Flying first class with Lufthansa and Swiss: here are the differences
The fact that two, or more, companies belong to the same industry group does not mean that the service is identical [...]
Swiss
Lufthansa
Star Alliance
The fact that two, or more, companies belong to the same industry group does not mean that the service is identical and the differences are only cosmetic. It happens with all Lufthansa Group carriers, but also with Air France KLM or IAG, which controls both British Airways and Iberia.
In this article:
Each carrier maintains its own identity And what I have discovered, chatting in my many travels, is that the traveling staff knows almost nothing about what the "subsidiaries" offer.
The best bonuses
I recently had the opportunity to fly within 24 hours aboard Swiss First Class and of Lufthansa, on the same route. Going from Zurich to New Deli on Swiss's Airbus A340/300 and returning from New Delhi to Munich on my favorite plane the A380. Here are the most significant differences between the two airlines
Swiss and Lufthansa's first class seats.
The cabins are very different. Waiting for Allegris to arrive on LH and the declined version on Swiss, today it is the Swiss company that has the better product.
It doesn't matter whether you fly on the 747 or the A380, German cabin is definitely old-fashioned. Little privacy, ancient infotainement and small monitor and lived-in environment.
Swiss, on the other hand, offers a modern, though not state-of-the-art, armchair. Unlike LH, Swiss's F seats are not all the same. On board 777s and A340s (with minor differences) LX offers a mini suite, with the door that when closed hides the passenger. The same is not true on the A330, which instead has much less privacy. The screen is 32 inches and although it is not 4K it is quality.
Which one would I choose? obviously Swiss
Lufthansa offers caviar, Swiss has the best wine cellar
If there is one thing travelers in First expect, it is to be able to gorge themselves eating and drinking the most exclusive
Based on my recent experience a choice will have to be made between caviar and champange. Swiss did not offer caviar in my flight, but it surprised me with a much more sophisticated wine cellar starting with the champagne offered on board and the wine list.
By contrast in Lufthansa's menu, although it was an ex-New Deli flight and not from its main hub included caviar for all first class guests (at dinner and also at breakfast), but a decidedly cheaper wine list than that offered by its Swiss sister.
Which one would I choose? Probably Swiss
The pajama and amenity kit.
Those who travel in F are used to being pampered with all kinds of gadgets, and I must say that in this case Both companies have quite disappointed me.
If I compare what British Airways stuffs into the First Class "handbag," let alone what Emirates, Singapore, or All Nippon Airlines offer. Both aesthetically and in terms of content what you find in the beaus of these two airlines is a business product, not First Class.
The only difference is that Swiss offers the passenger the choice between short or long sleeves, while LH does not have this option.
Which one would I choose? Maybe Lufthansa
On-board service
Dine on demand, staff always ready to meet whatever needs the passenger may have.
Of course the flight I made lasts less than half as long as my recent flight in La Premiere, but In both flights I really felt like a VIP And not a bum imposter.
Which one would I choose? Both
Booking Swiss and Lufthansa first class with points
The rules for booking these two booths with points are also different. In the case of Swiss, it is only bookable with Miles&More points, while seats on Lufthansa planes are open also to those who have points in the various loyalty programs.
In the case of Lufthansa, those with M&M points have no limitations, however, those who want to use other SA currencies must necessarily choose to fly Last Minute since award seats are opened, subject to availability, in the last week before the flight.
Lufthansa is therefore the "easiest" one to book, assuming one can call such a ticket simple.Â
In conclusion
Not many airlines still offer this cabin, I really miss a few to have tried them all the next ones will be JAL, Etihad and Qantas. Not to mention. a lot of new booths are supposed to arrive in the next 12 to 18 months, so I will "have to" bottom out my piggy banks of points To try to redeem them all.
Flying in F until before opening The Flight Club for me was (almost) a dream, since this site, and even more so the Youtube channel, has existed, I have flown in the best seats of British Airways, Emirates, Air France, All Nippon Airlines, Qatar, Singapore as well as the two LH group carriers.
Reviews of these two trips will come, in the coming months, both on the YT channel and in text version on the website. As always, I remind you, I travel as a paying customer. I never let anyone know that I will be on board, much less ask for favorable rates or services.