I left my apartment and picked up my friend at around 12:20PM for our 2PM departure. The drive took about 20 minutes, so we made it to check-in at about 12:55PM after parking at an off-site lot. Check-in was more or less deserted since we were there just before the cutoff. The agent working check-in…
Continue reading: Chasing the Sun: Lufthansa First Class Seattle to Frankfurt
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
isn't it 'bon bon' instead of 'bom bom'? Or maybe things really are a lot different in first class. Or Tampa.
All joking aside, I've never flown in first or business, are the lavatories bigger? I can't imagine trying to change clothes in a lavatory in coach without knocking the door open.
Pretty sure I had this same FA on a recent flight. Top notch service and always a smile. She have a cute look with wavy/frizzy brown/brunette hair?
@ Diane -- But they're right next to each other on the keyboard. :p
Fixed, thanks.
The lavatories are a bit bigger in first class, though not much.
It's less fun when you arrive at a remote stand in F and that Mercedes / Porsche is NOT there waiting for you.
@ Ripper3785 -- This was my first time arriving at a remote stand in Frankfurt from a longhaul flight in years, so I was pleasantly surprised. 😀
Looks like CLub International is the old NW World CLubs... much better than the dungeon lounge they used to have in the South Satellite.
You've got to go to Serafina's in Eastlake sometime and sit at the bar and have an orange basil mojito...
Mnn.. there are 2 cars (excluding the Benz)
Do First/Business class get the jet bridge car with the cover?
while Econ pax get the UNCOVERED car?
I would hate it if it's raining, as you still get wet before getting into the Benz 😛
"given that Frankfurt based crews tend to have a pretty bad reputation (though I find it to be baseless)"
Really?? Frankfurt and in particular LH (at FRA) has the most customer unfriendly service business I have encountered in BRD. Sure the luxury hotels do a good job, but spend some time shopping among the common people and you will get a taste of poor service. Many of the Hessians I have talked to agree.
@ Zz -- I agree in general, though was talking specifically about Lufthansa's Frankfurt based crews (and not service at the airport or in Frankfurt in general). I find them to be consistently friendly.
aaaah, seems like a vintage Lucky trip report ... how I've missed them ... happy you're back!
The lobster dish did look sort of blah; was the lobster itself good?
Lufthansa must have the worst wine offerings of any of the "luxury" first class airlines (i.e., non US). Champagne and spirits are decent (although 99 was blah year for champagne, I love Cuvee Louise).
The Chilean wine is pricey (but not my style), the other two red wines are $23 and $30 retail.
Does LH by default send a car to pick up F pax at FRA from their inbound flights? I didn't think so, especially if you are connecting to another carrier. Did you request/arrange this in advance?
As for the whites, the Pechstein Riesling is about $50 I think, but the Gruner is available for $11. The the Horse Heaven is available at some places for $8. That's not even business class level.
Gotta love the new 25R...you come in over the "Squaire" with amazing views of the ramps as in your photos, and then go by the huge HLTechnik hanger and cargo north area. So cool with the B748,A333,A346,MD11s parked there. You were lucky there were only three of you in F as with more pax you'd have had the van, which we had last time (but S series on the way home:-). Still cool for an aviation geek like myself driving by all those wide bodies! BTW lots of good spotting vids focusing on 25R now on you tube as the planes pass right by the hill viewing area by the fire station going to the remote stand.
Yes, if arriving in F you usually get a car or van (also if HON) if at a remote stand. Airbus flights from SEA and Canada almost always arrive there now. Often you'll see the new ANA Dreamliner there as well.
LH seems to always have some cheapo whites in their selection. Not sure why. Many of the US choices are really poor too IMO.
I want a Rimowa kit really bad. I've been on LH F numerous times, but always get Bogner or Porsche.
Did you get a Rimowa kit in TG F too?
Lucky,
I have a trip coming up in a few weeks from SEA to PVG. My current routing is from SEA->NRT->PVG on UA875 and NH921. I'm looking at UA's website and notice they still have first class availability from SEA->Frankfurt->PVG with a layover around 8 hrs. The whole trip will take approximately 30 hrs compared to the 16 hrs if routed through NRT. I've never been to Germany and would love to hear your opinion on this. How viable is it to check out the city in a 8-hr layover?
Thank you very much in advance!
@ SeaLight -- Frankfurt is easily accessible from the airport with a 20 minute train ride, so I'd say it's very viable if you don't mind the cold weather.
Keep in mind, though, that if you're still a few weeks from the trip the award space you see in Lufthansa first class is probably phantom space, as they release award space at most two weeks out. See this post for full details:
https://onemileatatime.com/reminder-lufthansa-only-releases-first-class-award-space-to-partner-airlines-14-days-out/
I recently flew FRA-SEA and it was great, both the service on the ground and in the air. My only issue was that the flight was delayed by about 45 minutes. LH met myself and the other F passenger at the gate and rushed us through customs and immigration, but by the time I made it to the N satellite for my UA flight the door had already closed.
Unfortunately, UA sent me on a wild goose-chase to Alaska to ask for a connecting flight (which UA denied to the AS agent due to it being an award) and the United Club wanted to deny me access due to having arrived on an LH flight and not being *G. I pointed out that I was a United Club member, but she directed me to the LH counter for accommodation. The LH counter had closed by this time, but I happened to see the agent who escorted me through customs and immigration, and she walked me right into the LH office after which a ticketing supervisor joined and actually helped me.
There were no F seats showing in availability by this point, but at least he tried.
Moral of the story: Avoid United!
What was my car doing in FRA? 🙂 When I flew Thai last month MUC-BKK-MUC, the amenity kits were Tummi - I guess they have as many varieties as aircraft configurations.
Lucky,
Award availability on LH from LAX is fairly poor. Do you find that it is better via SEA? I assume LAX-SEA-FRA-somewhere in Europe (and maybe even Asia) is allowed?
@ Matt -- Yes, that would be a legal routing. Award availability is much better out of Seattle than Los Angeles. That being said if you're originating in Los Angeles I'd suggest routing through an airport that's more likely to have new first class.
@ Rob -- Ouch, sorry to hear that!
@ Peter -- Hah! I believe the Porsche kit is actually typically the business class kit, and they incorrectly provisioned it for first class on this flight.
Great and insightful report, F looks pretty good but unfortunately LH won't confirm upgrades on UA GPUs until checkin, so I usually opt for C on UA rather than roll the dice as the LH angled seats are horrid. But I will definitely get some paper SWUs for the next time I am stuck on LH. I do wish they would speed up the drink and meal service on these red eye flights, it should not take 3 hours, which cuts into my sleep time.
for me EWR-FRA on LH business class was the worst ever experience ..from lounges to inflight service, poor food to lost baggage... alongwith poor entertainment options...this flight was a total disaster
My eyes popped out of my head upon seeing the Solera Gran Reserva on the spirits menu. Were I on your flight there is a good chance I would have finished that bottle by myself! Wow!
One of my favorite memories is from the FCT during my layover HKG-FRA-ORD and walking into the cigar room (best place to hang) and finding a full bottle of Conde de Osbourne Solera Gran Reserva. What an orgy!
"As I’d be flying for the next 24 hours and wanted a clean set of clothes upon landing, I immediately changed into the pajamas."
Ben - I never change into the PJs (or my sweatsuit) nor take off my shoes until after take-off. Sure, it's rare, but if there's an emergency on the ground before take-off, I want to evacuate in my street clothes and with shoes on. An aborted take-off with immediate evacuation won't leave time to run to the lav to change 🙂 For the same reason (on international flights) I always leave my passport in my pants pocket during take-off and landing. If I have to "leave all carry-on baggage behind," I want to have it with me. And yes, I've done an evacuation. Twice. -wxguy
Great report, as always. Loved your reference to "Little Chocolatey Things"! Brilliant. LOL. That's why you're our Favorite Travel Blogger.
You have an appetite of a football player. I don't know how you stay so skinny. Keep up the brilliant trip reports.
I had that EXACT same F menu IAD-FRA on the 744 last month. I had all the appetizers and the beef was the best one, so good choice.
Side note, if anyone can find a link to where I can purchase a case or two of that Portuguese red wine, I will be forever indebted...
Justin: there are 2 sites online for the Port.
1. budgetbottle.com
2. americaswineshop.com
What do you do (as in a career) that allows you to fly in first and business class so much?
@ Patrick -- I'm a full-time blogger and travel consultant, and finance the vast majority of my travels through miles and points gained through strategic use of credit cards: https://onemileatatime.com/best-travel-credit-cards/bonus-offers/
I'm very ignorant, but what exactly does one do with the hot towels? Every LH report mentions them. Are they for cleaning you hands before eating? Is that a big deal? I'd be confused...