What's keeping Lufthansa from becoming a 5-Star Airline?

[hon2]

A very good evening ladies and gentlemen! My name is s7r0ng3r, I'm a long time lurker and first time poster here, and I shall be your host this evening!

Now personally, I've never flown Lufthansa. But judging from many trip reports, especially First Class trip reports (a big round of applause to Lord and Lady Nickbot and Sir VC10 Boy) , they do have the makings of a 5-Star airline.

Lufthansa's lounges and First Class Terminal rank highly in terms of stylishness and exclusivity. Their staff are (from my father's experience) amazingly gracious and efficient. And who can forget their amazing meal service? Hot meals even on short haul flights. A big round of applause everyone!

As of right now ladies and gentlemen, I have only listed down Lufthansa's good points. Would anyone care to inform me of Lufthansa's flaws or blunders, which keep it from joining the league of 5-Star airlines? Is it the cabin products? Or the old planes? Or the crane logo on the wineglass not facing you?

Ladies and gentlemen, I can only offer you my humble gratitude for the attention you have given me this evening. A big thank you to you all, and good night!

Dude are you talking about the same Lufthansa I know. As far as I am concerned you hardly ever get warm food in C, which is pathetic. Just an example: On the route VIE-FRA you get some random smallish cold thing, which always looks different but tastes the same, whereas on OS you actually get warm food. Moreover the service is, except for F, cold. Flying longhaul C on LH, you should be thankful, if there are some people taking care of you instead of those typical cabin attendants, who simply want to get the service over with. Of course there are always exceptions, but generally the service is not really what you'd expect to be 5-star like.

[KeithMEL]

Flying longhaul C on LH, you should be thankful, if there are some people taking care of you instead of those typical cabin attendants, who simply want to get the service over with. Of course there are always exceptions, but generally the service is not really what you'd expect to be 5-star like.

I must have been exceptionally lucky on my only flight with them in long haul C then, as I felt that the service was on par with the likes of SQ and QF. I've also found the service to be pretty good on short haul C btw, though I've not come across hot meals yet (they were short sub 2 hour flights).

[viraj735]

I have a ghastly summer program coming up.
SIN-FRA 747-400 LH
FRA-ORD 777-200 UA
ORD-NRT 747-400 UA
NRT-SIN 777-200 UA
I'm scared. After all of this LH would probably be a 5* airline in my books.

[s7r0ng3r]

wow, compared to UA, LH must be a 5-Star airline

Now what does that make SQ? 7-Star?

[sumitsan]

SIN-FRA 747-400 LH
FRA-ORD 777-200 UA
ORD-NRT 747-400 UA
NRT-SIN 777-200 UA

Is that LH779? You're probably better off taking sq26, codesharing with LH9763, which leaves almost around the same time. The cabins of all three classes are much better on the SQ aircraft. Hopefully that flight will be there for you this summer as well.

Even the QF aircraft to FRA, which leaves slightly before that, has better cabins than LH as well, but unfortunately, that is not part of star alliance.

Another thing, in my opinion anyways, that's keeping LH from becoming a five star airline is you only get half miles for aeroplan miles on a few routes like MAA whereas with other star alliance members I've always gotten the full miles regardless of the route.

[MAN Flyer]

Is that LH779? You're probably better off taking sq26, codesharing with LH9763, which leaves almost around the same time. The cabins of all three classes are much better on the SQ aircraft. Hopefully that flight will be there for you this summer as well.

Even the QF aircraft to FRA, which leaves slightly before that, has better cabins than LH as well, but unfortunately, that is not part of star alliance.

As a matter of interest, how many times have you flown SQ, LH and QF in all three cabins on this route ?.

Another thing, in my opinion anyways, that's keeping LH from becoming a five star airline is you only get half miles for aeroplan miles on a few routes like MAA whereas with other star alliance members I've always gotten the full miles regardless of the route.

So if the don't give enough miles they can't be a five star airline ?.

You couldn't make this up.

[sumitsan]

So if the don't give enough miles they can't be a five star airline ?.

You couldn't make this up.

Just an opinion.

About the times I've been on the different cabins: SQ has been several times, although I don't know if most count. A lot of them were me being moved to front cabin for the last 1-2 hrs because of the whole UM experience. And times they'd take me upstairs to the Raffles class as well just as a treat. Also, back then for flights from SZB-SIN, even for economy class, we'd be given business class seats almost all the time since they only had 2 classes. With QF, once on first class, once on business class, both on SYD-PER, and the rest of them Y. LH was just once for business class, but that was one of those random upgrades at the gate.

[KeithMEL]

With QF, once on first class, once on business class, both on SYD-PER, and the rest of them Y.

That has to be a long time ago because QF has not had FCL domestically for a while now...

[MAN Flyer]

Just an opinion.

SQ has been several times, although I don't know if most count. A lot of them were me being moved to front cabin for the last 1-2 hrs because of the whole UM experience. And times they'd take me upstairs to the Raffles class as well just as a treat. Also, back then for flights from SZB-SIN, even for economy class, we'd be given business class seats almost all the time since they only had 2 classes. With QF, once on first class, once on business class, both on SYD-PER, and the rest of them Y. LH was just once for business class, but that was one of those random upgrades at the gate.

I see. You've simply had a tour of the Raffles Class Upper Deck once 'as a treat' and been moved to the front prior to the landing due to being a UM.

In other words, you have virtually zero experience in flying long haul in those cabins for which you were handing out advice.

[indo79]

I have a ghastly summer program coming up.
SIN-FRA 747-400 LH
FRA-ORD 777-200 UA
ORD-NRT 747-400 UA
NRT-SIN 777-200 UA
I'm scared. After all of this LH would probably be a 5* airline in my books.

Your NRT-SIN on UA will be a decently good flight, staffed with NRT based FAs. The rest of the UA flights...hmm

As for LH, I flew their 747 F once and my dad has flown their 747 C numerous time. F on the 747 should absolutely be refurbished. That is what is preventing them from becoming a true 5 star airline. 2-2 configuration is not acceptable for Intl F, especially not if you want to be a 5 star airline.

Switch F on the 747 to the nose, install suites and then you can start talking. Their meal service also falls behind SQ F in my opinion

[s7r0ng3r]

I see what you mean indo79

[SQalMundo]

Lufthansa is not a 5 star airline because of this (Scroll down and read as many as possible): http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/lufth.htm
These real passenger reviews reflect Lufthansa's true colours, whether good or bad.