Lufthansa’s new flagship is less an airport than a glorious time machine.

In Catch Me if You Can, a ’60s-era Leonardo DiCaprio saunters onto airliner after airliner as if he’s taking shortcuts through his neighbors’ yards — a tough thing to imagine in this age of groping and interrogation.

That’s precisely what makes Lufthansa’s first-class terminal in Frankfurt such a gem of a forward-thinking throwback. The airline thought it was high time to elevate ground-level amenities for first-class passengers and members of its lauded HON Circle (Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Lufthansa fliers who earn 600,000-plus miles every two years).

So it spent a cool $40 million on a free-standing two-story cube that’s a sleek contrast to the monstrous Flughafen Frankfurt am Main. Part spa, part restaurant, part private club, the Lufthansa terminal was designed to take the travel out of travel. Drive up, toss your keys to the valet and pay not a second thought to your rental car. Inside, a bank of personal assistants at white lacquered tables sits ready to do the same for your bags and ticketing. No need to wait while they finish typing — just hand over your passport and go enjoy a martini in one of the B&B Italia armchairs in the adjacent lounge. Really. The staff will be happy to come find you.

(Continue reading this story on DealmakerDaily)

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