Lufthansa has just made a minor but positive change to its long haul business class experience. This was first announced a few weeks ago, but has now been rolled out.
Continue reading: New Lufthansa Business Class Meal Pre-Order, With Expanded Selection
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Lufthansa is just predictable and boring. Period. I don't get bloggers obsession with them (mostly your pal, Matt). They aren't horrible. But they in no way stand out, except, possibly, in First Class and 99% of us are never flying there (not that they even offer it on many planes). But in Economy or Business, they have an absolutely ordinary product. And their staff is generally the same. You never get bad FAs. But you never get anyone who goes the extra mile or you remember an hour after you get off the aircraft.
As someone who is about to step on one of their A350s (one of their least comfortable long haulers) from Munich to Vancouver, my hope is not with a seat (we will be faaaaaar back) or food (yes, I think this is an improvement, but won't matter to us this time), but that I can somehow watch enough films I haven't seen to get through the damn flight.
When I am next in their Business Class, likely not until 24, I will look forward to having some choice in their generally bland and uninspiring food offerings.
Well, there's an argument to be made for a safe and fairly reliable airline that provides decent service. If you don't like it or are bored to death, fly someone else (or bring your own entertainment!). Between MUC and YVR there are many options (none of them direct, but then LH's A350 is a seaonsal service anyhow) - assuming it is a route you fly often. But then, I've found only negligible differences in economy between the major European carriers.
For C, I do agree. All my flights to Canada are on AC if at all possible - because of the seat AC offers.
Lufthansa (and Swiss) is my least favorite TATL carrier, but at least they do release som award space and have a lot of destinations. If you manage to snag bulkhead seats and travel with your partner, I think they're ... fine. In fact, I just booked business class awards with them between Sweden and Charlotte, Austin and Seattle (on three separate trips), and without LH that would have been very difficult, or at least more expensive 🙂
Honestly, what I dislike most about LH is their food, that I think is pretty awful across the board, so this comes as a nice surprise for my three upcoming LH trips. Let's see if it's actually any better, or just a few more bland choices.
"Fun" fact - the last time I flew LH TATL in peak season my MUC-LAX was cancelled last minute and I got rebooked to MUC-CDG-TPE(!)-LAX on EVA.
Despite having homes in Bavaria and Florida and spending most of my time in Germany, I don't travel on LH exclusively. It depends on the destination, flight, price etc. But I have never understood the online love for them like they are Pan Am in the Golden Age of air travel.
I have recently had very good experiences on Delta, BA and KLM across the pond and Air France for a quick hop to Paris. in April, I had an absolutely great experience in every way flying UA's Polaris from EWR to MUC on an ancient 767. From seat to meal (not including the great lounge in Newark) to service, I found the product to be very high quality.
When I fly Lufthansa, it's largely because I don't have a choice or, in ancient times, because I liked a very quick direct A380 hop from MIA to FRA. If AC had been a viable option for this trip, I'd be on them.
They need to gut each and every airplane and start all over. Upgrade everything for first class and business class.
They need to gut each and every airplane and start all over. Upgrade everything for first class and business class.
"That’s despite the crews generally being perfectly pleasant and professional". I am sorry, but no. They are aloof and arrogant. I stopped flying them this year after one of the flight attendants refused to bring me a cup of coffee in business. And that was just the straw that broke the camel's back.
Is it possible to pre order main course in first? Recently I was flying with Lufthansa from Singapore in First - food was very poor by the way - but couldn't find the option to pre book
While it's nice to enjoy premium airline products like QSuite or ANA's The Room, nothing feels like boarding a Lufthansa plane. Witnessing its outdated business class, realizing that you could have picked another airline, but still chose to fly LH. Not for its modernity, but for the nostalgia it evokes—a reminiscent whisper of the simpler times of our youth. It prompts us to pause, take a step back, and immerse ourselves in our surroundings like we haven't done in a long time. Even the cuisine, which might be considered underwhelming, becomes part of the experience. But it doesn't matter, because we are all onboard, on the same ancient ship that will bring us to destinations that hold significance in our lives. Lufthansa brings us home to a time has long passed but remains very much alive onboard..
Why does Lucky continue uncritically promoting Lufthansa's terrible product? I don't get it.
@ Sabine -- I'm sorry, how is this "uncritical?" Did you read the whole second section about how "Lufthansa business class needs some help?"
Well, the network is how Lufthansa Group gets away with miserable product and ridiculous pricing. They have a de facto monopol in most of Europe, with their only competition being lowcost carriers (which are point to point only).
Some of them are actually standard menu items as well. The polenta dish, for example, is on the menu for long haul flights out of Germany...
So true; aloof and arrogant. I have flown LH over the years way too many times. One trip particular showed the true colors of LH staff. I was returning from HEL- FRA- EWR- LAX- to OGG. I got early at the Helsinki airport, boarding pass on hand. They couldn't find my reservation, which was RT from OGG. No explanation other than "go get an other ticket, desk opens soon". I had no choice than spend an other Euro 1000 for my return flight. Once I got FRA I went straight to Lufthansa office to complain. The guy there just shrugged his shoulders and said "a computer clitch". Once I got back home, I started my battle with LH. First I tried my credit card company, but they couldn't get my money back. Eventually I sent all the copies of the purchased tickets to LH office and they credited the Euro 1000, which took months! --Just to say the LH staff is not helpful nor pleasant and professional at all..
Last time I flew LH Business class was last summer. I honestly cannot remember what I ate on the plane. But I remember pretty much everything I ate on Turkish Airlines Business class from ORD to IST. The service, the meals, everything top notch! Not to mention Turkish airlines business class lounge @IST!
“This feature is available between one month and 24 hours of departure.”
My experience today – order must be made at least the 2nd day before the flight, 24 hours is not long enough
Wait until you try Emirates's almost 20 year-old 777 with 2-3-2 business class seating and ancient interiors.
LH service is usually top notch.
Have flown LH, Swiss, United, SAS and Emirates this year. LH has an outdated hard product but as Reyyan says it still comes together nicely.
And mark my words, in years to come many will wish they could still fly on the Queen of the Skies.