With this review I said goodbye to the A340 and Lufthansa's "old" First Class
With this ticket I killed three birds with one stone: I flew (probably) for the last time aboard a [...]
Lufthansa
Star Alliance
PVG
China
With this ticket, I killed three birds with one stone.: I flew (probably) for the last time aboard an A340/600, in Lufthansa's old First Class and, for the first time, with Allegris.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- A340/600
- Class:
- First Class
- Treat:
- FRA - PVG
- Price:
- 1000€ upgrade from business
- Book
Since when Allegris has finally come on the market, it was on my wishlist, but I preferred to wait a while before venturing a reservation for a simple reason: with few planes outfitted with the new cabins, the risk of a machine change weighed like a boulder On my reservation.
For this I waited for LH to publish the list of "guaranteed Allegris" destinations. and I focused on Shanghai, partly because of the lower average cost of flights to China, where there is a lot of competition between European and local carriers.
Reservation
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I booked this ticket at the end of 2024. Those who travel with Lufthansa know very well that it is not a cheap airline, and that if the route is operated in Allegris configuration, the price increases by about 30%, obviously for no apparent reason, so as to avoid refunds in case of aircraft changes.
I had managed to find a round-trip ticket all in business class departing from Oslo: outbound via Frankfurt, home of the A340s (the only Airbuses to fly from LH's main hub), and return via Munich, base of the A350 Allegris, for about 2000€.
As usual, I constantly monitor my reservations for opportunities.
When the upgrades opened I immediately thought of making the jump in class from J to F, only on the outward journey, because on the return journey I crashed into a rubber wall.
The upgrade of this route cost me about 1100€. Not cheap, of course, but we are talking about First Class with all the related benefits, including lounges and related services, which I was interested in reviewing on TFC.
At the airport
My journey started from Oslo, Where I did not receive any special treatment. Also Upon arrival in Frankfurt, I found no one to greet me at the finger. So, after a quick pass through the First Class Schengen lounge for breakfast, I exited the airport and headed walk to the First Class Terminal.
I won't deny that one of the reasons I upgraded, besides the desire to travel better and not in LH's old, uncomfortable business, was precisely the opportunity to access this place where I had never been.
Honestly, I was a little disappointed. Sure, the structure is beautiful, but there is nothing really "wow" about it: it is simply larger than the other First Class lounges. Let's say there is nothing "Allegris" here.
Even the idea of being accompanied under the plane in a "shared" car with two other first-class passengers is not really the best.
On board
We arrived below deck directly from the First Class Terminal and found the plane still being cleaned, despite having landed eight hours earlier from a flight from Saudi Arabia. We waited about ten minutes, meanwhile the other limousines with F passengers and buses with the others arrived.
Once again I could see that there is no assistance for passengers who have to "camel" their luggage onto the ladder, as on any Ryanair - and that, in a First Class, is quite jarring.
The Lufthansa fleet, while dated, has always had one certainty: uniformly outfitted aircraft. Then, between Allegris delays, pandemic, and missed deliveries, things changed. This A340/600, like its smaller brother A340/300, 747s and A380s, is still outfitted with standard cabins-from Economy to First.
And, as known, these aircraft will never receive the new cabins, although with LH, at this time, best not to take anything for granted.
The booth
These are the classic first class seats. The only difference between the models is the amount of seating: in the "nose" of the 747 there are only five passengers, here there are eight, as on the upper deck of the A380.
Of course, privacy is virtually nonexistent, especially when all the seats are occupied.
What is jarring, for a First Class environment, is that the two bathrooms intended for the eight (lucky) passengers are located inside the cabin, and not separated: a hardly "first" choice.
The chair
The product, as mentioned, is the same as the rest of the non-Allegris fleet, with the normal differences related to aircraft type.
For example, there are hat racks here (which are missing on A380s and 747s), but not the extra space available on the Airbus giant's upper deck.
The features remain identical: the seat is controlled from the panel hidden in the armrest, the ottoman doubles as a chest, the coffee table is large and stable, the portholes let in much more light than on the A380, and the screen is small compared to modern First Class.
Privacy is improved by raising the partition, an easy operation with a click on the appropriate button.
The seat is comfortable, and when turned into a bed, the crew adds a topper and a warm comforter. Too bad only that the pillow is always placed - without protection - already on the seat.
The two bathrooms, which are windowed and comfortable, are not comparable to those on the A380. Moreover, being located inside the F cabin and also used by the pilots, they are not exactly the height of luxury.
If you ever fly this machine, the most beautiful bathrooms are undoubtedly those in the Economy. The A340/600 is the only commercial aircraft that has toilets on the cargo floor: In fact, all tourist class bathrooms are on the lower floor. This is unique in modern aviation.
Service
The quality of cabin crew is always at the highest level. Of course, until you set foot on the plane you don't feel very "special," but then slowly the music changes, and attention is not lacking until the end.
The only note is about boarding: I was directed to my seat, but More than 15 minutes passed before receiving attention from an assistant. While around me others were greeted and revered, I - perhaps because I was "homeless" - did not receive the same treatment.
Then, once the ice was broken and the first glass of champagne arrived, everything was definitely better.
The amenity kit is finally nice and reusable, but the contents are poor compared to what Air France or British Airways offers-not to mention Emirates or Singapore Airlines.
During the flight, the crew was always present and very proactive.
IFE
As always, this is the part that changes the least between Economy and First, screen size aside.
The interface is dated, but the content is plentiful: movies, TV series, documentaries. Unfortunately, no live TV, few games, and a resolution far from 4K.
The headphones are Bose, but I always use my AirPods Pro with Bluetooth adapter for more freedom of movement.
Wi-Fi for a fee for all except First Class passengers, who have the Premium package included.
In general, however, the cost is quite high and the average speed low. Fortunately, LH's policy on in-flight Wi-Fi is changing.
Food & Beverage
Here the feelings are mixed. I like the trolley service, very "golden years" of air transportation, but the plating and presentation of the dishes are really below average-they would be fine in business class, but they are not first class.
First to break the ice a small entrèes was served.
I started with the caviar, served in a sad little dish with two slices of toast. It looked like a classic impromptu midnight snack: Comparing it to Qatar Airways' mise en place is embarrassing. A step backward even from my last time in F with Lufthansa.
I enjoyed the triptych of appetizers-a nice way to sample different flavors. Too bad that, in my case, it was the "asparagus festival": as many as eight dishes on the menu included it, and two of the three appetizers were based on this vegetable.
The main course was even more disappointing than the caviar: anonymous china, sloppy plating, zero "wow" effect.
The dessert did not convince me, neither in flavor nor in appearance.
The final touch, in keeping with tradition, is chocolate. It is served along with the menu, leaving the choice to the passenger.
At breakfast, same story: nice cart service, but basic presentation. I appreciated, however, that there was more than melon in the fresh fruit--and I had the crispiest bacon in history aboard an airplane.
At the destination
Waiting for us upon arrival was a person with a sign, with all the names of the passengers. No golf car, just some sort of escort who escorted us to immigration. No special route or preferential treatment.
In conclusion
Lufthansa's goal, as stated recently by its CEO, is to become (or return to) the best company in Europe. Personally, I think there is still a long way to go to join Air France in First Class - And, in some ways, impossible to climb.
Now, though, Let's see how things will change with Allegris.
Pro
- On-board personnel
- Amenity kit
- the A340
Against
- Non-F ground service
- Caviar service