- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Introduction
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: United Global First Lounge San Francisco
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Lufthansa First Class San Francisco to Munich
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Le Meridien Munich
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich, Swiss Business Class Munich to Zurich
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Swiss First Class Lounge Zurich, Swiss First Class Zurich to Bangkok
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: St. Regis Bangkok
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Thai Airways First Class Lounge & Spa Bangkok
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Thai Airways First Class Bangkok to Hong Kong
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Exploring Hong Kong
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: United Club Hong Kong and Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge Hong Kong
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Asiana Business Class Hong Kong to Seoul Incheon
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Hyatt Regency Incheon Airport
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Asiana First Class Lounge Seoul Incheon
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Asiana First Class Seoul Incheon to Frankfurt
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Sheraton Frankfurt Airport
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt, Lufthansa First Class Frankfurt to Seattle
- The Last Aeroplan Hurrah: Four Seasons Seattle
Lufthansa 459
San Francisco (SFO) – Munich (MUC)
Friday, March 16
Depart: 10:05PM
Arrive: 5:25PM
Duration: 11hr20min
Aircraft: Airbus 340-600
Seat: 2G (First Class)
Once onboard we settled into 2D & 2G, the two center seats in row two. I was a bit sad to see this flight was being operated by Lufthansa’s old first class product, since several of their A340-600s are now configured with the new first class (which is very similar to first class on the A380). On the other hand it’s a product I’ve enjoyed over the years, so I saw it as one of the last opportunities to try it.
Seats 2D & 2G
Seat 2K
Once settled in the two lovely Munich based flight attendants working first class introduced themselves and offered us drinks. We both went with champagne, which was served with macadamia nuts.
Pre-departure drinks
We were also offered pajamas, slippers, and an amenity kit. The pajamas were the same ones I was offered on my Frankfurt to Bangkok flight last August, while the amenity kit was in a see through bag, one I hadn’t seen before (and frankly, not one I need to see again). I immediately changed into the pajamas and requested a duvet to get a bit more comfortable.
Amenity kit, slippers, and PJs
Pajamas
As departure time rolled around the captain came on the PA to advise us of our quick flight time of 10hr10min, anticipating an on-time arrival despite our delayed departure.
As the door closed it looked like every seat in business class was taken, while six of the eight first class seats were taken. We lucked out, since the two empty seats in first class were 2A and 2K, meaning we had the row to ourselves.
At that point the safety video began playing. While I love Lufthansa’s branding, their super-low budget safety videos make me cringe. After a long taxi to runway 28R we were airborne and began our long and choppy climb to our cruising altitude. The seatbelt sign stayed on for about 30 minutes due to rough air, which delayed the service a bit.
During that time I decided on a movie with dinner, and went with “New Year’s Eve.” At the risk of being sent to a mental asylum, I’ll say that I actually quite enjoyed the movie, especially for an airplane.
On our way!
Airshow
However, once the seatbelt sign was turned off the flight attendants were sure to speed up the service and maximize sleep time (for us, and I suspect for them as well).
Cabin
The purser immediately welcomed us aboard and introduced herself. She also offered us the dinner menus and wine list.
Menu and wine list
Shortly thereafter one of the first class flight attendants offered us hot towels. Lufthansa has by far the nicest towels of any airline I’ve flown, in terms of thickness, wetness, and scent.
Service continued with drinks and an amuse bouche, which was some sort of a salmon cucumber starter. I don’t think I’ve ever said this before about a Lufthansa amuse bouche, but it was tasty.
Amuse bouche
Drinks
Then the dinner service began. The menu read as follows:
The table was quickly set along with the signature Lufthansa rose being offered. That was quickly followed by the breadbasket, from which I selected some garlic bread and pretzel bread.
Table setup
Shortly thereafter the appetizer cart was rolled around, and I went all out, since everything looked great. I love Lufthansa’s presentation, which consists of the appetizer “tower” and then caviar served separately.
Appetizer setup
With the exception of the beets (what was I thinking?!), I really enjoyed all of the appetizers.
That was quickly followed by the salad, which I ordered with balsamic vinaigrette.
Salad
For the main course I went with the steak, while my friend went with the lobster.
Steak
Lobster
I thought the steak was a bit underwhelming in quality, similar to what I’d expect in domestic first class. I’ve had much better steaks on Asiana and Swiss. My friend enjoyed his lobster, though.
For dessert was a raspberry key lime tart served with vanilla ice cream, which was delicious.
Dessert
To finish off the meal I ordered a glass of Baileys and was also offered a tray of chocolates, which I ended up putting in my bag and taking with me since I was stuffed. I was then also offered a bottle of water.
Baileys and chocolate
By the time the meal service was finished we were about eight hours from Munich, so I tried to get to sleep right away.
Reclining seats
Dimmed cabin
While Lufthansa has a nice duvet and blanket, I’m rather frustrated by their lack of a comforter. Their new first class features amazing bedding, so I find it a bit surprising that they don’t offer the same amenities when you end up in their old cabin.
I slept for about six hours and woke up two hours out of Munich. There was quite a bit of turbulence over Northern Canada which woke me up for a bit, but I fell back asleep quickly. After freshening up a bit and watching an episode of “How I Met Your Mother” it was time for breakfast.
Howdy Europe!
The menus and hot towels were distributed, followed by beverages. I ordered a glass of orange juice, which was delicious as it always is on Lufthansa.
Menu
Orange juice
The breakfast menu read as follows:
For breakfast they rolled around a cart consisting of fruit, cheese, muesli, cereal, etc. I decided on some muesli and a cheese and salmon plate. I also selected a croissant and roll from the breadbasket.
Breakfast
Then for the main course I ordered scrambled eggs with chives. Lufthansa prepares their eggs aboard, so I find them to be the tastiest in the sky (and best of all, they’re never runny).
Scrambled eggs
As we began our descent I changed back into my jeans and shirt and restowed all my belongings. The purser once again came around the cabin to bid farewell to everyone, and about 20 minutes before landing the seatbelt sign was turned on.
Beginning our descent as the sun sets
Cabin on approach
On descent
Final descent
After a smooth descent and firm landing we taxied to our gate for about 10 minutes, past several smaller aircraft as well as an ANA 777 bound for Tokyo.
Traffic
ANA 777
Reflection
Once off the plane we headed towards immigration where there was virtually no queue, and hopped on the train bound for the Munich Hauptbahnhof.
Arrivals hall
Airport courtyard
As usual my flight on Lufthansa was spectacular. The food was better than normal, but more than anything else the service was phenomenal. The flight attendants were professional yet personable, a seemingly tough balance at many airlines.
All I can spot is off-center (by a lot):P fruit and greenbeans poking out in the main! Oh and some extra chives around the plate - not in symmetry!
Bow to the eagle eye - kidding!
Off center bouche! Also, what is one anyway?
Those old seats look kinda industrial, ypu know like grilles, but they seem nice enough. New one much nicer, I walked through it exiting an A330!
@ Rob -- Nope, it's flat.
Lucky,
is the first class seat on the A330 not entirely flat?
@ David -- If you check out the introduction post (linked at the beginning of this post), you'll see a breakdown of the cost of the ticket. Ultimately I used 120,000 miles for this trip.
Do you cover how much you paid/how many miles you used for different flights like this? I'd love to hear about how you used your points and what it would have cost!
I had actually forgotten what a glass of orange juice looked like, so thank you for the photo.
The setting sun seems to be higher on arrival than at start of descent. I really need to do more international travel so I can learn the oddities of crossing multiple time zones :)
Just amazing coverage, I don't see how some of you manage all those pictures and reports. On flights like these I eat and sleep and still I'm too exhausted most of the time to finish a post. I end up doing most of it on the train the next day...thanks for all the details!
There's something in your friends' orange juice.
@ Beachfan -- Yes, fully flat. Sorry about forgetting the wine list, I'll post it with the return installment from Frankfurt to Seattle.
Were the beds lie flat? Horizontal lie flat?
any pictures of the wine list on the inside?
Boy, on CX they really SELL the eggs, they're proud of the ability to do made-to-order eggs on board. And I've never gotten the sense I've inconvenienced them no matter WHAT I've asked for!
@ The Weekly Flyer -- That's surprising to hear, in my experience almost everyone orders the eggs.
Lucky - How often do you see other people order the scrambled eggs on board? When me and Mrs Weekly Flyer flew LH, she was the only one to order them, when she only ate about half, we got the feeling from the flight attendant that she was inconvenienced. I imagine it takes some effort to set up, cook and prepare the plate.
I wore my LH pajamas on the AA water evacuation drill. Others wear them to airport lounges :)
@ Jay -- You should see my closet at home. It consists 90% of airline pajamas. I'm actually wearing my Swiss PJ pants right now.
i've always wondered what you do with all these pajamas? i envision that you have closets and closets full of them!