After spending five months in the US, and seeing more and international flights resuming, I decided to fly back to Dubai (my home). There were several options I could choose from for the trip from LA to Dubai; Emirates have resumed non-stop flights, whilst Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and British Airways are all offering connections via Europe.
I chose to fly with Lufthansa with 3 reasons.
- I could easily use miles to find award seats. The First Class redemption seats open up 7-14 days before departure and there are plenty of Business Class award seats available
- From my research, Lufthansa have maintained most of their pre-COVID level of in-flight services
- I can fly on a Boeing 747 again! (never take it for granted!)
The one way journey from LA to Dubai cost me 96,000 miles with Avianca Life Miles. This included First Class from LA to Frankfurt and Business Class from Frankfurt to Dubai.
Video of Lufthansa First Class
LAX Tom Bradley Int’l Terminal was eerily quiet on my day of departure.
All of the airline lounge services are currently closed, along with duty free shops and most food outlets. Overall the options available airside are very limited.
My ride to Frankfurt was operated by D-ABYD, an 8 year old B747-8i delivered in Aug 2012.
There were around 220 passengers on the flight; the Lufthansa B747-8 has a capacity of 364, so the load was reasonable and most passengers had space enough for social distancing. My seat was 2A, located right up in the nose.
Welcome drinks, macadamia nuts, pyjamas, slippers, menus and disinfection wipes were all presented before take-off.
I also had the opportunity to go to the cockpit, whilst we were on the ground, to meet up with the pilots. There were 2 Captains and 1 First Officer.
The upper deck of the Lufthansa B747-8 looks like a B737 on its own.
We took off on-time from runway 24L. Flight time to Frankfurt was 10 hours and 20 minutes and the flight cruised at 37,000 ft.
The feeling of getting airborne and listening to the front gear retraction was fantastic, I felt alive again!
We flew Over Palos Verdes, just above where my PPL pilot training practice airspace was!
Once we had reached our initial cruising altitude cabin service began, this was started off with champagne and prawn amuse bouché.
The flight attendant told me that they no longer “rolled” the trolley to serve in front of the passenger in First Class, instead they set it up in the galley and brought out dishes to the passengers individually.
The first course was caviar with a garnish and served together with a trio of starters (these could also be served separately if requested).
The sauces were covered with plastic container tops.
All passengers were required to wear a mask, except while eating and drinking.
We flew over Nevada, Las Vegas, Colorado and in a general Northeasterly direction towards Canada and the North Atlantic. There were some great views from my window at 37,000 ft.
I was also able to take a quick look at the food served in the other cabins. The Business Class starter and main course were served in the same tray as First. In fact, the main courses were identical to those in First Class apart from the presentation.
The below pictures are the meals from Premium Economy and Economy Class.
After food was finished the cabin turn down service began. Lufthansa have maintained pillows, duvets and mattress in First Class.
I did have to wear a mask to sleep which was difficult after some time.
My advice is not to wear a cloth one, but something a little easier to breathe in.
About 1.5 hours before landing, I woke up for breakfast. To my pleasant surprise, the Lufthansa crew were preparing freshly scrambled eggs in the galley.
Usually I am not an egg person but I finished the whole plate. Freshly prepared eggs are so much tastier, when compared to the frozen ones!
Shortly after we started a gradual descent towards Frankfurt, the airspace wasn’t busy and we landed 15 minutes ahead of schedule on runway 25L of Frankfurt.
To me, there was just so much pleasure watching the engines and the forward edge of the B747 wing. I felt alive again!
Is Air Travel Safe at The Moment?
I don’t have a specific answer to this question. The virus is invisible and any activity will have an associated risk. I’d say right now international travel should be maintained for essential travel and not for pleasure journeys. The mood onboard was defiantly more sombre. I am glad to see that Lufthansa have maintained most of their pre-pandemic standards, my B747 experience was outstanding as usual. The crew were fantastic, I really enjoyed the sense of humanity they projected throughout this difficult time. I would like to thank all of the wonderful crew that were on my flight.
Lufthansa currently has 19 B747-8s, 11 of them are in storage with 8 actively flying to LA, Chicago, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Bangkok.
The only First class lounge option is in terminal A.
If you cannot enter Schengen , you cannot access this lounge and are stuck with Senator lounge in B, which closes at 4.00pm.
Bad if you have a late flight
Funny- I flew the very same sector one day after you 08/16. Bev and foodservice was provided as usual (in terms of covid procedures – no Business Class Signature Service) but a regular tray service with a Menu ect. – am sure it’s not what you d expect for your buck- but ‘shocking’ seems like a wide stretch – even more if airlines have to comply to Country Regulations.
On arrival no one asked about my PRC test nor did I see any testing stations like in your vid- weird how things seemed to have changed within 24h – I got a call from LH informing me- that I would have to present a new Covid test not taken less than 96h before departure if I wana fly to Europe… took it at a testing facility at Emirates Healthcare clinic for 249dhs- got my email with the result within 14h.
As I have mentioned in my report, the hot food, blanket and pillow are now back. It was shocking when compared to my First Class flight with a full bed and premium service. It is only when you have experienced it for yourself in person that you see the contrast. It is hard to visualize all this.
Thank you Sam for the clarification.
Thank you Alex for the extended reply I think it makes a lot more sense and clear now. I’m hoping that it’s going to go well.
I appreciate both of you and will update once my trip is done.
@Alex and @Sam I got back from my trip recently and was extremely pleased with my Lufthansa first class service. It was a flight of a lifetime and pretty much everything I imagined. Yes with the nuisance of the much needed face coverings, the service by EVERY single crew member from the Pilot to the Flight attendants were sweet and courteous and took great care of us! The lounges were tricky but we still enjoyed and since we had a 27 hour journey to my the UK it was a bit tiring. In the end my wife was happy that she finally got to see her family after a long time! Thank you to both Alex and Sam for your inputs and important information. Hope to fly LH First class again sometime when all this is over.
@Alex and @Sam
What is the difference between the lounges and the airside vs landside? I’m sorry as mentioned this will be first time for my wife and I.
Is the Senator lounge supposed to be better than the First Class lounge?
Thanks in advance!
First Class lounge is better than Senator Lounge.
Shawn,
as I can see your routing is Chicago-Frankfurt-London. If that is correct, your choices in Frankfurt will be very limited in the current times since you are arriving from outside the EU/Schengen Area and you are continuing to a Non-Schengen Country.
Unless I am mistaken, in Frankfurt your only choice will be the Senator Lounge in Area B (Non-Schengen). Currently that is the only lounge in the Non-Schengen area that is open.
I don’t think that you will be permitted to exit the Non-Schengen area (through border control) as entering Germany from outside the EU/Schengen will result in a two week quarantine. Thus, the only open First Class Lounge (at Gate A13) will not be reachable. And as I mentioned earlier: the First Class Terminal, which is a separate building outside the main Terminal is currently closed.
Depending on the date of your travel this of course may change. The situation can be very dynamic as pointed out by Sam.
Another great video Sam. Well done.
I hope (dream) one day I maybe able to squeeze together enough pennies for a first class flight myself…it looks amazing.
All the best & keep safe.
Hi Sam,
“But I have heard from unverified source saying FCT in land side is open.”
I don’t want to be a *Know-it-All* but I can assure you that currently the FCT is closed. I was in Frankfurt last Sunday and had a long chat with a First Class Lounge Coordinator I have known for many years and she told me that traveller numbers entitled for the FCT have to show quite an upswing before it will be possible to cover the extra costs for the FCT.
What I do not understand is what you mean with “FCT in land side”. As you know, the FCT is a separate building which you enter land side and leave air side. Thus, opening the FCT land side does not make any sense as you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere.
Just saying.
Hi Alex. Thanks for your update.
On July 7th the First Class Lounge at B23 was open, but only packaged food and no shower.
On my visit on July 29th it was closed, but the Senator Lounge was open with good hot food and showers. This shows how the situation is constantly changing. Hope the FCT open soon.
A most interesting as well as well written review. Sam, most all of your reviews and articles come across as optimistic, with a bit of a “joie de vivre” in most all of them… even when you’re reporting something that is purely technical or even slightly gloomy…someway/somehow, you most always manage to find something positive, even humorous in whatever you’re writing about. This alone, coupled with your always smiling face really does set your website apart from many of the other similar, though still quite excellent sites that are available on the web. Quite simply Sam, thanks for doing what you do so well. You do make a difference.
Thank you. I do point out constructive criticism at times but because my passion and love in aviation, I always remain positive towards it.
Hi Sam,
I recently started a YouTube channel during my isolation and you were an inspiration. I love your videos, particularly the ones that feature the Boeing 747. The video of your flight from Hong Kong to Doha on a Boeing 747-8F has been my all time favorite. ☺️
Obviously this year isn’t the best time, but if I wanted to fly a Boeing 747 the future, which airline(s) cargo/passenger would be my best bet.
Probably Lufthansa, Korean or Air China B747-8!
Great reading and pictures Sam. Stay safe mate and see you airborne again soon I hope. Cheers from Oz
Sam, thank you for the report.
I am questioning whether your statement “the First Class Terminal at landside was open” is correct. The First Class Terminal has been closed for quite some time now and it is open when it will be reactivated again. Issue with the First Class Terminal: you absolutely need to have limousine transfer as otherwise it is not possible to get to your aircraft without passing through security in the main terminal – something you definitely want to avoid.
The only First Class Lounge open at Frankfurt is currently the lounge in the A Pier.
I just want to avoid raising wrong expectations.
Sorry I should say First Class Lounge at B concourse during my transit is closed. But I have heard from unverified source saying FCT in land side is open.
It was actually comforting to see you flying again. It made me forget for that short time why most of us aren’t flying. Lufthansa was never on my radar. I’d like to try them one day. Great video!
Hey Sam: Wonderful report. I have watch ALL of your videos and especially enjoy the ones involving the B747. It is my favorite passenger liner too. The B747 will always be the Queen of the Skies in my mind and heart. I hope I have an opportunity to fly on one soon. Take care and I am sure your family is glad to have you home. God BLess you, Sam. You’re the best.
Ok great that makes sense.
It’s our first time flying business or first class and my wife is a UK citizen. We are going to see her family and will have to quarantine for 2 weeks there. But over the pandemic we have gone through 2 failed IVF cycles and I thought this would help get her mind off some things.
Thanks again stay safe.
Thank you so much SAM! We have been waiting for someone to review LH first class during Covid-19 to see what the travel is like.
I just booked our trip but we are going from Chicago to Frankfurt and onwards to London. My question is do you know if we have a 6 hour layover in Frankfurt, will we be able to use the First class wing/lounge and will be get the personal car transfer to the plane?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Shawn
The situations is changing all the time. During my layover, there was no car transport and the First Class Lounge airside was closed; however, the First Class Terminal at landside was open.
Love the photos and video, Sam! I hope they allowed you to remove your mask during the meals! 😉 Safe travels home. I hope to fly on the LH 747 someday.
So,you and your fellow youtube vloggers can jet around the world for free but you advise against travel for pleasure for us working class tourist who want to enjoy a holiday with our hard earned cash despite the chinese virus?..you do have a nerve!!!
You obviously didn’t read my review and jumped into a biased conclusion. To set the record straight, I am not jetting for free. I paid for the ticket with my own miles + cash. This flight is going home for me after 5 months so it is essential.
An excellent travel report as always, Sam. I took an international flight with Lufthansa in late June and despite the pandemic stress I can say that I enjoyed flying after so many months. Hopefully, we will be able to travel soon enough without restrictions.
Take care and safe travels,
George
It’s great to see you back in the air where you belong Sam! Superb report and video!
John