... Then this is going to be a great trip!

From Thailand Cambodia 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany on Oct 21 '09

Lisa and Jeff has visited 1 place in Frankfurt
Our plane from the gate
Our plane from the gate
see all photos »

At the Frankfurt airport, Lufthansa has two first class lounges and has built a whole terminal for first class passengers. In reading about these before starting out on this trip, we read reviews that the lounge in terminal A is the oldest and is missing features found elsewhere. The lounge in terminal B was actually built after the first class terminal and is almost identical (plus it has a spa, although services are extra). We planed to use the lounge in terminal B after we landed to shower and then leave our carry-on and go into town for a bit.

Not a bad place to spend a day
Not a bad place to spend a day
see all photos »

Of course, the plane landed in terminal A! We wandered through the airport for a bit and encountered a lengthy security line to get into terminal B. The Germans love redundacy! After deciding that the wait wasn't worth it (as we would have to go back through this line, plus regular security after going into the city), we set out to find the first class terminal (FCT). Eventually we made it to the Lufthansa counter and got directions to the FCT. It wasn't nearly as long as a walk as we were expecting and we quickly arrived at the foot passenger door and rang the doorbell. After being deemed worthy of admission (showing our boarding passes), we were escorted through security. I have never had such service! There were a total of 5 people working the security desk, and just Jeff and I there. We were quickly cleared and shown to our home away from home for the day.

How to spend a day in Frankfurt at Lufthansa's First Class Terminal
Heavenly rain showerhead
Heavenly rain showerhead
see all photos »

There is ample seating areas, including couches, chairs with ottomans, and even a cigar lounge. The bar is amazingly well stocked and food consists of a mix of buffet and food made to order. Unlike a lot of lounges that we have been in, where you help yourself to the buffet and take your food to whatever chair you are sitting in, they have a whole seperate dinning area. There are four shower rooms (two have bathtubs as well as showers) and two sleeping rooms.

One of the screws had come out of the bracelet on Jeff's watch on the flight over, so we made finding a Breitling dealer a priority. A quick internet search and phone call netted us a place to go, so we tucked our carry on in the bag storage area and headed into the city. Jeff got us tickets for the subway and successfully navigated us to the right stop. The jewelry store was quite accomadating and within 5 minutes of our arrival, his watch was as good as new! We wandered around town for a while and I discovered a gummi "things" (bears, fruits, and all other manner of animals) store that we had shopped at years before. After obtaining a bag of tiny gummi bears for later, we returned to the airport.

Sleep room bed
Sleep room bed
see all photos »

We hit the shower upon our return. They had a rain showerhead that was absolute heaven. It was mounted high up on the ceiling and the force of the falling water felt delightful! After showering, we each grabbed a sleep room (there are only two) and settled in for a nap. The sleep rooms are a great feature of the lounge, but they could be a bit better designed. They are both rather large and feature a leather covered bed. For how large the rooms are though, the bed size only accomadates one person. We felt a little bad taking up both rooms, but there wasn't really any other options.

After a few hours of napping, we felt much better! There is a buffet with some items and they have a menu as well. You help yourself to the buffet and then let the staff know which other items you would like, and the chef prepares them for you. We sampled many items on the buffet and dinner menu (and I manged to not eat all the deserts, having learned my lesson on the plane the night before). I made do with some mango sorbet and some fresh berries :)

After dinner we settled in to wait to board our flight. Boarding is quite a treat from the FCT. Once they are ready for you your personal assist comes to get you. You go down either the elevator or one flight of stairs to passport control (you turn in your passport when you enter the FCT, so they are all ready for you when you show up there) and are escorted to either a Mercedes S class, Porchse Cayene, or Mercedes minibus for a ride to your plane. We were treated to the Mercedes. I have never been in such a feature filled car! It was a hybrid (which they don't import at this time). The backseats were heated and were totally adjustable, complete with 3 memory slots! I have never seen adjustable backseats before. Both headrests had TV sets. Even the trunk lid closed itself! I told Jeff that I felt a bit bad for the car, as I am sure that however much power was tucked away under the hood doesn't get used at all to drive people through the airport!

Our driver expertly navigated all around the airport before parking next to our plane. I had to take a moment to look up and gawk, as I have never stood on the ground next to a 747-400 before. Its a monster! We went inside, took an elevator up, and were in the jet bridge. Our driver walked us onto the plane, announcing our names, so we didn't even have to show our tickets, and took us to the upstairs of the plane before leaving us. We settled into our seats and enjoyed some preflight beverages. The flight was a bit delayed due to a mechanical issue, so we both changed into the provided PJs before take off. We were both so tired that by the time the plane took off we decided to skip dinner and go straight to sleep. I found it a bit odd anyway that they served dinner, since the flight is scheduled to leave at 10:45 at night, and since we had eaten in the FCT, we weren't really that hungry. The flight attendent tucked us in and we both went to sleep.


Would you like to comment or ask a question?

Sign in (if you're already a member).