Lufthansa Business Class in the Airbus A320-200 to Munich

A flight in Lufthansa Business Class sounds like comfort, first-class service, and a touch of luxury. But how good is the product really on short-haul flights in the Airbus A320? We tested the new Europa cabin on our flight from Oslo to Munich and discovered both its strengths and weaknesses. In this review, you'll find out whether an upgrade is worth it and what you can actually expect on board.

A loud buzzing jolted us awake. A brief moment of disorientation! Right, we were still at the hotel at Oslo Airport. As parents of a one-year-old boy, we're used to waking up before 5 a.m., but it still takes some convincing to get us out of bed. The anticipation of our upcoming Lufthansa Business Class flight to Munich on the Airbus A320 finally did the trick. After a quick breakfast, we sleepily made the short walk to the adjacent terminal building. Check-in was quick and easy. It was just a shame that the SAS employee printed all our flights on one ticket. Good for the environment – bad for our collection! Thanks to Fast Track, we got through security quickly and were already enjoying our second breakfast in the SAS Gold Lounge.

Boarding flight LH 2457 to Munich

Due to major renovations at Oslo Airport, we left the SAS Gold Lounge a little earlier than planned and headed to Gate E10. Although the Airbus A320-200, christened "Eisenach" and registered D-AIZE, had spent the night in Oslo, boarding was delayed by 10 minutes. Priority boarding was honored, so we were among the first passengers in Business Class. Boarding for the remaining passengers was swift, allowing us to back away from the gate five minutes before the scheduled departure time. As the aircraft had been parked overnight at Oslo Airport, we had to be de-iced before takeoff. This process was very quick, and the pilot took off on time from runway 1L, bound for Munich.

What is the cabin and seat like in Lufthansa Business Class on the Airbus A320-200?

The cabin of Lufthansa's Airbus A320-200 is configured in a classic 3-3 layout. However, in intra-European Business Class, the middle seat remains empty, so only two passengers sit on each side. This provides a bit more privacy and freedom of movement. On our flight to Munich, Business Class was only sparsely occupied – besides my wife and me, there were only two other passengers.

Apart from the empty middle seat, the seat is no different from one in economy class. Thanks to the slim backrests and the raised magazine rack, it offered decent legroom, but the minimal padding was quite noticeable. This is acceptable for a short flight, but on longer journeys it feels uncomfortable and detracts from the "business class" experience.

What food and drinks are available in Lufthansa Business Class on the Airbus A320-200?

Shortly after takeoff, the crew offered us a hot towel. This small but thoughtful touch made for a pleasant start to the flight. A little later, as the sun rose on the horizon, breakfast was served. The tray contained a selection of cheeses, a slice of flavorful ham, a small jar of strawberry jam, and a creamy quark dessert. The crew also brought a bread basket with a good selection of rolls and pastries. I opted for a fresh croissant.

Breakfast on a plane is always a bit of a gamble for me, especially when egg dishes are involved, which are often of questionable quality. So I was all the more pleased that Lufthansa served a lighter, but solid, option on this flight. It wasn't a culinary highlight, but it was certainly fresh and appropriate for the short distance.

The service itself was prompt and very attentive. Drinks were regularly refilled, and both my wife and I were always addressed personally by name. A small but important difference that reinforced the feeling of traveling in business class. In short: textbook service!

What is the in-flight entertainment like in Lufthansa Business Class on the Airbus A320-200?

Previously, Lufthansa's Business Class service on short-haul flights began with a classic selection of newspapers and magazines. This service is now a thing of the past. Today, Lufthansa only offers eJournals for download. The flight attendant pointed this out to us before takeoff, almost apologetically. She also provided each passenger with a small bar of Ritter Sport chocolate.

While the digital portal with over 250 international newspapers and magazines certainly offers added value for economy class passengers, business class passengers feel something is missing. Printed copies would make a real difference here and live up to the premium expectations. Furthermore, there was neither Wi-Fi nor any other in-flight entertainment system on our flight. Anyone wanting entertainment had to rely on their smartphone or tablet, or simply look out the window.

Arrival in Munich

We received word from the cockpit about the bad weather for landing in Munich. As predicted, the airport was shrouded in a low blanket of clouds, and the outside temperature was -13°C. It was considerably warmer in Oslo at -3°C. However, there was more snow in Germany than in Norway.

The Airbus A320-200 docked at the new satellite terminal. Since our connecting flight to Toronto also departed from there, we moved to the non-Schengen area and spent the waiting time in the Lufthansa Senator Lounge.

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