Lufthansa B747-400 (Config. 1)

Lufhansa 744 First

After discussing my recent business flight on this aircraft my wife decided we “ought” to experience it together before it disappeared from LH routes. We took it to Boston.
Check in at T1 was smoothly handled by the Austrian agent, as there was someone already at the LH First desk and she was free, putting the BPs in the distinctive red and silver Lufty card holders. We walked through Fast Track in less than 5 mins and decided to eat some breakfast in the *A lounge. The “Austrian” agent told us to use the F side but this was blocked off with a large notice saying closed so we went to the biz side and had a reasonable choice of hot and cold food and plenty of space to sit as it was less than half full.

The LHR-FRA leg was due to open at 11am at gate A19 but no sign of this till 11 10 when there was a surge of people all heading the same way. The queue managed to block off the end of the travelator and we had to push a bit to get off, then there was a wait of about 10 mins to get into the gate as the one queue went quite slowly. Once there we were asked to board within minutes and were welcomed by the friendly crew. We had row 3 but I’m still unconvinced about the new slimline seats. They are fine for about an hour or so and the short squab means the leg room looks greater than it is but not as good as the old seats in my memory. Lunch was served, chicken salad with cheese, biscuits and a fresh fruit/vanilla sauce mix. This was fine and kept us going for longer than was necessary to get to the FCT in Frankfurt.

We landed on time at a remote stand with the stairs and bus drawing alongside as we came to a halt. I’m pleased to say that there was also a Porsche Cayenne waiting with our names on it and we were whisked off to the A gates by a driver who like me was fed up with the football, although for different reasons as they were still in the competition. A quick check through an empty passport control and we were outside and walking to the First Class Terminal. There we were met by our PA who took over. The security search was thorough but quick and was over in a couple of minutes. The terminal was almost empty – this was 2 30ish – and so we found the bar and some comfortable seats to build ourselves up for the coming flight! I had Hendricks while Mrs L had Pol Roger. Both were found to be as they we expected, a good start to a holiday. We picked at the buffet as there was far too much choice for people who were not that hungry. After a while the PA came and asked us if we would like a World Cup Duck each. We both accepted these.

The lounge remained quiet and we were asked if we wanted anything further to eat or drink several times before it was time to leave. It seemed a model of calm and really deserved the reputation it has for quality and service.

At boarding time we were taken downstairs to passport check and out to a Mercedes AMG – I forget the exact model- which took us to the Z gate our 747 was at. After a quick ride up in the lift we were escorted by the driver to the door, through the biz cabin and up the stairs to the 2 crew who were looking after us for the flight. We had row 83 and were the only pax booked until 2 Americans came a few minutes later who has been re routed due to missed connections , and given row 81.

The female crew obviously took cues from us as to how informal or not they should be and were both friendly, efficient and professional. Slippers and jimjams were given out straight away as was the Laurent Perrier Cuvee grand Siecle. Mrs L thought it was by far her best F experience to date.. We both tried the bed combo for a couple of hours although it was not entirely necessary for a 7 hour flight and wondered how such a comfortable cabin could be phased out, the fact that we were the only booked pax partly answered this question. The Purser introduced himself and we talked about our experiences with BA F and UA Global First, neither of which came up to the standard we were experiencing as we spoke.

Lunch was served starting with a cocktail – Caipirinha -the caviar service, then a lobster amuse bouche followed by appetisers, again a choice or all three of lobster tail with beetroot and hazelnut, poulard with waldorf cream or an interesting tomato salad and marinated pineapple. With this I had a 2012 Nussbaumer Gewurztraminer Kellerei Tramin, Mrs L having the Paul Cluver Elgin chardonnay from South Africa. The soup was cherry gazpacho with crayfish whilst the mains were white asparagus with hollandaise sauce and ham, monkfish, guinea fowl or Black Angus fillet steak. I had the asparagus, Mrs L the beef which was described as excellent, just medium rare together with a 2008 St Henri Penfolds shiraz.

After the cheese course we both had a Green Shiso sorbet with lychee and the 2010 Bacchus Trockenbeerenauslese which was more than delicious.
About this time the purser came along and said that the pilot had told him to ask us, as the only English on board, if we would be offended if he gave out the football scores as he got them. We both laughed at this, and politely told him that if our team had been a bit more “offensive” we might still be in the comp.

A light meal was offered an hour or so before landing and I managed to cram a little more in with some salad, gravlax and olives.

When we landed we descended the stairs to find the cabin staff blocking all other entrances to the door allowing us to exit first. We were met on the air bridge by an agent who told us he would have our luggage ready for us by the outsize position after we got through security. This took 20 mins or so but we found our cases on a trolley waiting for us even though the carousel for the flight had not yet started.

The little touches such as this made the whole experience “First Class” rather than simply the cabin and seat difference. We intend to savour the 747-8 together next time we visit the States and certainly rate LH as a leader especially as the tickets (A class) were cheaper for a multi city trip incl. an internal in F on UA than a simple LHR BOS return on BA at the time of booking.

Review courtesy of Seatplans.com. Original review by user 46398 can be found here