Lufthansa five ways
Back to Forum- This topic has 21 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 22 Dec 2014
at 10:47 by DavidGordon10.
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DavidGordon10ParticipantIn the last few months I have experienced five products from Lufthansa. This is not a detailed flight review, but a note on how I compare them.
I would not use German Wings again (and I have posted here a few months ago on this subject). The gold card on another *A carrier counts for nought.
Long-ish short haul economy (LHR – FRA – IST) was fine. A better economy service than many other carriers.
Mid-haul business (LHR – MUC – Tbilisi) was very good. I don’t want a seat that reclines on such a flight, so the LH business seat on a small airbus is fine for me. Good food, wine and service.
Long haul business (FRA – Caracas) was as good as any other business class, and better than most. Certainly value for money. Good to work and to sleep, catering very good.
First (FRA – PHL) was a disappointment. This was an upgrade using Eurobonus miles and I wish I had saved them for something else. The lounges were excellent, I love caviar, exceptional wine, great service – but it did not feel worth the extra, over and above business.
The only fly remaining in the ointment is that the return flight from Tbilisi was cancelled – outbound flight went technical and landed in Ankara. I was rebooked on Turkish, but there were no business class seats and a long delay. My request for the compensation due from LH has been sitting there for three weeks…..
14 Jul 2014
at 05:09
LuganoPirateParticipantWere you on the 340 FRA – PHL David? If so I agree fully about F being not a lot better than Business apart from the food etc. I hope you took advantage of the car transfer at least?
14 Jul 2014
at 05:26
DavidGordon10ParticipantYes, LP, it was the old F on an A340. I didn’t even get the car transfer as the gate was about 100 yards from the F lounge!
14 Jul 2014
at 05:33
LuganoPirateParticipantI really hate that seat. If you recline it kind of pushes you in the air first then squeezes you between the armrests. I think the business seat is actually more comfortable.
14 Jul 2014
at 06:17
SenatorParticipant@DavidGordon10, can you confirm if your Lufthansa First Class was from or to Frankfurt? It will make world of difference in the ground experience.
14 Jul 2014
at 07:51
DavidGordon10ParticipantSenator – it was both ways, out one day and back after just over 24 hours, so I met the same flight attendant team. I probably missed part of the “ground experience” at FRA because I was transferring off an economy flight from LHR that was not interlined, although my bag had been checked through to PHL, so it might have been noticed that I was transferring into F. I agree with LP about the seat.
14 Jul 2014
at 08:47
SenatorParticipant@DavidGordon10, thanks for clarifying. Yes, the interlining and same booking when transferring is a must to see the full effects of the offer.
The product on the A340-300s is if we are polite, a bit long-in-the-tooth. It is scheduled to be replaced or converted to two-class options. The seat is fine for seating and even sleep, but much else is left to be desired. I find the F&B offer typically very good, and I hear the Champagne offer has been upgraded recently. Service onboard is always correct and formal. I think Lufthansa is the most consistent airline in Europe; they are not the best. They are however, very unlikely to surprise you either way. I like consistency; meaning I know what to expect each time.
My tip if one has time, is to come the night before and spend some time in the First Class Terminal (FCT). Otherwise, travelling with a connecting flight to FRA and getting an apron position is normally not a preferable option. Except when travelling in First :-). I had a SVG-FRA-JFK connection two years back, and the number of jaws dropping from my fellow Norwegians when they boarded a bus, and I boarded a black Mercedes S500 with a man dressed in a suit holding a sign with my name on it was priceless.
Whilst the Lufthansa ground experience is second to none, I do prefer Swiss in the air. Specially the A330-300s are delightful. There are only two issues with this offer: the lavatory in First is very small, and they tend to service too short routes. Meaning, the experience is so good you want it to last longer..
14 Jul 2014
at 09:06
JohnHarperParticipantDavid, interesting comments, I agree with you about GermanWings and I am a SEN.
LH always seem to be able to serve excellent food in any class. I don’t know how they do it but the range and variety and quality is always excellent. The goose at Christmas in F is a particular favourite of mine.
14 Jul 2014
at 10:16
LuganoPirateParticipantFrom experience, even if connecting to a non-LH flight, if you arrive in F you can still use the F lounge on arrival. However, Senator makes two good points, arrive the night before, so you can be sure delays will not affect you and enjoy the lounge with all its offerings.
And, I fully agree about the size of the toilets in F on Swiss’s 330/340’s. The Lufthansa 747 is very spacious, even the 340’s are more generous than Swiss so it can be done, and as for the 380, well, wow is all I can say!
14 Jul 2014
at 12:18
TominScotlandParticipantTongue in cheek, DavidGordon10 and in light of another post today, should you not have titled this thread
ANOTHER LUFTHANSA CUSTOMER SERVICE DISASTER??
I hope that you get a response from them soon.
14 Jul 2014
at 12:50
CXDiamondParticipantTominScotland – 14/07/2014 12:50 GMT Good to see you are keeping up your reputation for being the forum wet blanket. Is it all that economy class travel or living in Glasgow or a combination that does it?
I agree about LH and food. CX and SQ serve exceptional food but sometimes their western dishes do not quite hit the mark so I tend not to eat them. You can order a western dish on LH knowing that it will be absolutely spot on.
David, I’m also a SEN and I wouldn’t set foot on German Wings.
14 Jul 2014
at 16:42
TominScotlandParticipantThanks, CX, no wet blanket just being fair, maybe?????. It just occurs to me that BA would be slaughtered on this Forum for ignoring a pax communication for 3+ weeks……….
14 Jul 2014
at 16:52
MrMichaelParticipantHave to agree with Tom on this, BA do take a kicking on here, some deserved and some not so. I used to be a regular on BA and loved them, now an occasional user and never really had a problem with them, just would not ( like most European airlines) bother paying extra for club.
14 Jul 2014
at 17:02
RaveAroundTheWorldParticipantI am booked in business FRA-MIA in a few weeks and I believe my eVouchers will get me to F. It s definitely something to consider on the A380 for the trip over, when I will be able to enjoy the service more than on the (overnight) return trip. Hmmmmm……
15 Jul 2014
at 09:13 -
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