When you think of airlines that offer a world class experience, carriers like Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines might come to mind. It’s very rare for a small airline to really go above and beyond to offer a massively differentiated experience.
A while back, I wrote about how an airline was promoting what sounded like a very impressive product, but I wondered if it was really as great as it sounded. Well, a reader has kindly shared his experience on this flight, which I’d like to cover in this post (it’s not often I have guest quasi trip reports, but I can’t help but share this!).
In this post:
Luxair’s fascinating route from Luxembourg to Dubai
Luxair is the small national airline of Luxembourg, and the airline primarily operates regional flights within Europe. The airline also operates a seasonal flight between Luxembourg (LUX) and Dubai World Central (DWC).
The airline operates this flight with a Boeing 737 MAX, and specifically, one that has “proper” recliner seats. To be clear, Luxair doesn’t have flat beds, but at least it’s not operating this route with a plane that just has the standard intra-Europe business class.
A couple of months ago, I shared how Luxair was promoting its business class soft product on this flight, including a partnership with a celebrity chef, caviar service, and more. This made me very interested to try this route, though I haven’t had the chance to do so yet.
Is it really as good as it sounds, though? After all, lots of airlines promote partnerships with celebrity chefs, and can take really good professional pictures of what the airline food theoretically looks like.
Well, OMAAT reader Nico kindly shared his experience taking this flight, which I’ll post in full below (I won’t put quotation marks around it or indent it, but instead, the entire section below is from Nico). Wait until you read about this!
What’s business class like from Luxembourg to Dubai?
We took LG 9009 from LUX to DWC on December 6th.
It’s worth noticing, that after 20+ flights with Luxair, this flight was possibly the first one where priority boarding was actually enforced. Boarding started a little over 30 minutes before departure – and it was luckily one of the rare occasions of boarding via a jet bridge at LUX.
Regarding the hard product, there’s not much to say: decent recliner seats with ample of legroom and recline.
While an extraordinarily soft and plush blanket and amenity kit containing all the essentials (far superior to what LH provides nowadays in long haul business class) were waiting on our seats, just a very flimsy pillow comparable to those usually provided in long haul economy class of legacy carriers was provided.
After settling in, we were provided a choice of water, orange juice, or Rosé sparkling wine (I loved that the FA pointed out the fact that they have Alice Hartmann Brut Rosé on offer today while providing the welcome drink, rather than just “sparkling wine”).
We took off pretty much on time and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise over the Alps.
About an hour after departure, the crew handed out the first menu of the flight, containing just the first service of the flight, a continental breakfast, which was served shortly after.
They also had an adapted beverage menu for the breakfast service, containing espresso and (instant) cappuccino (which I had).
Minutes after the breakfast service, we were provided crackers. The crew did constant refills on the drinks throughout the entire flight.
Slightly less than two hours after the breakfast service, we were provided the second menu (main lunch service) and the wine list.
I loved the fact that they had some local wines on offer, and especially some options that felt upscale compared to what legacy carriers offer in business class nowadays. The only option that you could choose regarding the meal was the main course (beef or vegetarian option), leaving you with the caviar and seafood starter even when you opt for the “vegetarian alternative” – so one should definitely order a special meal if an all vegetarian meal is preferred.
After that, another aperitif was served, along with some nuts.
Then the main event was served, starters and main came on one tray.
The first starter featured the advertised generous serving of caviar.
While the truffle was pretty dominant in taste, the beef and jus of the main course were superb. Below is what the vegetarian option looked like.
Last but not least, we were served dessert – and of course some more drinks.
Before preparing the cabin for arrival, the purser came around to genuinely ask for and take note of feedback of the business class passengers regarding the service on our flight. Speaking of the crew, the purser and one additional flight attendant were working exclusively in business class. The service was professional, warm and pretty personal, with the decent crew to passenger ratio.
Arrival procedures were straightforward, with Smart Gates available for eligible passports. Luxair really tries to stand out with an unique soft product on the DWC flights. The quality and quantity of food provided on this 6.5 hour flight was no comparison to what competitors offer on similar routes. I’d actually prefer them over a generic lie-flat seat of another airline on routes like that.
Bottom line
In a world where so many airlines go for “good enough,” I really am amazed by Luxair’s soft product on its seasonal route to Dubai. Quite honestly, I can’t think of another business class soft product that exceeds what I’d expect to such an extent, as I would’ve never expected the experience to be this impressive. Kudos to Luxair, and I’ve gotta give this route a try!
What do you make of Luxair’s business class on the Dubai route?
Sorry? I’m confused.
What is this article? A review? A paid marketing piece?
I have been reading the blog for many years and even the title of the article doesn’t sound like Ben.
The all I saw is a a bery ordinary hard product, a meal that looks very nice, and some caviar. That’s all good and well, and kudus to the airline, but the praise seems to be disproportional. Is this just me?
Yeah it's a propaganda piece that was submitted to Ben under the guise of being a "reader". Free PR for the airline!
Those seats look so bad I don't believe it that it's called Business Class.
But in all seriousness, who wants to fly 7 hours in a seat even worse than Domestic First Class?
Wondering why there are not more pictures of the seat in the post.
Luxembourg is worthwhile , but Dubai is worthless .
Apparently, Dubai is not 'worthless,' because nearly all the global kleptocrats seem to flock there. Yeah, it's an artificial place, like a Las Vegas on the Persian Gulf, without the gambling, and far stricter rules. I'd barely prefer Dubai over Vegas, but I'd prefer most other places over both.
Perhaps research the country before flying their national airline?
If you know anything about Luxembourg ( I know a few things) ...this makes sense to me.
I'm not being rude, I'm just saying a little research can not only offer the answer, but make for an interesting conversation on here. Or not :-)
I ate the caviar and didn't mind it. That is free advertising right there. It did sting a little when it went out my bunghole though, I'll tell you that. That's just between us girls.
I have to imagine this plane is used part of the year by Luxembourg's government and the grand duke (its monarch). That said, I applaud the sparkling wine. Luxembourg's sparkling wines, which are made from the champagne or traditional method, rival the best in France. I do find the lack of a proper pillow curious given how much effort is being put into this. Likewise, the paper napkin as a tray tablecloth is an odd...
I have to imagine this plane is used part of the year by Luxembourg's government and the grand duke (its monarch). That said, I applaud the sparkling wine. Luxembourg's sparkling wines, which are made from the champagne or traditional method, rival the best in France. I do find the lack of a proper pillow curious given how much effort is being put into this. Likewise, the paper napkin as a tray tablecloth is an odd choice. I also don't understand why they are serving a lunch just two hours after breakfast. And why did it take an hour to start serving breakfast or drinks?
At the risk of outing myself as someone who flies regional jets more than any other aircraft type, what do the numbers below the menu items mean? (e.g. 1a, 1b, 1c).
Allergen info - there's most likely a key at the bottom and 1a means gluten, 1b means dairy, etc.
Thanks.
These letters and numbers tell people with allergies which allergens might be in the food. There is a European system using codes for all the Ingredients that might cause common allergies.
Those are clues for the crossword puzzle .
Oh man, Sorry Ben but I think you fell for a marketing stunt here, everyone in the region can tell you that, always thaught you would not get paid for your posts :(
In my opinion, the most important factor for most business class travelers is the seat. For flights under four hours, many people are willing to accept a recliner seat, but not on a flight of around seven hours.
For example, Icelandair flights to the U.S. are not considered true business class by most travelers, and even their seats are better than those on Luxair. There is no denying that the food in Luxair’s business...
In my opinion, the most important factor for most business class travelers is the seat. For flights under four hours, many people are willing to accept a recliner seat, but not on a flight of around seven hours.
For example, Icelandair flights to the U.S. are not considered true business class by most travelers, and even their seats are better than those on Luxair. There is no denying that the food in Luxair’s business class is good. However, what Luxair offers is not what I would call business class. In fact, even premium economy seats are better than these.
On top of that, Luxair does not fly to Dubai International Airport (DXB), but instead uses the more distant Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
As per Aerolopa, only the 737-800 have the recliners which explains the dated seats. That's a nearly 7 hours flight, I would compare this to premium economy considering the flight length.
That wine list puts most long-haul J cabins to shame. Chablis Premier Cru and Gevrey-Chambertin on a 7-hour flight? Wow!
Wow, maybe you should mention that you pay 1500€+ for a recliner seat on the round trip from Europe to the UAE
I snooped around for tickets – the cheapest fares are out of DWC, which gets you to multiple places in Europe for <$1.2k (not a bargain, though could be worth it for the review). You can also fly BCN-LUX-DWC on certain dates which is marginally more expensive ($1.3k) but gets you on their brand new E195-E2.
I would fly an airline for caviar.
Eh, I could care less about the service and food on an airplane, it looks nice, but still is airplane food.
On a 7+ hour flight, the hard product is the big differentiator for business class and generic recliners do not cut it.
You said "I could care less". What you're looking for is "I couldn't care less". I do not understand why this is such a common error - saying "I could care less" would mean that you do care. Dummy?
Why are you coming on here calling people "dummy's?"
This year is a notorious troll with nothing better to do than comment nonstop cringe. Better to just leave them be.
On some articles, over half the comments are from them.
We speak ENGLISH correctly around here, buster. Now settle down and admit your fault, or I have so overwhelmed you with TRUTH, LOGIC and COMMON SENSE that you're at a loss for words!?
Can we ban this idiot from commenting on posts on OMAAT?
Sam "The Moron",
Notice how my initial comment has two helpful votes, whereas yours has ZERO (good description of you, come to think of it!), and my comment is absolutely irrefutable to anyone with respect for the English language. Have you considered that you may perhaps be the "idiot"?
Other '1990,' also, I wouldn't demand anyone 'speak English' on here or elsewhere. In fact, I've only jokingly suggested to Aero a couple times that he should 'speak American' but that was in-jest. I fear you were trying to unnecessarily provoke Sam and the others here. If you're gonna do that, please, use some of your other aliases so people don't think it's actually me. Thanks.
Samuel, why are you so upset that 1990 is trying to have people speak English probably? Perhaps you can self-deport if you don't like English.
@Sam, both Tim Dunn and his British wannabe Aerob13a get to stay, so don't hope too much.
N17017, what’s up with your call on the other post (LH747) to ban Aero, then? Bud, these calls to ‘ban’ others are silly. Like, unless there’s something truly obscene (and there isn’t, not here, not yet), the incentive for this and all blogs is more, not less, engaging.
Sam, this the original 1990 here; there's a guy who's imitating some of the regulars, including myself (that "Dummy" comment above was not me). Rest assured, I don't call people silly names; in fact, I enjoy when others do so at me. Unfortunately, the imitator took things a bit too far in this exchange. I really do not want to have to create a registered account, but, if needed, I will to try to stop the imitations.
Get an account - so we can tell who is who, otherwise we believe all 1990's are YOU.
Once you have an account, chill on commenting on each and every single issue.
It has become tiresome.
GSHLGB, I’ll consider the account, but, let’s be clear, there’s no need to self-censor (many comments are from me, but not these calling others names); if you have something to say, on this, any, and even every post, you do you. The impersonation is not cool, though, especially when others are attacking others using our pseudonyms.
Oh, no. Other '1990,' what have you done... I don't call others silly names. I like *to be called* silly names. Can you imitate Eskimo more instead? -O.G. 1990.
yolo, this is the original '1990' who frequents here, VFTW, LALF, DoC, etc. I actually agree with your original sentiment. For a 7-hour flight, I'd much rather enjoy lie-flat business class than recliner. My initial comment (11:04AM) was me and suggested as much. (Again, the imitating is 'fun' until it isn't.)
Not a fan of caviar personally. Don't think I would fly this.
Not a fan of fake Eskimo personally. Don't think I would fly this.
Can you please not impersonate the regulars? Like, use whatever creative aliases you want, but, don’t pretend to be others on here.
Thanks for sharing! That really is some of the nicest airplane food I've ever seen. Standouts for me include the viennoiseries, bread rolls, cheese course, caviar, and dessert(s). This really does look like food you would find in a highly regarded restaurant or bakery. Feels like there could be some small improvements made to presentation, stemware, and amenities (such as a better pillow).
Was there any IFE?
Luxembourg has like the highest per capita number of Michelin restaurants. So, the folks who pay for this have reasonably high expectations.
The food looks fantastic, hard product less so. This is exactly why I say that I prefer euro-J over american-F - the seat provides zero privacy, you're cramped right next to your seatmate with what, 10 cm separation? You don't even get separate armrests between you and need to share. Very little storage told, except under the seat in front of you (impractical with that kind of a legroom, you can't get anything out of...
The food looks fantastic, hard product less so. This is exactly why I say that I prefer euro-J over american-F - the seat provides zero privacy, you're cramped right next to your seatmate with what, 10 cm separation? You don't even get separate armrests between you and need to share. Very little storage told, except under the seat in front of you (impractical with that kind of a legroom, you can't get anything out of your bag while wearing seatbelt etc). The legroom is nice but that's the end of it imho.
I imagine the fantastic soft product can make up for the seat if you're travelling with someone else, but I wouldn't book this when travelling solo. The lack of privacy makes it unsuitable for longhaul J imho.
Nico’s a natural! OMAAT should hire him as a special correspondent
It looks like Meghan Markle, pardon me, Sussex, may have contributed to the food styling, due to all these flower sprinkles.
But seriously, the offerings look very pretty, portions are generous, and sound like are tasty too. I guess this may be the most what FAS can squeeze technically from their working space due to the objective limitations.
Is it just me or the reader is drinking coke with Champagne?
No, the champagne was served in a glass with a short stem. The coke (or is it iced tea?) is a standard glass.
Wow! For such a lame seat (recliner), they really do over-perform on food. That caviar was nearly EK First-level. Epic. (Though, all of this is completely unnecessary for most folks.)