Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Enterprise Class (higher deck)

Wednesday newsletters all the time characteristic a resort or flight evaluate.

At this time: Evaluation of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8  Enterprise Class on the higher deck  (Frankfurt to San Francisco flight)

Flying the Boeing 747 – dubbed the Queen of the Skies – is all the time 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 tip of the 747 manufacturing line in 2022, Boeing has constructed 1,560 B747 plane. The Boeing 747-8 is the most recent, quieter, extra economical, and extra environmentally pleasant model of the well-known plane kind. The B47-8 options comparable engines & cockpit expertise because the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It’s also the world’s longest airplane with a fuselage size of 251 toes (77 m).

However whereas the Boeing 747 is a marvel of expertise (I all the time really feel privileged to fly in a 747, particularly when seated on the higher deck), 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 shortage of privateness in addition to the mediocre facilities are disappointing and lightyears behind the Enterprise Class product supplied by the service’s opponents. In actual fact, to one of the best of my information, Lufthansa is the one flag service on the earth that also gives a subpar structure in its Enterprise Class the place not all passengers have direct aisle entry. The excellent news is that Lufthansa will quickly introduce a brand new Enterprise Class seat and cabin structure – known as Alegris – in order that’s one thing to sit up for (though the launch of the brand new product simply retains getting postponed).

Have you ever ever flown onboard the Boeing 747? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

• Journey: Frankfurt (FRA) to San Francisco (SFO)
• Airline: Lufthansa
• Plane kind: Boeing 747-8
• Plane registration quantity: D-ABYJ (inbuilt 2014 and nicknamed ‘Hannover’)
• On time departure: Sure (10:30 am)
• On time arrival: Sure (12:30 pm)
• Distance: 5680 miles (9140 km)
• Flight time: 11 hours
• Seat: 87A (higher deck)
• Class: Enterprise Class

On this evaluate (extra info & photographs under my YouTube video):

1. Price of my ticket
2. Lounge
3. Enterprise Class cabin
4. Enterprise Class seat (+ finest & 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 San Francisco with miles through Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program Miles & Extra (which I’ve reviewed right here). The full price of my ticket was 270 euro + 56,000 Miles & Extra miles.

2. LOUNGE

Lufthansa operates a community of greater than 12 lounges at Frankfurt, a few of which I’ve reviewed in my earlier journey reviews:

Since my connection time is Frankfurt was very quick (lower than one hour), I didn’t have the time to go to the lounge throughout this journey.

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 Financial system recliner seats, and 244 normal Financial system Class seats. The 80 Enterprise Class seats are unfold over three cabins:

• The most important 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. I’ve beforehand printed a visit report of my flight expertise on this cabin, which you’ll be able to learn right here.
• 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 contains 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 aircraft. The window seats right here even have extra space for storing (with additional bins on the facet) 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 colour palette. The one refined colours you’ll see are the wood panels between paired seats and the colourful pillows which can be positioned on the seats upon boarding.

All pairs of seats alongside the home windows and within the cabin’s heart are angled barely in direction of each other. This could be nice for {couples} however not for solo vacationers, for the reason that toes compartment is positioned proper subsequent to the considered one of your neighbor, and it’s attainable that your legs and toes 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 fully 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 kind 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 top 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 – may be lowered or raised (this permits for extra consolation within the seat’s flatbed place).

Every seat is provided with its personal leisure display, whose place may be barely adjusted in accordance with the passenger’s want. A storage drawer is positioned under the TV display, in addition to a small footrest (ottoman) that turns into a part of the seat when absolutely reclined. As talked about above, paired seats share their ottomans, with a small divider in between (though not ample to stop unintentional toes 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).

What are the finest 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 facet).

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 all the time find yourself sitting subsequent to a stranger. And sadly, there is no such thing as a display between adjoining seats for added privateness.
• Window seats don’t provide 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 coming 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 Financial 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 cut back waste, eye masks and ear plugs usually are not offered contained in the bag however can be found within the toilets
• A cushty, multi-colored pillow
• A heat, marine blue blanket
• A padded mattress topper to supply an additional layer of consolation to enhance sleep high quality
• 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:

• Appetizer: pink roasted saddle of veal with potato salad, roasted cauliflower, broccoli and pepper drops

• Predominant course: roasted tenderloin of beef in thyme sauce with new potatoes & gree beans

• Cheese: Lenggenwil nation cheese, Montagnolo blue cheese, and French smooth goat cheese

• Dessert: Berry cake with whipped cream and chopped pistachio

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 relating to its onboard meals, whereas its daughter firm Austrian gives a few of the finest meals within the sky.

Two hours previous to landing, a light-weight dinner was served (on one tray). It comprised smoked salmon filet, served with salsa verde and cucumber sesame topping, sriracha, and mayonnaise.

7. ENTERTAINMENT

Lufthansa’s Boeing 747 inflight leisure is managed by a handheld distant, however sadly, scrolling with the handset via the collection of motion pictures and TV exhibits could be very gradual. This system itself has a dated structure, however nonetheless it gives a wide 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 lots of different nations cater for all tastes. There are additionally 200 TV packages out there in addition to a wide selection of leisure content material for households and kids. As well as, you possibly can comply with the most recent 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 offered 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 today, was a floor breaking change on the time. On this flight, there have been three particular person tariffs for utilizing the web service (known as ‘FlyNet’):

9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES

# CREW: Tthe Lufthansa flight attendants on this flight have 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.

# VIEWS: we bought some nice views of San Francisco and the Bay space throughout touchdown.

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

*** Comply with me on Instagram, Youtube, Twitter or Fb for a every day second of journey inspiration ***