Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Enterprise Class (Frankfurt to Miami)

Wednesday newsletters at all times function a resort or flight overview.

I not too long ago loved a fantastic vacation in Miami & Costa Rica. I’ll publish the next journey experiences over the approaching weeks:

• Evaluation: Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Enterprise Class from Frankfurt to Miami (right this moment)
• Evaluation: Acqualina Resort on the Seashore, Miami, USA
• Evaluation: Nayara Tented Camp, Arenal Nationwide Park, Costa Rica
• Evaluation: Lapa Rios Lodge, Corcovado Nationwide Park, Costa Rica
• Evaluation: Los Altos Resort, Manuel Antonio Nationwide Park, Costa Rica
• Evaluation: Andaz Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
• Evaluation: 4 Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
• Evaluation: Edeweiss Air Airbus A340 Enterprise Class from Liberia to Zurich

As we speak: Evaluation: Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Enterprise Class from Frankfurt to Miami

I not too long ago flew in Enterprise Class from Frankfurt to Miami onboard a Lufthansa Boeing 747-8. Flying the Boeing 747 – dubbed the Queen of the Sky – is at all times an epic expertise and Lufthansa is among the final remaining airways on the earth that also flies this plane kind, with 27 Boeing 747s in its fleet. The Boeing 747 has been a bestseller with airways: between the primary 747 flight on February ninth 1969 and the top of the 747 manufacturing line final yr, Boeing has constructed 1,560 B747 plane. The 747-8 is the newest, quieter, extra economical, and extra environmentally pleasant model of the well-known plane kind. The B747-8 options related engines & cockpit know-how because the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Additionally it is the world’s longest airplane with a fuselage size of 251 ft (77 m).

However whereas the Boeing 747 is a marvel of know-how (I at all times really feel privileged to fly on one), Lufthansa’s Enterprise Class doesn’t match the grandeur of its flagship plane. The cabin configuration (2-2-2 on the decrease deck and 2-2 on the higher deck), the dearth of privateness in addition to the mediocre facilities are disappointing and approach behind many of the service’s Enterprise Class opponents. The excellent news is that Lufthansa will introduce a brand new Enterprise Class seat and cabin structure by subsequent yr, in order that’s one thing to stay up for.

Have you ever ever flown with Lufthansa? In that case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

• Journey: Frankfurt (FRA) to Miami (MIA)
• Airline: Lufthansa
• Plane kind: Boeing 747-8
• Plane registration quantity: D-ABYJ (in-built 2014 and nicknamed ‘Hannover’)
• On time departure: No (10:30 am; + quarter-hour)
• On time arrival: Sure (4 pm)
• Distance:  4820 miles (7760 km)
• Flight time: 10 hours
• Seat: 7K
• Class: Enterprise Class

On this overview (extra info & photographs beneath my YouTube video):

1. Value of my ticket
2. Lounge
3. Enterprise Class cabin
4. Enterprise Class seat (+ greatest & worst seats)
5. Facilities & bedding
6. Meals
7. Leisure
8. Onboard web
9. Different inflight experiences
10. My verdict (rating)

1. COST OF MY TICKET

I paid this one-way Enterprise Class ticket from Frankfurt to Miami with miles through Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program Miles & Extra (which I’ve reviewed right here). The entire price of my ticket was 305 euro + 56,000 Miles & Extra miles.

2. LOUNGE

Lufthansa operates a community of greater than 12 lounges at Frankfurt, together with a devoted and unique First Class terminal. Previous to my flight to Miami, I visited the service’s Enterprise Class lounge within the non-Schengen a part of Frankfurt’s terminal 1 (which was closest to the gate from the place my flight departed).

The doorway to the lounge – which is open from 6 am to 9:30 pm – is positioned close to gate Z50. The lounge welcomes Enterprise Class passengers flying with Lufthansa or one of many Star Alliance airways. Elite members of Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program Miles & Extra are despatched to the neighboring Senator Lounge which shares its reception space with the Enterprise Class Lounge (each lounges have the same structure and design). Ineligible passengers touring on Lufthansa can even buy lounge entry on the reception for 40 EUR (50 USD).

Behind the reception desk is an escalator main into the lounge itself, which is positioned one ground above the airport’s primary concourse. Subsequent to the escalator is the lounge’s concierge space, the place the Lufthansa floor employees assists passengers confronted with sudden flight delays or cancellations. Total, the lounge encompasses a trendy and nice decor, with floor-to-ceiling home windows permitting daylight to flood the house and likewise providing good views of the apron. Whereas spacious, the lounge can nonetheless really feel very busy although (for instance, throughout my go to, I had the impression that there was not sufficient seating to accommodate all friends).

A eating space – with some eating tables – takes middle stage the lounge, with all meals & drinks being supplied on a complimentary foundation. A buffet counter is positioned on the aspect of the eating space, with a collection of chilly objects and scorching dishes on show (e.g. chilly cuts, cheese chilly, pretzels, and scrambled eggs throughout breakfast hours). Alcoholic drinks embody Beck’s and Franziskaner Weissbier beer, a restricted collection of wines, and various kinds of liquor.

Additional down the lounge, there are many seating areas, providing various kinds of ambiance (e.g. TV nook, leisure & sleeping space, and a piece room). Several types of seats can be found, together with snug leather-based armchairs alongside the panoramic home windows, recliners within the leisure & sleeping space, couch chairs with excessive partitions for extra privateness, a few benches alongside the inside partitions, and a few excessive tables with bar stools.

Lounge services embody free WiFi, showers, and baggage lockers.

3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8 options 8 open First Class suites, 80 Enterprise Class flat-bed seats with 180 levels recline, 32 Premium Economic system recliner seats, and 244 normal Economic system Class seats (however no First Class cabin). The 80 Enterprise Class seats are unfold over three cabins:

• The biggest Enterprise Class cabin is positioned on the decrease deck (behind First Class) and options 6 rows of 36 seats, organized in a 2-2-2 structure.
• The smallest Enterprise Class cabin can also be positioned on the decrease deck – separated from the bigger Enterprise Class cabin by a galley – and options solely 2 rows of 12 seats, additionally organized in a 2-2-2 structure.
• The higher deck encompasses a third Enterprise Class cabin with 8 rows of 32 seats, organized in a 2-2 structure. As a result of 2-2 structure (opposite to the 2-2-2 structure on the decrease deck), this cabin has a extra intimate really feel and is one of the best Enterprise Class cabin. It nearly feels a bit like flying in a personal airplane. The window seats right here even have extra space for storing (with additional bins on the aspect) in comparison with the decrease deck Enterprise Class seats.

All three Enterprise Class cabins have a clear and unremarkable but very German-esque design, with white cabin partitions and gray seat covers making a impartial coloration palette. The one delicate colours you’ll see are the wood panels between paired seats and the colourful pillows which are positioned on the seats upon boarding.

All pairs of seats alongside the home windows and within the cabin’s middle are angled barely in the direction of each other. This could be nice for {couples} however not for solo vacationers, for the reason that ft compartment is positioned proper subsequent to the one in every of your neighbor, and it’s attainable that your legs and ft often contact those of your neighbor whereas resting or sleeping. Total, all seats lack privateness, and there’s not even a divider or privateness display between paired seats, which these days feels dated for a Enterprise Class product.

Click on right here for the seat map of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8.

4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)

The Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Enterprise Class seat is sort of snug within the upright place, with a pitch of 162 cm (64 inch) and a width of 52 cm (20,5 inch). A studying gentle is positioned subsequent to the pinnacle relaxation. The middle arm relaxation holds the seat controls, a handset for the inflight leisure, and a fold-out tray desk. The opposite armrest – both alongside the window or the aisle – will be lowered or raised (this enables for extra consolation within the seat’s flatbed place).

Every seat is provided with its personal leisure display, whose place will be barely adjusted in keeping with the passenger’s want. A storage drawer is positioned beneath the TV display, in addition to a small footrest (ottoman) that turns into a part of the seat when totally reclined. As talked about above, paired seats share their ottomans, with a small divider in between (though not adequate to forestall unintended ft cuddling along with your neighbor).

On the push of a button, the seat reclines right into a full lie flat-bed with a size of 78 inch (198 cm). The seat feels a bit agency although and sadly, Lufthansa doesn’t present a mattress to boost the sleeping consolation.

What are the greatest Enterprise Class seats on Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8?

• As talked about above, one of the best seats are positioned on the higher deck. As a result of 2-2 structure (opposite to the 2-2-2 structure on the decrease deck), this cabin has a extra intimate really feel. As well as, the window seats right here even have extra space for storing (with additional bins on the aspect).

What are the worst Enterprise Class seats on Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8?

• The two-2-2 Enterprise Class structure doesn’t make the cabin very engaging for solo vacationers, since you’ll at all times find yourself sitting subsequent to a stranger. And sadly, there isn’t a display between adjoining seats for added privateness.
• Window seats don’t supply direct aisle entry.
• Passengers seated within the first row of all three cabins could also be bothered by the noise of the galley and passengers going to or getting back from the toilets.
• I additionally recommend to keep away from the final row of the decrease deck Enterprise Class, which is simply in entrance of the Premium Economic system bassinet seats.

Click on right here for the seat map of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8.

5. AMENITIES & BEDDING

Lufthansa’s Enterprise Class passengers obtain the next facilities on longhaul flights:

• An amenity package, which is wrapped inside a reusable tote bag. The package options the important journey objects (e.g. toothpaste, toothbrush, socks and a single breath mint) in addition to some L’Occitane toiletries. To scale back waste, eye masks and ear plugs usually are not supplied contained in the bag however can be found within the toilets
• A cushty, multi-colored pillow
• A heat, marine blue blanket
• AKG noise cancelling headphones (that are fairly efficient in blocking out the cabin noise)

6. MEALS

Throughout this flight, a lunch was served (proper after takeoff) in addition to a light-weight dinner (previous to touchdown)

I select the next choice from the lunch menu:

• Starter: marinated black angus beef, mango & celery salad, asparagus and cranberry
• Predominant course: cod wrapped in smoked salmon with stewed leek and venus rice
• Cheese: Lenggenwil nation cheese, Montagnolo blue cheese and French gentle goat cheese
• Après lunch deal with: Hachez confiserie praline

Lunch was okay and acceptable for a transatlantic Enterprise Class flight, though IMHO, Lufthansa must have some work finished in its catering division to boost the bar of its meals providing. It’s weird that Germany’s residence service is so mediocre in relation to its onboard meals, whereas its daughter firm Austrian gives among the greatest meals within the sky.

Two hours previous to landing, a light-weight dinner was served (on one tray). It comprised roast beef with potato salad as a primary course and roasted almond cream with caramel sauce as a dessert.

7. ENTERTAINMENT

Lufthansa’s Boeing 747 inflight leisure is managed by a handheld distant, however sadly, scrolling with the handset by the collection of motion pictures and TV reveals could be very gradual. This system itself has a dated structure, however nonetheless it gives a good selection with greater than 100 movies in as much as eight completely different languages. Hollywood blockbusters, new German and European productions and movies from Japan, China, India and plenty of different nations cater for all tastes. There are additionally 200 TV packages accessible in addition to a large choice of leisure content material for households and youngsters. As well as, you possibly can comply with the newest information through the dwell TV channels CNN and Euronews, in addition to sports activities highlights through Sports activities 24. The audio part options a big collection of CDs, audio books, playlists and podcasts from around the globe. Bose noise-cancelling headphones are supplied to ensure one of the best sound high quality. Lufthansa’s B747s are additionally outfitted with a stomach and nostril cameras, whose broadcasts are straight streamed on the TVs.

8. ONBOARD INTERNET

In 2004, Lufthansa was the primary airline to supply inflight web to its passengers on worldwide flights. What’s just about the norm nowadays, was a floor breaking change on the time. On this flight, there have been three particular person tariffs for utilizing the web service (referred to as ‘FlyNet’):

9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES

# CREW: The Lufthansa flight attendants on this flight had been skilled, environment friendly and discrete.

# LAVATORY: tlisted here are seven toilets for the Enterprise Class passengers: 4 toilets are positioned on the decrease deck and three on the higher deck.

10. MY VERDICT

• Seat consolation (upright): 8/10
• Seat consolation (mattress place): 7/10
• Privateness: 3/10
• Meals (high quality): 7/10
• Meals (amount): 7/10
• Inflight leisure : 6
• WiFi: 9/10
• Service: 8/10
• Cabin design: 7/10
• Total expertise: mediocre – 6/10

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