ago, we had been on holiday in Europe visiting family in Slovakia and then spending several days in Rome and along the Amalfi Coast. On our return flight from Rome to Chicago (via Frankfurt) we had a few hours to pass in the First Class Terminal and this would also be my wife’s first time visiting FCT. I had kept telling her how wonderful the FCT would be and that it would be a perfect cherry on top of a fantastic trip. She was also looking forward to getting her first duck so that she would finally have one of her own. Well as luck (or lack thereof) would have it, the FCT happened to be out of their famous souvenirs which put a minor damper on my wife’s enjoyment of the FCT. Our personal assistant who helped us in the FCT was apologetic and said that he would come up with a suitable alternative. Well our time in the FCT passed and it was time to be taken in a Porsche Cayenne to our waiting 747. My wife figured she was out of luck and there would be no duck.
Once we arrived at our aircraft and took our seats upstairs, a Lufthansa associate came up to my wife a few minutes later with his hands behind his back, introduced himself, and simply stated “Mrs. LufthansaFlyer, this is for you…..” and out came his hands, cupping a First Class Duck. With the look on my wife’s face you would think she won a lottery. The smile on the Lufthansa associate’s face was priceless as well. He had no idea just how much he had made her day. After thanking him, he rushed out of the aircraft, the door closed and we were off for home. I would hate to think that they held up the plane for a few minutes for this special delivery, but if this doesn’t define what Lufthansa First Class is all about, nothing will.
2 years later, we still bring up that experience and talk about how wonderful that moment was. It has become as much a travel memory as any place that we have ever visited. So can you see what I mean when I say that a visit to a First Class lounge or Terminal is a travel destination in itself??
If you would like to experience Lufthansa’s First Class services, but are not sure how to proceed or what is involved, please email me. I would love to help you develop a strategy that will help you create your own Lufthansa First Class memories. 🙂
