Overview
Airline & Class: Lufthansa Business Class (LH) Aircraft: Boeing 747-400
Flight #: LH419
Route: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Date: November 13, 2024
Duration: 7 hours and 35 minutes
Cabin and Layout: Lufthansa Business Class, seat 14A
Miles Used: N/A
Total Paid: $1,697 for round-trip Premium Economy tickets + $530 for Business Class upgrade on IAD-FRA leg = $2,227
In November 2024, I embarked on an exciting journey from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Sofia Airport (SOF), with a stopover at Frankfurt Airport (FRA). The topic of this post is my experience flying Lufthansa Business Class on flight LH419 from IAD to FRA. Join me as I share a comprehensive review of this flight.
Booking and Upgrade
My journey began with the purchase of round-trip Premium Economy tickets for $1,697 through the Capital One travel portal. Using my Venture X card, I was able to earn an impressive 5x miles on this purchase. However, I decided to elevate my travel experience by upgrading to Business Class for the IAD-FRA leg directly on Lufthansa’s website. This upgrade cost an additional $530, which was an absolute steal considering that a Lufthansa Business Class ticket like this would have cost over $5,000 if purchased outright.
Seat and Comfort
As I settled into my Business Class seat 14A on the Boeing 747-400, I found it to be moderately comfortable, albeit not exceptionally spacious. However, I became extremely happy when I discovered that the seat next to me was empty, effectively doubling my personal space. I don’t mind sitting next to people. I do hate disturbing people to go to the bathroom. I did a 15-hour flight from HKG to IAD holding my bladder for 9 hours because my seatmate was sleeping. That’s when I decided to start flying business (and start therapy for social anxiety).
Anyway, on this particular flight, I really needed to get some sleep. So this stroke of luck made the upgrade to Lufthansa Business Class absolutely worthwhile and transformed my flight into a truly comfortable experience.
One minor disappointment was the absence of a mattress pad on the seat, which slightly diminished the overall comfort level. However, I made the most of the situation by using the pillow and blanket from the empty seat beside me. This extra bedding proved to be a lifesaver, as it would have been much colder and less comfortable without it. I couldn’t help but feel grateful for securing a seat without a neighbor, as it greatly enhanced my overall experience.
Service and Amenities
From the moment I stepped onto the plane, I was greeted with exceptionally friendly service that surpassed my experiences on other European airlines. As a warm welcome, I was offered a Lufthansa exclusive cocktail, which was quite good, although it didn’t quite reach the heights of the exclusive cocktails I’ve enjoyed on Cathay Pacific.
The stewardess assigned to my section was incredibly friendly. She tried teaching me a few words in German. She had no way of knowing that linguistics is my passion! She was also incredibly attentive and accommodating to requests. I mentioned I how great she was in the feedback survey Lufthansa sent to me afterwords.
The amenity kit provided was a bit underwhelming, containing the standard fare of earplugs, socks, two types of L’Occitane face cream, an eye mask, toothpaste, and a toothbrush. While functional, the design of the kit left something to be desired and didn’t particularly stand out.
Dining
Dinner
The dinner service on Lufthansa Business Class had notable highs and lows. On one hand, the quality of the food was exceptional, with each dish showcasing the airline’s commitment to culinary excellence. On the other hand, the pace of service was excruciatingly slow, spanning a full three hours. This lengthy dinner service unfortunately cut into my precious sleep time, which was a bit of a letdown on an international Business Class flight.
The meal began on a high note with a warm towel and a delightful mimosa expertly prepared by the attentive stewardess. The appetizer was a true standout, featuring succulent Wagyu beef, a fresh salad adorned with a delightful vinaigrette dressing, and a warm pretzel roll that was simply delicious.
For the main course, I opted for the Chinese chicken with egg fried rice, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations. The chicken was tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, surpassing my previous experience with British Airways Business Class. The rice was cooked to perfection, making for a satisfying and memorable main dish.
Dessert arrived in the form of an apple crumble accompanied by fresh berries. While it was certainly tasty, it wouldn’t have been my first choice if given the option. I had hoped to take the menu with me to capture some pictures of it in better lighting, but to my disappointment, it was removed while I was in the bathroom.
Breakfast
Sadly, the breakfast service left much to be desired. It consisted of tomatoes and cucumbers drowning in yogurt, a mediocre croissant, and a bowl of cold cuts that failed to impress. I understand that shorter international flights may not offer a choice of breakfast options, but I couldn’t help but wish for a higher quality meal to start my day.
Cleanliness and In-Flight Entertainment
One aspect of the flight that fell short of my expectations was the overall cleanliness. The remote holder, headphone holder, and even the bathrooms were not up to the standard I would expect, even in Economy Class. It was a bit disappointing to encounter this lack of attention to detail. However, credit must be given to the flight attendants, who were swift in cleaning up any trash or wrappers throughout the flight.
The in-flight entertainment system featured an unremarkable TV screen, but the movie selection was adequate enough to keep me entertained. The headphones provided were comfortable and functional, although they too could have been a bit cleaner.
Lounge Access
IAD
Prior to my departure from IAD, I had the ability of accessing both the Lufthansa Business Class lounge and the Turkish Airlines lounge through my Priority Pass membership. While both lounges offered a comfortable space to relax before the flight, the Turkish Airlines lounge stood out with its significantly better food options.
Frankfurt
Upon arriving in Frankfurt, I eagerly sought out the welcome lounge and the Priority Pass lounges. However, despite my best efforts and even asking for directions from airport staff, I found myself unable to locate them. This was a bit of a letdown and left me feeling slightly frustrated, although my own lack of directional skills played a role in this mishap. Even so, I think I’ll avoid flying through Frankfurt again for that very reason unless I secure Lufthansa business class lounge access by having a connecting Lufthansa business class flight.
Conclusion
Looking back on my experience flying Lufthansa Business Class from IAD to FRA, I can confidently say that it was a positive one, despite a few minor drawbacks. The friendly service, excellent dinner, and the extra space afforded by the empty adjacent seat made the upgrade a worthwhile investment.
However, there is certainly room for improvement in certain areas. The pace of the dinner service could be optimized to allow for more rest time, the breakfast options could be elevated to match the quality of the other meals, and the overall cleanliness of the aircraft could be enhanced.
All things considered, I would not hesitate to upgrade to Lufthansa Business Class again in the future. The benefits of a more comfortable and enjoyable flight experience far outweighed the minor inconveniences encountered along the way. With a few tweaks and improvements, Lufthansa has the potential to offer an even more exceptional business-class experience to its passengers.
