Lufthansa First Class in the Boeing 747-400 to Vancouver

As a summary of my first first class flight with Emirates from Bangkok to Hong Kong, I had written that I really wanted to test the first class experience on a longer route. Now the time had finally come! You can find out what kind of experience Lufthansa First Class is in the Boeing 747-400 in the following Trip Report.

How much does a Lufthansa First Class flight cost?

Ende August reifte der Plan, unsere Reise auf ganz besondere Weise zu beginnen – in der Lufthansa First Class! Unsere Hochzeit im Mai bot den perfekten Anlass für dieses luxuriöse Erlebnis. Dank der über die Jahre gesammelten Meilen auf meinem Miles & More Konto konnten wir uns diesen Traum erfüllen. Die Online-Suche ergab interessante Prämienflüge nach Hongkong und Vancouver, doch nach kurzer Überlegung entschieden wir uns für Kanada. Die Buchung über das Miles & More Service Center verlief reibungslos: Nach nur zehn Minuten und dem Einsatz von 230.000 Meilen sowie rund 1.000 Euro Steuern und Gebühren hielten wir die begehrten Tickets für die Lufthansa First Class in der Boeing 747-400 in den Händen.

What did we save? A regular Lufthansa First Class ticket would have cost almost 14,000 euros in our travel period – a hefty sum! The return flight from Los Angeles was a little less glamorous: Since we lacked the miles for another First Class award and there were no more award seats available in Business Class, we flew back in Economy Class. Nevertheless, the outbound flight remains a highlight that was worth every penny and every mile.

Check-in at Leipzig Airport

Our travel day started early – the alarm clock rang at 4 o'clock in the morning. With the car packed, we started at 4.45 a.m. The drive from Halle (Saale) to Leipzig Airport was pleasant despite the thick fog, which made the roads seem mystical. After a few minutes we reached our booked parking lot, which was five minutes away from the terminal. The shuttle bus was already ready and so it went on quickly.

Arriving at Leipzig Airport, we were looking forward to the exclusive first-class service. But the anticipation was dampened: At the check-in of Lufthansa First Class, we surprisingly had to wait longer than the Economy passengers – a somewhat bumpy start to our premium travel experience. Nevertheless, the anticipation of what awaited us prevailed: the comfort and exclusivity of Lufthansa First Class!

Lufthansa Business Class Flight to Frankfurt

After the security check, we quickly went to the empty lounge for a coffee. In itself, there is not much to talk about in Leipzig. But we don't want to complain, at least the airport has one!

The Boeing 737-500 (registration D-ABIL "Memmingen", first flight 19.02.1991) for our flight LH157 was fully occupied. Shortly after the start, there was a small cold breakfast with rolls and cold cuts. Nothing special, but we preferred to eat in the lounge in Frankfurt anyway.

The approach to Frankfurt and the taxiing to the apron position took almost as long as the actual cruise flight of 25 minutes. When we got out of the car, we were greeted by a young man with a First Class sign and accompanied to a Mercedes Benz Vito waiting for us. This was very comfortably equipped with individual leather seats in the rear and other extras. It also appeared to be the latest model from Mercedes.

We were driven to Terminal 1 B and the driver explained to us the short way to the First Class Lounge, which is located opposite Gate B22. Already 10 minutes after leaving the plane we were in the very nice big lounge. A detailed report on the Lufthansa First Class Lounge B can be found in our lounge reviews.

Da wir uns vor unserem Langstreckenflug noch ein wenig die Beine vertreten wollten und natürlich um das Flugerlebnis so gut wie möglich zu genießen, machten wir uns gegen 9.45 Uhr auf den Weg zum Lufthansa First Class Terminal. Wir mussten also noch einmal kurz nach Deutschland „einreisen“ und dann durch die versteckten Gänge von Frankfurt hinunter zum Ankunftsgate A1. Von dort sind es nur noch wenige Meter zu Fuß, vorbei an den Taxis, bis zum Terminal. Einen ausführlichen Bericht über das Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt gibt es in den Lounge Reviews.

Exklusiver Fahrservice zum Flugzeug im Lufthansa First Class Terminal

Nach einer großartigen Zeit im Lufthansa First Class Terminal, in der wir den hervorragenden Service und die luxuriöse Atmosphäre in vollen Zügen genossen, wurden wir kurz vor 13 Uhr von unserer persönlichen Assistentin abgeholt. Gemeinsam gingen wir eine Etage tiefer, wo wir bei der Bundespolizei unsere Pässe abholten. Diese waren bereits bei unserer Ankunft im Terminal dorthin geschickt worden, so dass wir keine zusätzliche Wartezeit hatten.

Nach einer freundlichen Verabschiedung und ein paar nützlichen Reisetipps für Vancouver stiegen wir in unser Fahrzeug, das uns direkt zum Flugzeug brachte. Da wir uns den Transfer mit drei weiteren Gästen teilten, wurden wir in einem komfortablen Mercedes Vito chauffiert – auch wenn wir uns insgeheim gewünscht hätten, einmal mit einem Porsche zum Flieger zu fahren. Über das Vorfeld, vorbei an unzähligen Flugzeugen, erreichten wir schließlich Gate C15, wo unser Flug LH493 abgefertigt wurde.

Das Auto war direkt unter der Gangway geparkt und mit dem Aufzug ging es bequem in den Wartebereich, der schon völlig leer war. Alle Passagiere waren bereits an Bord, so dass nur noch wir fünf First-Class-Gäste auf uns warteten. Dieser exklusive Service rundet den luxuriösen Aufenthalt im Lufthansa First Class Terminal ab und macht das Reisen in der First Class zu einem ganz besonderen Erlebnis.

Lufthansa First Class flight in the Boeing 747-400 to Vancouver (LH493)

After boarding the Boeing 747-400 (D-ABVH “Düsseldorf”, first flight on March 14, 1991), we immediately went up the stairs to the right to the upper floor. Our driver took us to the seat and then said goodbye.

First impression of the Lufthansa First Class seat

Lufthansa has replaced the old blue First Class seats on the upper floor with new brown seats with reclining function. Since they have also minimized the number of seats to 8, every guest now has the advantage of having a comfortable bed next to a seat. The bed is by the windows, each passenger has four available. The view is simply terrific while resting in bed. The only negative is perhaps the on-board entertainment. Here Lufthansa still has a 4:3 monitor without HD resolution. But there are Active Nosie Canceling headphones from Bose. Unfortunately, you can't listen to music and watch the air show at the same time.

Lufthansa First Class – Welcome Drink

We were greeted with a glass of Pommery Brut Apanage Prestige Champagne. There was also a glass of water and a bowl of macadamia nuts. Here, too, since we still had the present from the terminal in our hands, the flight attendants congratulated us on the wedding.

The start was delayed by almost 45 minutes due to minor technical problems. We used the delay to take a few photos. The flight attendant came by with a Polaroid camera and took two souvenir photos, which were presented to us in a small cardboard cutout. At around 2:06 p.m. we got our pushback from the terminal and taxied to the runway. The captain gave a flight time of 9:30 hours.

After the start, the purser came to us, greeted us personally and gave a few tips for Vancouver. He also distributed the menu.

Lufthansa First Class – Service: Four-course meal on board

Shortly after flying over the North Sea coast, the greeting came from the kitchen: trout bites with passion fruit and mango. Delicious! I probably wouldn't eat this on the ground because of the intense taste.

The service started with setting the table and warm bread with olive oil. The butter, in which First Class was embossed, was really great. Also cute, the little pepper and salt mills. I would like to have that for home too.

It continued with the caviar service. This was served with traditional side dishes (lemon, onions, egg and a Beluga Vodka).

starter

Today's menu was put together by Mr. Christian Eckhard, head chef of the two-star restaurant Villa Rothschild in Königstein im Taunus. We could choose from the following variation of starters:

• Riesengarnelen “Creolischer Art” with Krustentier-Chilivinaigrette
• Pink roasted saddle of veal with escabeche vegetables and iced radish
• Belgian chicory confit with ginger, lemongrass and honey curry emulsion
• Colorful lettuce with zucchini, carrots, dried tomato strips and chanterelles, with pumpkin seed or passion fruit dressing.

Christin only accepted the chicory. I had a composition of king prawns, chicory and saddle of veal. The king prawns were my absolute favourite. In addition, a German Riesling (Scharzhofberger GG, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, vintage 2012).

main course

For the main course there was a choice between:

• Rack of lamb with spicy bean cassoulet and Parisian potatoes,
• Turbot in bouliarabais broth with saffron vegetables and risoni noodles,
• Guinea fowl in sauce riche with pea mousseline, finger carrots and king oyster mushrooms
• glazed pumpkin gnocchi in our own stock flavored with Indian spice mix "vadouvan".

Christin asked for the gnocchi. I chose the guinea fowl. Plus a 2009 Barcolobo Crianza (Castilla y Leon, finca la Rinconad, Spain). A suitable fruity drop for guinea fowl. We both enjoyed the main courses. Christin was really enthusiastic about the pumpkin gnocchi.

Dessert

For dessert there was either a variety of different cheeses or lukewarm Hessian oven slip with marinated dried fruit and porcini mushrooms or Gâteau of dark chocolate with compote of exotic fruits and mango-passion fruit sorbet. We both chose the chocolate cake. I also drank a 2005 dessert wine (Bonnezeaux, Château de Festes, France). I don't really like sweet wine, but the aromas of quince, honey and exotic fruits went well with the dessert.

At the end of the four-course menu, I had a double espresso brought to me, which came from a Nespresso machine, and I was busy with the inflight entertainment.

Lufthansa First Class – sleeping comfort in your own bed

Shortly before Greenland we slipped into our Van Laak pajamas and made ourselves comfortable in the bed next to our seats. It was already 5:30 p.m. German time, so a nap was in order. I could really relax on the right mattress. It was comfortable and had just the right firmness. It was just a little warm for me, which was partly because I was on the sunny side of the plane. The alcohol consumed could also have played a role.

In the meantime we still enjoyed the fantastic view of the eternal snow and glacier world of Greenland. We couldn't stare out of our windows long enough. It all looks so untouched, as if no one had ever been there before. The view is so incredibly clear that you think you're not flying that high.

Lufthansa First Class – second service before landing

About 1:30 hours before landing, dinner was served again. After our chef Christian Eckhardt spoiled us with a creative lunch menu, he now “invited” us to the finest specialties from Asia. From the serving trolley with the appetizers that passed by, we could choose from a selection of sweet and sour pork with roasted sesame, spring onions and chili, various sushi with Japanese ginger and wasabi, Thai vegetable salad, marinated wakame seaweed or mango ginger chuteny. I also ordered a warm main course with strips of beef fillet in red Thai curry sauce and stir-fried vegetables with fragrant rice. But now I was definitely full.

Brush your teeth quickly before landing and slip back into street clothes. We were given a bottle of water for the drive to the hotel. During a short conversation with the purser, we thanked him again for the great service. At this point, once again, a heartfelt thank you to our two flight attendants, who looked after us so touchingly.

As a small souvenir for the first days in the dreary hotel room, we decided to take the rose with us. However, this turned out to be a stupid idea, since we had of course not noted this on the customs paper. After a few red lines on our slip of paper, everything went well in the end. At the end of the day, however, the First Class experience lost valuable points because we had to wait for what felt like an eternity for our luggage. That could have worked out better, after all the HONs present got their luggage first.

We took the self-propelled train to the Yaletown Roundhouse station. We walked the short way to our hotel “The Burrard”. The hotel or actually motel surprised with a great style. The rooms were clean and big enough.

After a shower we explored the city in the best weather. The area around Robson Square was very lively and had a lot to offer. Since the hunger slowly came through again and we wanted to continue our tradition of our last vacation, we visited Five Guys for dinner. After a burger “all the way” we were full and went back to the hotel.

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