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.
In this post:
New Lufthansa business class meal pre-order feature
Lufthansa now allows long haul business class passengers on flights departing Germany to select their main course in advance of their flight. This feature is available between one month and 24 hours of departure.
What’s nice is that this isn’t just a way to ensure that you get your first choice of meals, but you’ll actually have access to an expanded meal selection compared to what you’d be offered onboard. In Lufthansa’s long haul business class, there are typically three main course meal options.
Meanwhile the pre-order menu has six different options, including regional and seasonal menus. Those six menu choices are in addition to being able to order a special meal, for those with special dietary restrictions.
For the launch of this program, here are the six pre-order options that are available:
- Fillet of beef with pepper jus
- Vegetable curry
- Chicken leg teriyaki
- Halibut fillet with tomato-rosemary sauce
- Salmon fillet
- Sautéed polenta with chanterelles
Lufthansa is describing this initiative as a way to reduce waste. That’s because the more accurately an airline can predict what people will want, the fewer extra meals will need to be loaded, to ensure people end up with what they’d like (or you could take the US airline approach, and load exactly as many meals as passengers).
Lufthansa business class needs some help!
Of course the most exciting thing to happen to Lufthansa business class is the introduction of its new Allegris business class product. Unfortunately the launch of this has now been delayed to 2024, so it should be introduced about seven years after it was first announced.
Honestly, as things currently stand, Lufthansa probably offers the worst business class product across the Atlantic from any major European airline. That’s despite the crews generally being perfectly pleasant and professional:
- With the exception of a limited number of planes inherited from other airlines, Lufthansa doesn’t have direct aisle access in business class from a vast majority of its long haul fleet, and it will take many years before a majority of long haul aircraft feature that
- Lufthansa’s business class soft product is just so uninspired and boring; I mean, British Airways is at least trying, with brand new seats, great bedding, and surprisingly great catering
I’m hoping that when Lufthansa introduces its new Allegris business class, we’ll also see a major revamp of the soft product. However, I’m not holding my breath…
Bottom line
Lufthansa has introduced meal pre-orders in business class on long haul flights departing Germany. Not only does this allow customers to ensure they get their first choice, but passengers also have access to an expanded menu with six main course options, rather than three.
This is a small but positive change to Lufthansa’s business class product, and I look forward to giving this a try.
What do you make of Lufthansa introducing meal pre-orders in business class? What other changes would you like to see in Lufthansa business class?
“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
Those six preorder offerings look awful.
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...
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!
TBH I don't mind the food, I'd rather they upgrade their IFE...
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?"
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...
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..
oh brother..... LH is terrible
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.
German efficiency my foot
We will still be suffering by the "Heimat" concept om shorthaul
Heimat is going away at the end of the month.
@ Samo -- Wait, it's going away? What did I miss?
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
"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.
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...
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..
They need to gut each and every airplane and start all over. Upgrade everything for first class and business class.
They are. They are upgrading their product including business & first.
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...
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.
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).
Worse than LOT?
Lufthansa's Book The Cook: Now with more Elderflowers
And currywurst, one cut in eight cubes...
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...
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...
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.
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...
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.
Coming in 2032
They need to gut each and every airplane and start all over. Upgrade everything for first class and business class.
Onestarhansa being as disappointing and miserable as always.