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Lufthansa's beloved First Class Terminal will reopen soon

Zach Honig
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Zach Honig is Editor-at-Large at TPG, with contributions ranging from articles digging deep on loyalty programs and credit cards to delivery flight coverage to drone photography and much more.
Aug. 05, 2021
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4 min read
Lufthansa First Class Terminal 2018 Review ZH
Lufthansa's beloved First Class Terminal will reopen soon
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Of all the incredible travel experiences I've been fortunate enough to pull off thanks to the magic of points and miles, the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has long held a special place in my heart.

I can count my visits on one hand, but my adventures at Lufthansa's oh-so-special premium venue have left me with memories likely to last a lifetime.

As dramatic as that may sound, this is a remarkable place. It's home to an unbeatable airport whiskey collection, a top-notch restaurant and an ever-changing array of collectible rubber ducks. That's not to mention the giant bathtubs, cigar lounge and incredibly robust water selection — and no, I didn't mean to type "wine."

Related: It just became much easier to book Lufthansa first-class awards

When all is said and done and it's time to board your flight, you're driven directly to the plane in a fancy German car. Fantastisch!

It looks like an airport lounge, but the First Class Terminal is so much more. (Photo by Zach Honig/The Points Guy)

Shortly after my last visit, in January of last year, Lufthansa closed the First Class Terminal — and some worried that it might be for good.

Fortunately, the beloved FCT will soon return! As One Mile at a Time reports, it's reopening on Sept. 1, after a roughly year-and-a-half closure.

Thinking about heading there for opening day? The airline grants access to customers traveling in Lufthansa or Swiss first class, along with top-tier HON Circle elites flying in any cabin. You have to enter the building from outside the airport, though — you'll need to be flying from Frankfurt in order to get in.

Fortunately, it's easier than ever to do just that, with Lufthansa now making its first-class cabin available to book with partner miles much further in advance. As of this writing, you can even redeem miles to visit on Sept. 1.

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(Screenshot courtesy of United)

As TPG's Ryan Patterson explains in his post detailing Lufthansa's newfound generosity, there are a handful of booking options that don't involve redeeming 121,000 United miles for a one-way trip:

ANA Mileage Club

  • Mileage required (round-trip only): 165,000 miles.
  • Taxes and fees: High, up to $500 for a one-way flight.
  • Transfer partners: American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

Asiana Club

  • Mileage required (one-way): 50,000 miles.
  • Taxes and fees: High, $244-$800 one way.
  • Transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy.

Avianca LifeMiles

  • Mileage required (one-way): 87,000 miles, though a mixed-cabin award with a connection in business class could be even lower.
  • Taxes and fees: Low, only $30.60 for a flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt.
  • Transfer partners: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Marriott Bonvoy.

Lufthansa Miles & More

  • Mileage required (one-way): 85,000 miles.
  • Taxes and fees: High, possibly over $500 for a one-way flight.
  • Transfer partner: Marriott Bonvoy.

Singapore KrisFlyer

  • Mileage required (one-way): 107,500 miles.
  • Taxes and fees: High, up to $500 for a one-way flight.
  • Transfer partners: Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.

United MileagePlus

  • Mileage required (one-way): 110,000 miles.
  • Taxes and fees: Very low, only $5.60 for a flight from San Francisco to Frankfurt.
  • Transfer partners: Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy (the latter with a slightly higher transfer rate than other partners, thanks to the RewardsPlus partnership).

It's a pricey ticket, even with miles, but a far cry from the nearly $10,000 (and up!) you'll pay for a round-trip from the U.S.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.