Trip Report – A Dream Adventure Come True: Lufthansa First Class Terminal

Introduction
Seattle to Frankfurt
Frankfurt Fun Times
Lufthansa First Class Terminal
Frankfurt to Newark
Newark to Seattle
Conclusion
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Tuesday 12th May 2015

The train ride into the airport was packed full of people. Most of them did not even get off at the airport and were already on the train when it arrived. It meant that I just had to stay standing the whole ride. Not to bad when it is only 2 stops and about 12 minutes or so. Getting off at the airport it was time to see if the instructions I downloaded were correct. Getting to the First Class Terminal (FCT) by foot is not something they really advertise.

From the station I followed the way I originally came into the station area from the Arrivals area, had I gone back up following the crowds to departures I would have been way to high and have to backtrack down. So back to the arrivals area it was, just where I had been 2 days earlier. I went outside to the street and then turned left, back towards the taxi waiting area. About 5 minutes stroll later and it was crossing the street in-front of the Lufthansa Crew entrance (also where I think there HQ is.. maybe?). Then it was just a little bit more further down the road towards the FCT. Once you get to the crossing it is highly visible what is there. This was the place I had waited so long for, where I had wanted to be for so long. This was the almost ultimate of experiences. Also it was going to be a place where I had hoped to learn a little about being in the lounge, if this was the best place, perhaps it was somewhere I could learn a little.

From the bottom entrance to the FCT you head up in the lift and as you exit you are greeted by Lufthansa staff. When I came up I was not alone, there was 2 other passengers in the lift with me and they took their time coming up and out. For me though I scooted around them and it was there I met Antje. She was going to be my Personal Assistant for my time in the lounge. This is one thing that I think the FCT does right. In a lounge like this, you should have someone there to greet you and that person should be your point of contact. Need something fixed, well your PA is that person. They will make sure that whatever you need done is done. Antje took my suitcase away from me and escorted me the 3 steps to security where there was only one other person ahead of me. She had my passport and my details and she would meet me on the other side. Security took just a few minutes as I had to get my camera bag swabbed for explosives. Not a big deal and here it was all so pleasant. No shouting no yelling just quiet and calming. The way it should be.

Antje returned while I was waiting for my belongings to come through the scanner (the second staff member was out the back checking the swab scan) and when she returned my belongings came out. Antje explained that my passport would be held downstairs by the Immigration desk and that they would return it to me when I leave. After that she took me on a quick tour of the FCT. I stepped foot inside the main door and that was it…. that life achievement was now unlocked. I was there!

After a brief explanation of what was what and where things were, I was starving so sat down to a delicious breakfast. Something I desperately needed was coffee. So while I could order off the menu for eggs etc, there was an amazing buffet set up. While I couldn’t decide on what to get my first thing was coffee and after that it was some fruit. That was a given and an easy way for me to decide what I wanted. The easiest choice is never all that easy. I knew I wanted eggs but then what kind… they had so many options. I took the easy way out and went with poached and while that was happening I was eating my fruit. I grabbed some kind of yogurt thing (or so I thought at the time) and took that back to the table with me. Turns out that it was more cheese like than yogurt and in fact may have been quark (not quite sure because I had never had that before either).

The fruit was amazing and what looked just as good was a waffle, so that is what I went with as well as my eggs (along with some bacon… and a sausage, and some potato… what I am on holidays, stop judging me). It was all so tasty and a good way to start off some of my time in the lounge.

After a full breakfast and catching up on life thanks to the free wifi (it also allowed me to tweet away and make me feel slightly more connected again) I decided to pick up my belongings and relocate to somewhere a little more conductive to working (ie away from a table in the restaurant). The first thing after dropping my gear was to walk around quickly and grab a number of photos (a full description of the lounge will go into the FCT piece for AirlineReporter so you can wait for that can’t you). The place was as good as I had pictured and dreamed. I wanted to be everywhere at the same time.

As I walked around I thought to myself how surreal and peaceful this place was, especially at an airport of this size. Frankfurt airport is not exactly small, compared to Atlanta this place was almost on par. The size was astounding, I had read so many stories and pictured this place to be immense, however the size of the lounge was a lot smaller than it seemed. It would have been about the size of a small corporate office, yet it was big enough. It did not feel crowded and there was so many different nooks and crannies you could easily feel alone. I sat down back at my stuff and got myself sorted with power etc so I could work. I browsed the drinks menu (about 25-30 pages) and found that the water menu alone was a whole page. Who am I to decline something new, so I tried some Glenlivet water. Since I won’t be drinking their scotch, the least I can do is drink their water right?

That was where people think that I went crazy and indulged like no other, downing snacks left right and center or getting drink after drink. Well to be honest, that didn’t happen. I just drank my water and worked away. During the entire time in the lounge, all I really had was that one 750ml bottle of water and a coke zero (later on before leaving). The view from the lounge was of the crew bus departure area, so it wasn’t as if I was going to be looking at planes and be distracted. This was about peace, tranquility and just time to zone out. So that is what I did. I finished up my work and took some time to read a real, actual book.

The best part about the lounge was the fact that I could feel like I owned it, that I was the only one there. If I wanted something, they could bring it to me or I could go get it. If I needed something they would help me. After a while I realized that I had been there a good 2 hours and time had just flown past. I had not even gone to get a rubber duck yet! So I did, and made sure that I just asked for it without even trying to waste their time for asking for a shower.

After a while, Antje came to check on me, to see how I was going. I was totally content just relaxing away and doing what I was doing. This is why I am a lounge person, the ability to just zone out and relax and be in the peace and quiet is the best way to start travelling. From then on out I didn’t have much time left in the lounge. Antje and I had a quick chat as she noticed the book I was reading (About the 747) and I explained what I was doing etc (well not fully) and she put it upon herself to go and get me a rubber duck for Heidi. So I decided to come clean (a little) and gave her one of the AR business cards that I have and a couple of stickers. Maybe we can get them on one of the Porsches?

Pretty soon my time in the lounge was coming to an end. About 5 minutes before I knew Antje would show up to get me, I made one last pit stop and packed up most of my stuff, getting it ready for a quick departure. When Antje finally came along I dropped my book in my bag, collected the bags up and off we went, towards the exit. We took the steps down and then it was off to the passport desk to get that back and be stamped out of the country. After that the news was broken to me that I would not be riding in the Porsche today but in the mini van (damn). Sadly there was a few other people (2 to be exact) who would be coming with and they had to be accommodated as well. Can’t win them all. Time to hop onto the little mini van to the plane.

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