- Introduction: The Long Way To Florence
- Review: Etihad Business Class A350 (ORD-AUH)
- Review: Etihad Arrivals Lounge Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH)
- Review: Burj Al Arab Dubai (What An Experience!)
- Review: Bulgari Hotel Dubai, UAE
- Caviar All The Way To Bologna: My Emirates First Class Non-Review
- Review: Four Seasons Florence, Italy
- Truffle Hunting In Tuscany With Savini Tartufi
- Review: Masaccio Lounge Florence Airport (FLR)
- Review: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich Airport Satellite (MUC)
- Resisting Temptation In Lufthansa First Class
To finish off our trip to Florence, we returned to the United States in Lufthansa first class, flying from Munich to Chicago, on a flight operated by an Airbus A340-600. We booked using Aeroplan points within a few days of departure, as that’s usually when Lufthansa opens first class awards.
I just recently reviewed Lufthansa’s A340 first class, so I won’t be publishing a full review of this flight. Lufthansa is consistent to a fault, and I feel like nothing has changed in a decade, so there’s not much to add.
However, I did want to talk about what made this flight different for me, which had nothing to do with what was on offer. I don’t think I’ve ever exercised such restraint while flying Lufthansa first class… and I have no regrets about it!
In this post:
The “challenge” every first class traveler faces
Miles & points allow us to have some amazing premium experiences at a fraction of the retail cost. There are some amazing first class products out there, and I still pinch myself and get giddy when traveling in international first class.
However, there’s a “problem” that any enthusiastic first class traveler can relate to (and I put that in quotes for good reason) — how do you maximize the experience, while balancing fun with arriving well rested?
On the one hand, the greatest thing about international first class is the amount of personal space you have, since that’s the most precious commodity on a plane. If you’re on an overnight flight, a first class seat could allow you to land refreshed and hit the ground running, in a way that most people couldn’t do in economy.
On the other hand, flying international first class can also be really fun, rather than just relaxing. I mean, sure, you could board an Emirates A380 first class flight from New York to Milan and sleep the whole way, or you could enjoy the unlimited Dom Perignon and caviar, hit up the bar for an espresso martini, take a shower, etc.
Now, on many flights there’s a happy medium, though I’m sure I’m not alone in often prioritizing fun over rest. In many cases I’ll land from an international first class flight more exhausted than I’d probably be if I flew in economy… and I have no regrets about it!
Let me also of course add that reviewing flights is part of my “job,” so that further encourages me to explore as many aspects of the service as possible. After all, sleeping from takeoff to touchdown doesn’t make for a very interesting review.
A lovely Lufthansa first class “office” above the clouds
On the roughly nine hour Lufthansa first class flight from Munich to Chicago, I indulged less than I’ve probably ever done in Lufthansa first class:
- I wasn’t reviewing the flight, so I didn’t feel like I needed to “take one for the team” and eat and drink everything 😉
- We had just wrapped up a ridiculously decadent trip with a lot of amazing food, and the day before the flight we even went truffle hunting, and had a four course truffle meal, so I was still full from that
- It was a Monday, and I had work to do, and it’s not fun or advisable to work while drunk or hungover (unless the goal is to be really sassy, or something)
I skipped the pre-departure beverage and nuts. I did have lunch after takeoff, though without any alcohol. The meal started with an amuse bouche, and I just had some water to drink.
I couldn’t say no to some caviar, and also had the tuna starter, and of course a pretzel, because that’s a must on Lufthansa. I had a Diet Coke to drink — it was like the good old days of flying, 10+ years ago, when that was my drink of choice.
Then for the main course I had the asparagus, since that’s in season, and was on the menu. I scraped off most of the hollandaise, but still enjoyed the asparagus (minus the urine side effects… TMI?).
I didn’t have any dessert or cheese. I got out my laptop and worked for the entire flight, and just hydrated with water. The only other notable thing about the flight is that I went to the “lower deck” to check out the bathrooms in the cargo hold.
I skipped the pre-arrival meal, but I did have a cappuccino. 
There were two friendly guys working in first class, and they almost seemed confused about how we weren’t ordering anything else on a daytime flight.
I’ve gotta say, even though I didn’t sleep on the flight, I felt fantastic when I landed in Chicago. It’s nice to feel hydrated and to not feel totally full for once, which is a rare feeling for me when getting off an international first class flight.
Bottom line
Usually I “maximize” the international first class experience, which means enjoying the food and drink selection as much as possible, and having fun. On my recent Lufthansa first class flight, I took the opposite approach, and worked, stayed hydrated, and didn’t overeat. As much as I enjoy an amazing first class experience, it was nice to land feeling great.
What’s your approach when flying in an international premium cabin — maximize rest, maximize fun, or a happy medium?
This is an interesting conversation! I have started traveling more for business and at first I felt I was compelled to "experience everything." After reading so many travel blogs, I thought that is what you are supposed to do! Eat everything, try the wines, check out all there is on the IFE! Yes, it is great but then you may arrive over full and possibly have a hangover... Which may be fine if you are...
This is an interesting conversation! I have started traveling more for business and at first I felt I was compelled to "experience everything." After reading so many travel blogs, I thought that is what you are supposed to do! Eat everything, try the wines, check out all there is on the IFE! Yes, it is great but then you may arrive over full and possibly have a hangover... Which may be fine if you are traveling for leisure. However, if you are traveling for business and you have meetings two hours after landing... Not so much fun.
I have started to feel like I am "doing it wrong" when traveling for business but I only drink water (or the odd soda) to stay hydrated, I eat if I am hungry, and if overnight try to maximize rest. If not, I am usually on my laptop working so that when I do arrive I am less stressed about needing to accomplish items.
There is a difference between being a luxury traveler for leisure and business. However, lots of people who hear I travel for business think it is just like the blogs! Yes, I get the products but do I get to enjoy it all? I have learned it is best to do what my body needs versus taking it all in.
However, when flying for leisure definitely will enjoy all that there is to offer!
Is it me or does that caviar service look sadder than other airlines?
Sleep. To me the biggest benefit of first class is the ability to arrive well rested. The food doesn't taste as good as on the ground, the drinks are fine but I'm not a huge champagne guy. I'm all about the space, the privacy and the sleep. The best flights are the ones with a pre-departure meal in the lounge.
If I'm vacationing I will sometimes indulge, but often I'm just there for the bed. I'm in Tel Aviv right now and took the overnight from JFK which is also an overnight going back. I slept almost all the way out and will sleep most of the way back. On the short east coast flights going east I get on the plane and go to sleep as soon as I can recline.
I confused...
If I'm vacationing I will sometimes indulge, but often I'm just there for the bed. I'm in Tel Aviv right now and took the overnight from JFK which is also an overnight going back. I slept almost all the way out and will sleep most of the way back. On the short east coast flights going east I get on the plane and go to sleep as soon as I can recline.
I confused the Air Tahiti FAs on the return from vacation when i just slept on the PPT-SEA flight. I had SEA-DTW-DCA to follow and I didn't want to have a miserable travel day. They said they felt horrible I didn't enjoy the flight... but I did!
I used to sit up all night and read and enjoy the food and drink but now sleep and feelng good when I arrive is my number one priority.
The diet coke comes from a plastic bottle. There is nothing less premium than that.
Most airlines do have cans even in economy, Lufthansa doesn't offer it in first.
Ridiculous.
Exercised the same restraint just two days ago on that same airplane ORD-MUC. My family of 4 found 4 tix in First 48 hours before departure and used 400k Aeroplan points. Decided after taking off that there would be no indulgences .... other than the caviar + a glass Johnny Walker Blue while my bed was being made up! It was hard to say no to a long meal but the 9:10p departure was late...
Exercised the same restraint just two days ago on that same airplane ORD-MUC. My family of 4 found 4 tix in First 48 hours before departure and used 400k Aeroplan points. Decided after taking off that there would be no indulgences .... other than the caviar + a glass Johnny Walker Blue while my bed was being made up! It was hard to say no to a long meal but the 9:10p departure was late enough that I wanted to arrive feeling well rested. Glad I did. Landed and walked straight into the First Class Lounge for a shower and grab a duck.
I dont want to be a damp squib but this is related to air travel so giving it a shot. I have had to travel quite a bit for work and for many years it was coach as that was my company policy. Biz was a dream and i would imagine how it would be to actually be able to lie down on a 12 hr flight. Eventually i changed jobs and we started flying...
I dont want to be a damp squib but this is related to air travel so giving it a shot. I have had to travel quite a bit for work and for many years it was coach as that was my company policy. Biz was a dream and i would imagine how it would be to actually be able to lie down on a 12 hr flight. Eventually i changed jobs and we started flying biz. But alas!!
i have always had a migraine problem which has become worse over the years and getting on a place guarantees it. i dont drink and generally eat less to reduce chances but there seems to be something about air travel which sets it off. now i avoid travel and dread it when i have to do it. Have been hunting for ways to minimize the torture but not much success.
Best Wishes! <3
I was fortunate enough to travel often in LH first, BA first, EK first, CX first, etc. while I appreciate the reviews, I didn’t imbibe and tried to eat lightly. Water was my beverage of choice. Lemons were a plus. LH was very consistent. Sleep was often my other priority, so a cool cabin was a gift, and an extra fluffy pillow. I did like the EK showers! Now I mostly travel in business, which...
I was fortunate enough to travel often in LH first, BA first, EK first, CX first, etc. while I appreciate the reviews, I didn’t imbibe and tried to eat lightly. Water was my beverage of choice. Lemons were a plus. LH was very consistent. Sleep was often my other priority, so a cool cabin was a gift, and an extra fluffy pillow. I did like the EK showers! Now I mostly travel in business, which is getting better. Crew makes all the difference.
I flew AA and UA first but the crews were almost universally jaded. There were exceptions but they were rare. Their ground staff set the stage for a less than desirable experience.
I dont blame you entirely since I know you've travelled in first class a bazillion times already, but to me, a peasant who feels like a million bucks every time im in biz or first, I will drink, eat, dance, enjoy the heck outta the entire experience!! but I salute u in this "experiment" hahah.
I have many pet peeves but I use live and let live. One of the few I don't is Caviar and to a lesser extent Tuna. Both are endangered and to harvest a Sturgeon just to eat its eggs is just wrong.
You know you can farm them right? And they most likely are farmed and not wild.
Who cares?
Love pace of the wrap up of this trip. I always smile whenever I see a new post of a recent trip. I would have had a hard time saying no to a glass of pre departure champagne (what are they serving on LH now?) so bravo for showing restraint. Looking forward to the RTW with your father!
I've never read of a more wasted First Class experience. "I was given this Rolls Royce for free, but since I don't really like all that luxury, I replaced the leather seats with burlap bean bags." Just go back to cattle class and let someone else enjoy the First Class digs.
Almost Jumping the Shark ;-)
Healthwise I’m cutting back on the champagne
How’s Miles doing
Every single premium cabin flight I go on it is a matter of "I have _____ in time to experience it. How do I make the most of it." And the time of day said flight is plus what I am going to be doing before and after that is a huge component (and probably there is some reason why passengers take certain flights at certain times). Whatever the combination of sleep, eat, work, watch,...
Every single premium cabin flight I go on it is a matter of "I have _____ in time to experience it. How do I make the most of it." And the time of day said flight is plus what I am going to be doing before and after that is a huge component (and probably there is some reason why passengers take certain flights at certain times). Whatever the combination of sleep, eat, work, watch, and lounge, I choose to do on the flight, I want to feel like it's a natural addition to my schedule.
I'll admit I was a little giddy early on in this hobby but I learned to control myself and to make the most of said experience. Now that has a different meaning for everyone out there.
But I will say this: eating at every meal, poking at every button, taking advantage of every little amenity and service that a hotel or airline has to offer, it may make for a comprehensive review but sounds like it is detracting from your own experience. "Taking one for the team" is altruistic and admirable but sounds like you have gone too far towards one end of the spectrum.
I have been fortunate enough to fly in first since 1975 when I worked for SAA.
It was one of the best firsts in the world believe it or not. In those days to converse with anyone else in first you had to get up and walk over to them.
The selection of alcohol and gourmet delicacies was better but the cooked food was not as good.
I don’t how one can...
I have been fortunate enough to fly in first since 1975 when I worked for SAA.
It was one of the best firsts in the world believe it or not. In those days to converse with anyone else in first you had to get up and walk over to them.
The selection of alcohol and gourmet delicacies was better but the cooked food was not as good.
I don’t how one can find it exciting after literally doing it many, many dozens of times. Nowadays of course it’s the best way to fly if you use commercial. I would love to go on a charter like Netjets. Any plans on covering this.
Concorde was exciting but only got to do it twice.
it is also with age for me now in my 40s. i just cannot tolerate drinking on a longhaul flight the way i used to and wake up the next morning OK. the effects of a longhaul flight are taxing on their own then layered over the hangover...i find myself drinking only a few glasses on a westbound and rarely anything on an eastbound redeye.
I usually do not drink anymore when flying, even in F. I often do not eat anymore either, only when really hungry.
Fuck that. I'm tryna drink, eat, burp out loud and sing Cardi B everytime I'm in biz or first class.
This made me laugh out loud
I tend to think that the benefit of flying F and even J is the ability to make the travel fit into your usual routine from a diet and also sleep perspective.
A few drinks during reading and before nap/sleep helps, and it's whenever you want
Food wise, despite sometimes the food being great, it's often best to just have it if you need it.
Once I stopped drinking it made my life SO much easier in terms of miles and points. No more stressing to find F redemptions; now it's simply about getting a good night's sleep en route to my destination, so biz class is fine by me. I did enjoy the days of caviar, Dom and Krug but all parties have to end at some point.
I don't drink alcohol and I never check a bag. First Class is always "worth it" to me for the more attentive/refined service (I don't fly transoceanic F on North American airlines), the food, the service flexibility (meal when I want it, sleep when I want it, seconds if I want it) and the nicer, quieter environment. the only reason not to choose F is that it costs more. Not a good enough reason IMO.
I drink but still agree with this 100%. Maybe I've just flown on the wrong first class flights or gotten unlucky but it's not worth the increased price (miles or cash) to justify over business. While I enjoy first class, my primary goal is to arrive at my destination rested and business does this nearly as well.
Why did you scrape the hollandaise sauce off the asparagus? Not going to kill you.
Ben doesn't like hollandaise sauce, which is why he scraped it off.
Didnt know!
Why not just order it without the hollandaise sauce? After all, you’re traveling in LH F!
When Ben looked at the menu, he didn't notice that it came with hollandaise, so he scraped it off after the dish was presented to him.
If it's a new airline, aircraft, and maybe route, I'd have as much fun as possible. Not limited to the food, but the entire experience. Like I'd walk around the a/c and take photos of every little thing, play around with the seat and features, explore the IFE especially the map and camera feature (if available). If it's a flight I've done plenty of times especially on the same airline, same route, I'd say a...
If it's a new airline, aircraft, and maybe route, I'd have as much fun as possible. Not limited to the food, but the entire experience. Like I'd walk around the a/c and take photos of every little thing, play around with the seat and features, explore the IFE especially the map and camera feature (if available). If it's a flight I've done plenty of times especially on the same airline, same route, I'd say a medium. If it's a short flight I do on a regular basis, I just skip the service and just relax with the map on. Mileage may vary (pun intended). P.s. DL will start flying between LGA and LAS, LAX, PHX so maybe it's something you want to report on? https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230626-dlsep23lga
And have you thought of doing a cruise for a change over flights? Would love to read a report!
Re TMI - suggests you have some gentile ancestors - you would be a special 10% in Israel !
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1715705/
kol kavoad :) lol
Curious to see if you start expanding your take on this when you start traveling with kids in premium cabins. I just had my two kids under 7yo on SFO-SIN roundtrip in business. Definitely have to prioritize presence and rest!
Carrier? I’m looking at Singapore airlines night flight. I can’t do an 845am flight from Seattle for 16 hours. Business class or not with a kid.
Corey
Good for you, Ben! I will say that it is probably easier to make that choice when you have flown so many flights in F. I'm pushing 59 years old and I have flown F a few times, thanks to miles and points. Two round trips, JFK to Narita on JAL, One BA flight from London to JFK, an AA flight from CDG to DFW, and one LH flight from Munich to Boston. I am...
Good for you, Ben! I will say that it is probably easier to make that choice when you have flown so many flights in F. I'm pushing 59 years old and I have flown F a few times, thanks to miles and points. Two round trips, JFK to Narita on JAL, One BA flight from London to JFK, an AA flight from CDG to DFW, and one LH flight from Munich to Boston. I am still at the point that I want to live it up every time! But, I am sure I would feel more rested if I did more sleeping and less eating and drinking! Happy travels!
exactly. I get why Ben has the "luxury" to do this when travelling first, but as for me, I will live it up EVERY TIME !!
I really don't drink or eat enough to justify first class. The stretch between business and first class seats alone are not worth the dramatically higher cost. Unless one eats and drinks into a coma it aint worth it from my experience lol
Had same asparagus in business class a week ago and thought it tasted horrible even for economy; surprised to see it was served in FC.
LH has a thing for Asparagus. 4 items on menu last month. The Asparagus main was ok but I like Hollandaise sauce ;-)
*spargel* is a thing for Germans. I've never understood this.
Yes, everything you do is decadent. It’s nice to hear reviews that don’t consist of you gushing all over each and every trip you take. We get it. You are spoiled and like attention.
Have you considered that if you dislike learning about travel, then reading a travel blog may not be a wise investment of your time?
After seeing a video of how caviar is made, there is no amount of money someone could pay me to eat it. Revolting!
What's revolting about it? Did you seriously not realize that it is fish eggs?
@ Anna,
In that case you should stop eating anything else. Caviar isn't made!
It’s nice to get twatted once in a while though, in first class
I get it although seems biz class could have sufficed for that given you were traveling together and the seat pairs work fine for that on LH
Interesting take. Why wouldn't you just have flown in J instead? Less miles to burn and also a great seat with space to work on your laptop
@ GroeneMichel -- Great question! A few reasons. First of all, there wasn't actually business class award availability on the flight. Second of all, I didn't necessarily know the day before travel that I wasn't going to want to indulge too much. Third of all, I'd say there was still incremental value, from the amazing first class lounge (so much better than the business class lounge) to the free Wi-Fi.
I'm with you Ben! The overall experience is worth it in air and on the ground. When I fly MEX-FRA (Europe in general) I usually always manage to get F confirmed within the last couple of weeks, saving me from (never) having to fly LH business over the water. The times I can't get LH F, Turkish Air Business class via IST is my backup which I've never regretted! As far as my miles are...
I'm with you Ben! The overall experience is worth it in air and on the ground. When I fly MEX-FRA (Europe in general) I usually always manage to get F confirmed within the last couple of weeks, saving me from (never) having to fly LH business over the water. The times I can't get LH F, Turkish Air Business class via IST is my backup which I've never regretted! As far as my miles are concerned they seem to keep 'replenishing' themselves 'one way or another', so hey, why not?
Because Lufthansa Business Class is complete trash.
I wouldn’t say complete trash. If you can be in the Upper Deck (sear 87A HND-FRA over the North Pole! Fun FAs
I did have a small guy on the Aisle seat and invited to watch out the windows in the L2 Door area to see Alaska and Greenland !
But otherwise I’d like to be in 1K ;-)