Lufthansa provides the most effective top quality merchandise throughout the Atlantic, and for that matter it’s the most effective top quality merchandise between the USA and Europe that’s bookable with miles.
With the winter airline schedule formally kicking in as of the tip of October, I needed to recap which Lufthansa planes characteristic top quality, which routes they fly, what to anticipate from the expertise, and how one can redeem miles for the product.
Lufthansa planes with a first-class cabin
Over the previous a number of years, Lufthansa’s footprint of plane with top quality cabins has shrunk significantly. That scenario was solely made worse by Lufthansa’s choice to floor its Airbus A380 fleet, which was beforehand the service’s flagship plane.
At this level Lufthansa simply has two kinds of plane with top quality — the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A340-600:
- Lufthansa has 19 Boeing 747-8s, which fly from Frankfurt to key, excessive yield, and excessive capability markets; these will keep in Lufthansa’s fleet for years to return, and so they’ll even be reconfigured with new cabins
- Lufthansa has 5 Airbus A340-600s, which fly out of Munich to key locations the place there’s demand for top quality; Lufthansa has simply reactivated these planes, and so they’re solely being introduced again briefly
Lufthansa has additionally introduced that it’s going to deliver again the Airbus A380 in 2023, and it’s anticipated that these jets can be based mostly in Munich. Nevertheless, precise routes haven’t but been introduced for these planes.
As talked about above, these Airbus A340-600s are solely being introduced again for a restricted time, for roughly a 12 months. That’s as a result of in the summertime of 2023, Lufthansa will begin taking supply of at the very least 10 Airbus A350-900s with top quality, which can be based mostly in Munich.
Lufthansa routes operated by Boeing 747-8s
Out of Frankfurt, top quality is solely out there on Boeing 747-8s. So which routes do these planes function? Lufthansa provides top quality on flights from Frankfurt to the next locations:
- Buenos Aires (EZE) — on an ongoing foundation
- Chicago (ORD) — on an ongoing foundation
- Johannesburg (JNB) — on an ongoing foundation
- Los Angeles (LAX) — on an ongoing foundation
- Mexico Metropolis (MEX) — on an ongoing foundation
- Miami (MIA) — on an ongoing foundation
- San Francisco (SFO) — on an ongoing foundation
- Sao Paulo (GRU) — on an ongoing foundation
- Shanghai (PVG) — on an ongoing foundation
- Singapore (SIN) — as of November 17, 2022
- Tokyo (HND) — on an ongoing foundation
- Washington (IAD) — on an ongoing foundation
I’d notice that these routes stay topic to vary, and we frequently see adjustments even inside weeks of departure. Primarily based on what I can inform, plainly Lufthansa may be taking a look at parking some 747-8s this winter, because it’s a interval that’s traditionally quieter for leisure demand.
I believe it’s most noteworthy that Lufthansa has taken top quality off each Frankfurt to New York routes (EWR and JFK), as throughout the summer time season each routes have been operated by the 747-8.
Lufthansa routes operated by Airbus A340-600s
Out of Munich, top quality is at present solely out there on Airbus 340-600s. So which routes do these planes function? Lufthansa provides top quality on flights from Munich to the next locations:
- Boston (BOS) — on an ongoing foundation
- Miami (MIA) — on an ongoing foundation
- New York (JFK) — on an ongoing foundation
The Miami service is new as of winter. I’m shocked that neither Los Angeles nor San Francisco are getting top quality this winter, particularly because it looks as if Lufthansa would have a spare A340-600 or two, based mostly on the present schedule.
We are able to anticipate extra routes to get top quality in the summertime of 2023, as Lufthansa brings again A380s, and begins taking supply of A350s with top quality.
What to anticipate from Lufthansa top quality
Lufthansa provides a stable top quality expertise on its Boeing 747-8. When departing Frankfurt, the superior expertise begins on the bottom, as you need to use Lufthansa’s unimaginable First Class Terminal.
Whereas there, don’t neglect to choose up your duck, since that’s at all times a enjoyable characteristic of Lufthansa top quality.
From there you’ll be pushed throughout the apron to your airplane, which positive is a deal with.
Lufthansa’s 747-8 top quality cabin incorporates a whole of eight seats, unfold throughout three rows. There are three rows of single seats on both sides, after which within the third row there’s a pair of seats within the center. With so many airways retiring the 747, it’s such a deal with to have the ability to sit within the nostril of the queen of the skies!
Lufthansa’s inflight catering in top quality is mostly nice as effectively, with a caviar service to begin, together with quite a lot of appetizers, most important programs, and desserts.
Whereas Lufthansa’s inflight leisure choice is simply okay, the airline does have inflight Wi-Fi, and top quality passengers even obtain a voucher for complimentary entry.
I’ve discovered service in Lufthansa top quality to be fairly persistently glorious, and to strike the suitable steadiness between being skilled and personable.
Lufthansa’s A340-600 top quality additionally consists of eight seats, however the seats are as an alternative unfold throughout two rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. The Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich can be fairly superior.
Easy methods to redeem miles for Lufthansa top quality
You’ll be able to redeem miles from every kind of Star Alliance airways for journey in Lufthansa top quality. I’d notice that usually Lufthansa makes top quality award seats out there to members of companion airline frequent flyer packages at most 15 days earlier than departure.
The excellent news is that Lufthansa fairly reliably opens up these seats because the departure date approaches, assuming there are empty seats (this may not be 15 days out, however somewhat as a rule can be within the days main as much as departure).
So, what are the most effective packages for reserving Lufthansa top quality? Listed below are some well-liked choices that companion with transferable factors currencies, with pricing listed for one-way journey between the USA and Europe:
- The Avianca LifeMiles program costs 87,000 miles
- The Air Canada Aeroplan program costs 100,000 factors (for as much as 6,000 miles of journey)
- The United MileagePlus program costs 121,000 miles
None of these packages have service imposed surcharges on these awards, which is why I’m highlighting them.
Backside line
Lufthansa’s top quality footprint has shrunk considerably over the previous a number of years. For the time being the one planes to characteristic top quality are Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8s out of Frankfurt, plus Lufthansa’s Airbus A340-600s out of Munich. Lufthansa’s top quality fleet ought to quickly be rising out of Munich, as a result of beginning in 2023 the airline will deliver A380s again to Munich, and can introduce A350s with top quality out of Munich as effectively.
Hopefully the above is a helpful abstract of which routes you’ll discover these planes on, what to anticipate, and how one can redeem miles for the expertise. Sadly the winter schedule is exhibiting a considerably trimmed top quality community.
Another questions on Lufthansa top quality that I missed?
