Review of Lufthansa flight Washington Frankfurt in Business

Airline Lufthansa
Flight LH 419
Class Business
Seat 81K
Aircraft Boeing 747-8I
Flight time 07:55
Take-off 28 Jun 15, 18:05
Arrival at 29 Jun 15, 08:00
LH   #62 out of 94 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 1587 reviews
a1imbot
By 8249
Published on 17th August 2015
Welcome to my latest flight report !

Apologies for the delayed posting of this report. I currently study in Washington, D.C. and have been very busy. My summer's plans included a cruise with the rest of the family leaving the port of Barcelona on July 2nd. Flying by myself, I had full freedom on which airline and route I was going to take to get from DC to Barcelona. No airline currently offers a non-stop so the choices were pretty extensive. I ended up choosing Lufthansa so that I could try out their new Premium Economy Cabin.

Ok here we go. I left my house around 3:45 for my 6:05pm flight. Its about a 35 minute drive from the city to Dulles.

A view from the ugly highway. They're currently building a metro line to the airport, but it won't be fully open for a few more years now.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.49.34 PM

There was some traffic while entering the airport.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.49.42 PM

Once inside, i headed right for the Lufthansa counter.
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There isn't a sign for premium economy yet, so I took a risk with the business line.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.50.08 PM

The next agent was standing by a First Class HON sign and waved me over. She then escorted me to the opposite side of the terminal towards the security line for the dedicated First Class lane. photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.50.14 PM

After handing over my passport at the secluded First Counter, she told me I had been Upgraded to Business and my new seat was 5G! It was totally random and unexpected. She tagged my suitcase with a priority tag and I was off!
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.50.20 PM

Next, I headed down stairs for security. More than 20 lanes were open so the lines were pretty quick.

The passageway from security to the people mover looks pretty cool, with the backlit glass floor.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.50.43 PM

The platform for the train was packed, and I ended up having to wait 2 trains before being able to board.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.50.51 PM
The second train was moderately full.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.50.36 PM

Here are some pics of the Concourse B station


I went straight to the Lufthansa Lounge which really close to the station.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.51.27 PM

Once inside, I was directed down stairs to the business section of the lounge.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.51.33 PM

The business lounge is on the ground level at Dulles, facing towards the Main terminal, making the spotting difficult and limited. I managed to catch the Austrian 777 being prepped for its flight to Vienna photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.51.41 PM

The food selection in the lounge was ok, but nothing special. The offering still blows away all three United IAD Lounges combined.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.51.48 PM
The lounge looks a little sad, mostly because there isn't too much natural lighting.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.52.04 PM

There is also a section full of comfy chairs and sofas, but It was full. I decided to leave the lounge to go spotting.

Heres What I found:
My plane, the LH 747-8I
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.52.10 PM

A BA A380
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.52.17 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.52.37 PM

A mixture of United Domestic planes
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.52.26 PM

A Saudia 777-300ER. God bless you too !
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.53.09 PM

A South African A340-300 going to Johannesburg with a stop in Dakar. They recently switched the stopover to Accra 4 times a week, leaving the Dakar for the remaining 3 flights.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.52.55 PM

The AF A380

I would have chosen to fly the AF A380 this summer, but the upper deck economy was full when I was considering booking.

photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.53.40 PM

I was most excited to see the Etihad 787-9, but I could only manage this half-ass photo:
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.53.32 PM
It was interesting to see the Etihad passengers deplane right into the terminal. The preclear the US Border in Abu Dhabi.

Aer Lingus A330
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.54.07 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.54.14 PM

I didn't do any duty free shopping, but heres the entrance to the main store.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.53.02 PM

I then headed towards the lounge once again. The nice lady at the counter recognized me and welcomed me back. I asked her if there were any open seats on the Upper deck, and she offered me 81K. A window seat. I took it!
Soon they announced that we could board directly from the lounge.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.54.41 PM
There was a little bit of a line at the door to the aircraft.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.54.54 PM

I received a warm greeting from the head FA
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.55.03 PM

The stairs are after the first section of Business class seats photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.55.10 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.55.19 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.55.26 PM

Once upstairs I settled into my very comfortable seat. The bins on the side were even big enough to fit my backpack.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 1.01.09 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.55.35 PM

It turns out row 81 is a bulkhead, but I was fine with that. Leg room was perfect. photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.55.43 PM

A few moments later, a nice FA offered me Water or champagne. I had to go for the latter
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.56.24 PM

Our Austrian neighbor pushed back and revealed a Virgin America A320 with patriotic Sharklets and an Alaska 737
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.55.53 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.56.32 PM

I had to contort myself to catch the Turkish A330-300 arriving from IST
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.56.39 PM

While fiddling around with my seat I discovered a dirty tray table, an opened water bottle, and a used amenity kit.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.56.09 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.56.17 PM
Not at all what I was expecting from Lufthansa.

They announced the doors were closed, and I had no neighbor. Awesome! I then reached over and took 81H's unopened kit and water bottle .
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.56.02 PM

Soon we pushed back and were ready to take off
I spotted the BA A380 waiting behind us with a huge Antonov something. Not sure what it was exactly.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.56.47 PM

About 15 minutes after takeoff,warm towels were distributed along with menus. The towels were of terrible quality.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.57.02 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.57.14 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.49.12 PM

For my aperitif, I chose a beer. It was presented nicely with the bottle and a glass. The cashews were ok, but nothing special for Business class. LH could do way better here.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.49.27 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.57.21 PM

I chose the scallops for my starter. They were flavorful and fresh.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.57.28 PM
They were served with a salad and vinaigrette, and presented with plastic salt and pepper shakers, a flimsy plastic tray, and a paper napkin holder. Once again LH could have done better with the details. I think AF's new meal service looks much nicer.
The selection of bread was solid. I went for a pretzel roll and a tomato focaccia type bread
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.57.41 PM

The FA then offered to refill my drink. I asked for water as well. It would have been nice if she had offered water on the side without asking, but she didn't.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.57.53 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.58.22 PM

Somewhere over Canada the main dish was served. I chose the steak. It good, but served with alongside a mediocre presentation. The mash was just kind of thrown onto the dish.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.58.42 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.58.54 PM

I passed up on the ice cream and made my bed. I had a little tour of the cabin before going to slepptI put the seat in full flat mode, and slightly raised the back. It was perfect.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.59.04 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.59.46 PM

There was some blue moonlighting on, but it wasn't very bright. photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.59.52 PM
I got back to my seat to find chocolates and water. They were delicious.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.59.19 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.59.26 PM

I slept perfectly for 5 hours. The seat / bed was very comfortable. I couldn't have asked for a better sleep on a plane.
I found that being at the bulk head was fine. I experienced no interruptions or light pollution from the bathroom.

I woke up just in time for breakfast. There were no choices. Just cold cuts and a nasty pink yogurt. Once again, the presentation was lacking. The butter, salt and pepper were to the standards of economy class
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 1.00.15 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 1.00.36 PM

I made my way the bathroom where I found some nice amenities photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 1.00.23 PM

The 747-8I is a really great aircraft. The cabin is quite similar to that of the dreamliner, just with manual window shades.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 1.00.51 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 1.01.18 PMphoto Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 12.49.04 PM

I used the aisle TV as a moving map all night, and I watched a movie on the window screen. The IFE had a good selection, but the quality of the map was ok. Slightly blurry.

We were approaching Frankfurt fast.
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We landed a few minutes early with clear skies. It was my first time transmitting through Frankfurt.
Deplaning was quick, even being the furthest row upstairs.

Bye row 81! You were great
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 1.00.59 PM

While walking through the business cabin downstairs, its easy to see that the middle seats (D and G) have huge center consoles and much larger footwells to those up stairs. On a nightlight like this, I would probably choose to sit down there for the extra space. Luckily for me I didn't have a seat mate so it was just fine up stairs.
photo Screen Shot 2015-08-17 at 1.02.18 PM

A last view of the 747-8 from IAD
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My next flight to Barcelona (A321 Y) left from gate A26. The transit and connecting flight will be reported soon.
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Verdict

Lufthansa

7.1/10
Cabin8.5
Cabin crew7.5
Entertainment/wifi6.0
Meal/catering6.5

Lufthansa Business Lounge

7.1/10
Comfort7.0
Meal/catering7.0
Entertainment/wifi7.5
Services7.0

Washington - IAD

7.6/10
Efficiency8.0
Access8.0
Services7.0
Cleanliness7.5

Frankfurt - FRA

7.4/10
Efficiency8.5
Access7.0
Services7.0
Cleanliness7.0

Conclusion

This transatlantic flight exceeded my expectations, primarily because I was upgraded. The 747-8I is an extraordinary plane. Its quiet, modern, and very spacious. I loved it and would fly again. Lufthansa provided a good business class experience, but it doesn't compete with Qatar, Etihad, or the 5 star Asian Carriers. The seat converts into a perfect bed with a nice pillow and ok blanket. After seeing the catering first hand, and seeing seats without direct aisle access or much privacy, I see tons of room for improvement for Lufthansa. In comparison to the new AirFrance Business, it doesn't really stack up. We'll see how LH adapts to the new competition out there. Would I pay full price for this seat and service? Depends on the length of the flight. For a transatlantic hop, Ill stick with Premium economy or economy.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the report.

Comments are appreciated :)

-Alex

Information on the route Washington (IAD) Frankfurt (FRA)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 13 avis concernant 2 compagnies sur la ligne Washington (IAD) → Frankfurt (FRA).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Lufthansa avec 7.3/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 7 heures et 50 minutes.

  More information

7 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 144076 by
    BombieFlyer 93 Comments
    Hi A1imbot!

    Thanks for this flight report. Very nice pictures of the cabin and of IAD.

    I just have to say that the contrast between what LH aspires to be (in terms of business class offering) vs the reality is just staggering! I mean.. they served you nice steak then they just dumped mash potato over it like what you expect from the cafetaria lady back in high school lol

    Anyway, you were lucky to be upgraded! Do you have some status with Star Alliance or with LH? were you originally booked in Premium Economy?

    I look forward for your next flight report :)
  • Comment 144077 by
    lsmick3 35 Comments
    Thanks for your thorough report--really enjoyed reading!
  • Comment 144084 by
    Caribel 113 Comments
    Hope you had a blast in Cataluna. Hopefully, while sipping one of the many local gin libations.

    Lufthansa's attempt at humour by calling a burger sized piece of beef, steak is almost pants pissing stuff. Stuff it inside the pretzel roll, toss the puree to an undesirable neighbor and voila, fine dining.

    Appreciated your gift for narrative in prose.
  • Comment 144085 by
    hhamon 290 Comments
    Thank you very much for your report! You were lucky to get bumped to Business class. I hope you had great time with your family in Barcelona.
  • Comment 144109 by
    KL651 TEAM 4534 Comments
    Thanks for this FR.
    Even if the upgrade is a nice gesture, and makes passengers indulgent, LH's J class service is really average, as you say many details show that the management is more interested in cutting cost than offering a true premium experience.

  • Comment 144124 by
    KévinDC TEAM SILVER 6658 Comments
    Thanks for sharing this very detailed report from my home airport! It is kind of a mess on the Dulles Access road with all the construction going on. I feel like that Metro station is never going to open since they keep pushing it back all the time. What a nice surprise to get an upgrade from W...and on the upper deck no less! Way to start a vacation!

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