There seems to be a common misconception among some of my readers that I actually enjoy flying. Or eating. Or drinking Diet Coke with nuts. All of this couldn’t be further from the truth. The only reason I eat 12 course meals when flying is for you guys, so I can take pictures and report back.
Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true, though it makes me feel a bit better about myself. Secretly I’ve always admired the person that flies international first class, has a glass of water pre-departure, and sleeps from takeoff to touchdown. Of course when thinking rationally I realize they’re the ones that are being responsible — their companies are often paying for them to fly first class so they arrive well rested and ready to work, as opposed to stuffed and exhausted. Well, yesterday, just once, I was that person.
I flew from Frankfurt to Orlando in Lufthansa first class, which is a daytime flight, though that didn’t stop me from getting 8.5 hours of sleep.
You see, I had flown Lufthansa Airbus 380 first class for the previous two flights, so my “high” had died down a bit by that point, given that I found myself in Lufthansa’s old 747 first class.
It’s still a perfectly nice product, though by comparison not exciting.
I had a glass of water pre-departure and asked the exceedingly friendly flight attendant if he could make my bed, which he gladly did. He also asked me to already take a peak at the menu to see what I would want later, so he put my selection aside for me. “Mr. Lucky, shall I wake you for your meal in a couple of hours?” I responded with “yes, please wake me in eight hours.” His eyes widened and he said “wow, you must have had a late New Years Eve.”
Sure enough I slept. And slept. And slept. I woke up just over Washington as they started serving the pre-arrival meal. And I felt fantastic.
So the next time you fly international first class, don’t hesitate to eat your main meal just before landing. It’s a lot easier to sleep when you don’t have a full stomach, and I sure arrived a lot more well rested than usual.
Lastly, I just have to say how much Lufthansa has grown on me over the past year. They’ve become my favorite airline in the world, bar none… at least in first class.
My favorite part of this trip report ... watching the carbs on the bread plate to the left disappear. First there was a pretzel and a roll. Then there was just a roll. Then there was nothing left.
The butter performed a similar disappearing act.
Ta da!
Felt awesome, but...enjoy your jetlag? ;)
@ Mike -- Pleasure running into you, and I feel like such a wuss sleeping the whole way, when you were the one connecting from a long flight with a long layover. The funny thing about Lufthansa first class is that even though it's one of the best products, I so rarely see paid first class passengers. The guy seated across from you was actually an upgrade. An hour before the flight it was "F5,"...
@ Mike -- Pleasure running into you, and I feel like such a wuss sleeping the whole way, when you were the one connecting from a long flight with a long layover. The funny thing about Lufthansa first class is that even though it's one of the best products, I so rarely see paid first class passengers. The guy seated across from you was actually an upgrade. An hour before the flight it was "F5," meaning there were only three passengers booked, and based on the seatmap it was you, me, and the guy seated in the row behind me. The guy seated across from you was a last minute upgrade, so I guess there were no actual "full fare" first class customers on the flight. Then again I find that to be the norm in Lufthansa first class.
I thought the flight attendant was fantastic. Too bad I slept most of the way.
Don't sleep. You're missing out on possibly $100+ of booze.
First, I was the guy in front of you on this flight, like I said, I would make sure to say hello online too.
After reading your post about sleeping 85% of the flight (which I think I can vouch for) .... I had back to back First class LH 747 flights, first with the new hard product, then secondly with the old hard product. I slept most of the flight wiht the awesome...
First, I was the guy in front of you on this flight, like I said, I would make sure to say hello online too.
After reading your post about sleeping 85% of the flight (which I think I can vouch for) .... I had back to back First class LH 747 flights, first with the new hard product, then secondly with the old hard product. I slept most of the flight wiht the awesome 19 inch TV, then tried to watch movies the whole second flight with the 4 inch tv.
One more funny note from the flight you are writing about. The very nice flight attendant said to me at the end of the flight, how disappointed he was because he had so much great wine and champaign on the flight, and we (all of us in first class) didn't drink enough of it.
I am always curious about these sorts of things. We both had mentioned we were in F via miles redemption. The gentleman who was seated back and to your right told me at baggage claim he was flying on miles too. I never talked to the man on my right, so either 3 of 4 or 4 of 4 in LF F class, there on miles redemption.
Lucky, I have to agree with you about LH being the best in the world for first class. I flew FRA-LAX last spring in F for the first time (old 747) -- it was the best flight I have ever taken. The crew knew perfectly how to be gracious and friendly without being overbearing or robotic.
Delicious looking meal. As for sleeping on a plane, I usually try to sleep just after takeoff until landing with maybe a meal break in between if it's being served free.
@ JRL -- So far 10 of the 747s have been reconfigured, so that's about 30% of them if I'm not mistaken.
Any update on what % of LH's 747's have been retrofitted for the "new" F?
JRL
On some of my flights I've been asleep from safety video until touchdown. Depending on the circumstances sometimes that is the best use of a flight in a premium cabin.
I had that soup and dessert on my flight yesterday too. That soup was the best soup I've ever tasted anywhere. The dessert was good even though I didn't think it would be. My flight must have had different entrees though. Yours looks different than any thing we had.
We learned the hard way when the LH F flight leaves at 10:30 pm, sleep then eat the big meal. We both woke up with upset stomachs and still tired. Nice work. Next time we will ask them to wake us up so we can have the big meal when arriving and skip the breakfast.
I can get off a 7 hours flight that I slept for 6 and a half hours of, hop on a 10 hour flight and sleep for most of it, spend an hour and a half on the ground and sleep for most of the 12 hours flight right after it and then sleep for all of the next 7hr flight. Sometimes it's a blessing, sometimes it's a curse. And this specific example was all in E+.
I have to say all your photos of first class meals are not so appealing. The photos are great, but I prefer more simple food. Even most business class meals are way to rich and elegant - I just want a simple schnitzel and pretzel :-)
@ Michael -- Well in terms of the hard product, their seat is slanted flat, so not especially good. In terms of the food, service, and entertainment, they're probably on par with most of the better international carriers. Still, they're not *great* in business, though not bad either -- probably a pretty middle of the road product.
@ Dan -- I hate to say it, but most of the pretzels I've had from street vendors in NY were pretty stale...
Usually too busy enjoying FREE BOOZE!
How's their business class product compare with others if you are on the A330 or 747?
Yeah American Pretzels are not in the same league as German Pretzels.
I flew once from Toronto to Frankfurt and I secretly admired a guy who went straight to sleep after the 10 PM take off. Not me, I was waiting for the meal, that came very late, some 90 min. after the take-off. That was a big mistake and hope I will not repeat it as I slept only for around 4 hours and I was tired for the next 2 days.
Note: I flew business class.
I rarely get any significant sleep on a westbound TATL. That changed when I did a 2300ish JFK-LHR flight in J a year ago. The late departure did it for me, woke up when the FA woke me to prepare for landing.
@Dan,
I have to say - a NYC pretzel doesn't rank next to an LH pretzel in one of their lounges in Germany....just sayin'
I envy those that can sleep on planes and on their first night in a hotel. Unless I am absolutely whipped I just can't. For some reason my body needs a night in a strange place before I can sleep.
Coins, In most of your food pix, I see pretzels pretzels pretzels. Next time you're in NYC, buy a pretzel from a street vendor. You won't regret it. Don't forget to put mustard on it!!
Just think about how much quicker you could write trip reports if you slept the whole flight and the whole time you were in the hotel :)