Flying First Class with Lufthansa

When Lufthansa rolls out its service from Munich to the UAE on October 26th this will be the latest indication that business is booming in the Gulf for the German national flag carrier.

This summer passenger numbers grew so large that a Boeing 747 was assigned to the Dubai route for a period, and will be back for the return of nationals and expatriates later in the season. Lufthansa is the only airline operating a 747 out of Dubai, and while Emirates is looking forward to the days of its A380 super-jumbo, Lufthansa already has a jumbo jet in service.

Passenger numbers are one way to judge an airline, another is by the quality of service at the front of the airplane. So just how good is Lufthansa First Class? AME Info took the kind offer of an upgrade from Business Class to report back from the First Class cabin.

Pleasant and efficient staff are an important aspect of any premium service, and in this respect Lufthansa is not a disappointment. Nor is the seating which has clearly been designed by German engineers specifically for Lufthansa.

The seats turn into some of the most comfortable beds in the sky with nice attention to detail, such as a reading lamp attached to the headrest, and a personal video player. There are also only eight First Class seats on the A340 configuration from Dubai, thus preserving a sense of space and exclusivity.

What else do you get in First Class on Lufthansa? Well, it may be 3am in the morning as you take off, but a full meal is available if you should want it. More likely to prove irresistible is the large pot of caviar on the starters trolley, perhaps washed down with vintage champagne, or a Grand Cru Classe from St Emilion, Bordeaux, or possibly both.

Then press a few buttons on your handrest and the seat becomes a bed, and slumber at this hour is easy to achieve. Awake and there are two dedicated bathrooms for the eight First Class passengers. Naturally a full hot breakfast is ready and waiting to prepare you for the day ahead.

If there was one criticism it would be that the flight from Dubai to Frankfurt is just a bit short to fully enjoy all that is on offer at the front of the plane. The bonus, however, is that you arrive early in Frankfurt and can connect with the biggest network of European flights from Lufthansa, or with its Star Alliance partners for travel anywhere in the world.

First Class passengers also enjoy a dedicated lounge both in Dubai and Frankfurt with complimentary drinks, snacks and newspapers. It all helps to make travel less stressful and more of a pleasure.

For those who like to shop on board a notable recent innovation is that you can now spend frequent flyer points on duty free goods, though not alcohol. This is particularly important for First Class passengers who clock-up Miles More Miles than people traveling in the rear of the airplane.

Overall, what should be the verdict on Lufthansa First Class? Quite simply this is a true First Class, seamless excellence from start to finish, and if you are worried about the price then there are other options.