Visiting the Lufthansa First Class Terminal
A couple of months ago I had the fortune of being able to snag a last minute flight on the A380 in Lufthansa First Class from Frankfurt to San Francisco. I think I have been delaying blogging about the details as it is kind of waiting to open the last present on Christmas morning...it is like if I write about it, it is over. But, it is over, and it was a great experience I am excited to share. I'll cover the actual flight in a post later this week, but wanted to devote to the First Class Terminal since it a pretty swanky place to visit!
I connected in Frankfurt from a flight originating in Zurich, so I had quite a trek to get from inside the airport, to the outdoors where the First Class Terminal is located near Terminal 1. I could have just visited the First Class Lounge, but some of my miles and buddies told me I must go to the actual terminal or I would never be spoken to again...or something along those lines. So, I walked a fair distance (more than I would want to do in a hurry if my kid were with me) to get out of the airport, and then turned right once I was outside and walked another hundred yards or so to the First Class Terminal.
I think I had to hit a buzzer or something to enter. Once inside I was greeted and asked to show my ID and boarding pass. Since I had an onward first class ticket on Lufthansa I was admitted to the club. If I had just flown in on Lufthansa First I could visit one of the First Class Lounges, but not the actual First Class Terminal.
After verifying that I was indeed able to be in the terminal that day, I was escorted to their private security screening area. I had left airport security to get to the terminal, so now had to go through it again. Honestly, this was all worth it as it was my first time to visit, but if I were doing it again I might just visit the lounge within the airport and skip some of the extra walk and a second visit through security. It was pretty cool having my own private security screening though!
Once that was finished I was told that they would come and find me when it was time to board and then I was turned loose to enjoy the amenities. Since I had already been up for many hours by that point in the day and had walked very very quickly to the terminal to maximize the time I had on the ground in Frankfurt, I opted to take a bath. I know, a bath in an airport?! I get a little creeped out by showers and bath tubs outside of my own house, but this one looked so nice and clean that I didn't hesitate to hop right in. There is a bath/shower attendant who will assign a room for you and make sure you have what you need.
I think I started laughing several times during my bath, as it was all just so absurd that this is even available...but it was also awesome! The only letdown of the bath experience was the absence of a rubber ducky (I feel like a moron for even typing this). Lufthansa is well known for their little rubber duckies in the bath tubs. Everyone hijacks the duckies to take home as souvenir, and I was hoping to bring one back to my daughter. However, the bath attendant told me they were no longer carrying the rubber duckies. I was shocked and this proved to not at all be the case as they are still around to this day, but for whatever reason they weren't available the day I was there. Clearly not a big deal, but wanted to point it out since some folks collect those little ducks. ;)
After a nice bath and a change of clothes I peeked into one of the sleeping rooms. I didn't have time for a nap on my visit, but I love that they have rooms designed for that purpose.
There were many different sitting areas available, and on the day I was there they were mostly empty. I was like a kid in a candy store so I would sit in an area for about 5-10 minutes and then move somewhere else.
There is a bar area and an extensive selection of many types of liquor! It was too early in the day for me to fully participate in this amenity, but it looked quite impressive. Oh and, psst, it's all free (other than the cost of the First Class ticket of course). ;)
There is also a restaurant within the terminal that is also complimentary. You can order at the table or head up to the buffet to make a plate.
I was there pretty early in the day, so most of the foods were various typical breakfast offerings. I didn't eat too much, but I tried a few things and had no complaints. If you have a longer layover than me then you can make much better use of the available food and beverages than I did.
In case you are ever visiting the First Class Terminal with your little ones - they even have high chairs!
After about an hour, I was told my flight was about to begin boarding and it was time to be driven on the tarmac to my plane via a Mercedes. This is what makes the First Class Terminal so bad a%#. In what world do I need to be driven directly to my waiting plane? Did I die and fall into a James Bond movie? Heck no, I just happened to use United miles to book this awesome adventure. In fairness the Mercedes wasn't the sexy James Bond-style car I had envisioned, but that is a minor detail. It was insanely awesome to be driven directly to your plane.
Once you arrived at your plane you were taken inside to an elevator that connected to a jet-bridge to your plane.
We didn't have to go into the gate area or wait in any lines at all - just waltzed right on-board.
...and that is where the real fun began!
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Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.