A Terminal Just For First Class? Lufthansa First Class Terminal

Lufthansa First Class Terminal is one of just a handful of super exclusive First Class lounges in the world, as its primary home base in Frankfurt.

What is perhaps unique with this is while the likes of Private Room, or Emirates First Class Lounge in T3 or Cathay’s Pier First/Wing First are indeed very exclusive and luxurious, Lufthansa First Class Terminal is as it says, its own Terminal. For First Class passengers only.

I have been lucky to experience this lounge on two occasions this October, just weeks after reopening. Is this possibly as divine as it sounds? Lets find out!

Access & Location

If your journey starts from Frankfurt, you can head straight to the Terminal itself via car or any transfer provided by Lufthansa directly. If you are connecting from another flight however, the terminal is located about 4/5 minute walk from Terminal 1 (once you are outside).

Unfortunately, it is not as simple as this. There are no airside transfers between the terminals like many airports provide. You therefore have to exit and then enter Germany again!

Who Can Access Lufthansa First Class Terminal?

You are entitled to use the First Class Terminal if you are flying either a Lufthansa First Class or Swiss First Class for the day, as well as if you have just arrived in either of those First Class and connecting onto another flight (even in Business).

Access is also available for Lufthansa Miles & More programmes most elite members, the HON Circle. These elite members can use the lounge if flying on any class of travel within the Lufthansa Group of airlines.

Getting here can potentially mean passports being stamped! On my first visit, I somehow ended up existing, then entering Germany again while still in the main terminal! You need to be aware you could end up spending potentially more than an hour trying to transfer over!

Once you arrive at the building, you will either be at the ground floor, which as a empty reception like area where you get an elevator up one level.

or you walk over the footbridge and arrive directly into the main reception area.

Here you are greeted by team of smiling faces, all ready check you through and to whisk you into what looks to be a very pampering experience.

Lufthansa First Class Terminal Security & Immigration

Being its own terminal and you only passing through this before getting onto your flight means the First Class Terminal has to have its own security and immigration.

Straight after being checked in you will be directed straight to the security (your Passport will be taken and any exit formalities completed behind the scenes).

There are two small conveyor belts with the security trays on opposite ends of a corridor you have to go through. It’s all super prompt. At this point you have a personal escort ready to assist you with anything.

Inside Lufthansa First Class Terminal

After security, you sort of enter the lounge in the centre, from which it’s mostly an open plan design of various seating areas.

The central point being the bar and the formal dining area immediately in front of that.

A fairly large inviting space with minimalist deco that still feels sophisticated and classy.

I liked the open layout of the main spaces with very comfortable leather sofas separated by side tables. In some areas you have much bigger tables in front of the seats too.

There are some more intimate seating spaces available which are perfect for families or groups of travellers.

You can chose to be seated where ever you should desire. There are staff walking around who will serve you anything you need. As with most airports now, you need to be wearing a mask unless you are eating or drinking.

For those that need a quite and private work area, they have quite a few of those booths equipped with large desks, nice comfy chairs with plenty of connectivity options.

The Lufthansa Duck

And then there is the infamous Lufthansa Rubber Duck. These are a now a signature of Lufthansa First Class travel, and have become quite the collectable for regular First Class travellers.

For my first visit I requested the special Covid-19 duck, but they had run out, so went for the classic black duck.

On the second visit, they still did not have any Covid ones, so got this..

Lufthansa added these way back in 2004, as a way to inject some personality into the First Class experience. I have to say, even though it is just a piece of rubber, I think it accomplishes that exceedingly well!

Just behind the work booth is a more open resting area with loungers

Then there is also a specific Cigar Lounge within the lounge!

Though of the both times I had visited, only seen 2 person in there once.

Lufthansa First Class Terminal Food & Beverage

Food and Beverage is generally one of the main highlights of any good First Class lounge.

For the Lufthansa First Class lounge, what I immediately noticed to be lacking was any buffet/self serve food at all. In addition, where there used to be an extensive a la carte menu for the time of day you visit is now replaced by a very limited offering. For my first visit on a night time departure, the menu was:

Unfortunately when I decided to eat there was no longer any tables left in the dining area, so I decided to eat in the island opposite the bar.

This was the only thing that appealed in the menu and boy was I glad I ordered it. It was absolutely delicious! I did not order any cold appetizers as I needed to save room for my late dinner on the flight!

I did however follow through with a chocolate mouse..

My second visit was during what was supposed to be a 5 hour morning/lunch layover. I could have had breakfast that day but I ended up wasting alot of time in the main terminal after landing, and decided to get some rest and shower after the night flight in.

However, when I decided to eat at noon, there were no tables available in the dining area again!

The lunch menu was as follows:

This was decisively more average. But after a rather stressful few hours before getting here (will have to save that for another post!) it was mostly a mute point.

Lufthansa First Class Terminal Showers & Bathtub

Further ahead into the lounge and past the Cigar Room, you will find the rest rooms and shower/baths.

There is a little reception (normally staffed) where you can book a shower bath slot.

Unfortunately the rooms with bathtubs were closed. However, I did not have to wait for a shower room either times.

These are very spacious showers with a large changing area and actual shower and WC behind.

There were some nice amenities as well as slippers and bathroom being provided. You can also request further shaving/vanity kits if needed.

While everything was fine as as they should be, I did find the shower room steamed up quiet alot. So much so, when you are getting back clothed after the shower you already start sweating because of the heat. I have noted this to be a problem with most lounge showers unfortunately. Could they not make the ventilation any better? Or at least temperature control the room?

Lufthansa First Class Terminal Private Sleep Rooms

This may be one of the best features of this lounge. They have completely private bedrooms with proper beds for you to get some rest should you require it. And I can imagine this is very handy when you have some of those super early arrivals into Frankfurt too.

Each room is kitted out with a nice single bed with a big pillow, side table/lamps and several lighting options to create the ambiance that you need.

Your Chauffer To The Plane

When it is time to board, your personal escort will come to pick you up and take you directly to your Porsche transfer and onto to your flight directly

This has surely got to be the best part of being in the FCT. Having your own drive straight up to the aircraft. Unfortunately due to night time departure I could not get the photo I wanted below the Queen of the skies. I will have to save that for another time!

Note sometimes if you are travelling Solo, they may actually put you in a transfer with another First Passenger!

Overall thoughts

I am super glad this place re-opened just before my trip to South Africa. This is indeed quite a special lounge. It had a very serene atmosphere that I found relaxed me well for the flights ahead. I liked the understated deco and how impeccably well it is kept throughout the day.

The space itself was much smaller than perhaps what I actually imagined before my visit. And especially comparing to something like the Emirates First Lounges in Dubai. Having said that, were there anything of note missing?

The only thing I could note was any lack of spa facility. Even some good business lounges can have some sort of spa/massage opportunities. For First Class, I think this should be a standard feature.

How about everything else? For me the main thing is the food and service, which seemed a tad bit confusing to say the least. It’s a shame that the lounge catering has not resumed back to normal service. And a la carte dining space is very limited given how busy the lounge can get.

I think the thing that lets the experience down is having to going through the kerfuffle actually getting into the lounge from my flight.  There is also a distinct lack of any views from this terminal. If you walk around, a view of a highway and some grey old buildings is all you will see.