Hiya from Frankfurt! I’m simply on my fast assessment journey to Germany, and flew Lufthansa’s Boeing 787-9 enterprise class from Detroit to Frankfurt. Lufthansa not too long ago added Boeing 787s to its fleet, and these are among the many first Lufthansa plane to function direct aisle entry from each enterprise class seat (Lufthansa additionally acquired some second A350s with direct aisle entry in enterprise class).
It’s vital to take into account that that is simply an interim enterprise class product. Lufthansa shall be introducing its new “Allegris” enterprise class as of later in 2023, although within the meantime the airline is taking supply of 5 Boeing 787s with an interim product. That’s as a result of Lufthansa received a deal on these planes, as they had been imagined to go to Hainan Airways, however the airline might now not afford to finance them.
Whereas I’ll have a full journey report quickly, on this publish I needed to share my preliminary ideas on the expertise.
Lufthansa’s new 787 enterprise class seats are stable
In equity, there was completely no thriller to what Lufthansa’s new Boeing 787 enterprise class can be like. The airline has Collins Aerospace Tremendous Diamond reverse herringbone seats, that are most likely the one hottest enterprise class seats within the skies these days, as they are often discovered on dozens of airways.
From the entrance, the cabin had fairly sturdy Lufthansa branding, between the crane brand on the rear bulkhead, and the colour scheme.
In the meantime from the again, the cabin fairly actually appeared equivalent to Hainan’s 787 cabins, since nothing had been accomplished on this course so as to add a Lufthansa contact.
This can be a stable product, by way of direct aisle entry, private house, seat features, and so forth. The aircraft additionally had Wi-Fi, and it labored in addition to on different Lufthansa flights (Lufthansa typically does an awesome job with Wi-Fi).
Lufthansa is the overseas airline I fly greater than every other, and I’ve to say that flying on the 787 felt sort of surreal. I’ve gotten so used to Lufthansa’s outdated enterprise class product, that it virtually felt like an out-of-body expertise to be flying Lufthansa enterprise class whereas not taking part in footsie with my seat opponent.
Now, I ought to acknowledge that some individuals love Lufthansa’s outdated enterprise class, particularly in the event that they steadily journey with companions. It’s good to have the ability to sit subsequent to somebody (should you’d wish to), and it’s additionally good to not need to squeeze your toes right into a footwell.
Nonetheless, personally I view this new seat as being a major enchancment over the outdated one.
Lufthansa’s tender product may be very constant
I discover that Lufthansa’s enterprise class tender product is among the many most constant within the skies. Service is fairly persistently pleasant (in a non-fawning or excessive approach), whereas the meals is fairly respectable, however to not the extent of Austrian, ITA, Qatar, Turkish, and so forth.
Dinner service started with cashews and drinks.
The starter consisted of a aspect salad and an appetizer of ahi tuna with a noodle salad.
Then for the principle course I chosen the crab muffins with cappellini pasta and bok choy (an attention-grabbing mixture)
Then there was a cheese plate (the packaged Kellogg crackers aren’t an particularly stylish contact).
And lastly there was a dessert consisting of some Haagen-Dazs ice cream.
A continental breakfast was served earlier than touchdown.
The crew on this flight was pleasant, however Lufthansa’s tender product is in any other case so center of the pack in each approach, from the meals, to the bedding, to the amenity kits (which on this case got here in a Porsche Design… sun shades case?). It’s virtually as if Lufthansa administration sits down and strategizes about how they’ll develop a product that neither delights nor disappoints.
I noticed the Northern Lights for the primary time in my life!
There was one factor that made this flight very particular. In all my years of journey, I’ve by no means seen the Northern Lights (I’ve been eager to plan a visit round this, but it surely simply hasn’t occurred).
Earlier than takeoff, the flight attendant talked about how the Northern Lights had been particularly sturdy in the intervening time, and that we might even see them. I requested her to wake me up in the event that they had been seen, and certain sufficient, I used to be woken up about an hour after the dinner service concluded.
How magical! Sadly footage don’t actually do it justice, because it was practically unimaginable to seize, particularly with the individual throughout from me and behind me having their TVs on. The lights weren’t that sturdy, besides, it was mesmerizing. This makes me much more excited to plan a visit to see the Northern Lights!
Backside line
Lufthansa’s new Boeing 787 enterprise class onerous product represents an enormous enchancment for the airline, as Lufthansa lastly has a aircraft with enterprise class seats which have direct aisle entry. That is simply an interim product, so don’t anticipate finding this on greater than 5 787s. Past that, the flight had pleasant service, and a wonderfully respectable tender product.
As somebody who evaluations airways, I get an actual thrill out of not realizing what to anticipate, and actually take pleasure in a shock. In that sense, Lufthansa disappoints. In the meantime for these not reviewing journey (mainly everybody else), there’s something good about realizing precisely what to anticipate, and that’s an space the place Lufthansa delivers. You virtually all the time know precisely what you’re going to get, for higher or worse.
When Lufthansa introduces its new enterprise class seats later this yr, I hope we additionally see a refreshed tender product, as I actually assume there are some alternatives to evolve.
What do you make of Lufthansa’s Boeing 787 enterprise class?