Lufthansa First Class Boeing 747-400 to Vancouver

As a summary of my first First Class flight with Emirates from Bangkok to Hong Kong, I wrote that I really wanted to try out the First Class experience on a longer route. Now the time had finally come! You can find out what an experience Lufthansa First Class in the Boeing 747-400 is in the following trip report.

How much does a Lufthansa First Class flight cost?

At the end of August, the plan to begin our trip in a truly special way – in Lufthansa First Class – took shape! Our wedding in May provided the perfect occasion for this luxurious experience. Thanks to the miles I'd accumulated over the years in my Miles & More account, we were able to make this dream a reality. An online search revealed attractive award flights to Hong Kong and Vancouver, but after a brief deliberation, we opted for Canada. Booking through the Miles & More Service Center was seamless: After just ten minutes and the use of 230,000 miles, plus approximately €1,000 in taxes and fees, we held the coveted tickets for Lufthansa First Class on the Boeing 747-400 in our hands.

How much did we save? A regular Lufthansa First Class ticket would have cost almost €14,000 during our travel period – a hefty sum! The return flight from Los Angeles was somewhat less glamorous: since we lacked the miles for another First Class award and there were no more award seats available in Business Class, we flew back in Economy Class. Nevertheless, the outbound flight remains a highlight, worth every penny and every mile.

Check-in at Leipzig Airport

Our travel day began early – the alarm clock rang at 4:00 a.m. With the car packed, we set off at 4:45 a.m. Despite the dense fog, which gave the roads a mystical feel, the drive from Halle (Saale) to Leipzig Airport was pleasant. After a few minutes, we reached our reserved parking space, which was a five-minute walk from the terminal. The shuttle bus was already waiting, and we were off quickly.

Arriving at Leipzig Airport, we were looking forward to the exclusive First Class service. However, our anticipation was dampened: at the Lufthansa First Class check-in, we surprisingly had to wait longer than the Economy passengers – a somewhat bumpy start to our premium travel experience. Nevertheless, our excitement for what awaited us – the comfort and exclusivity of Lufthansa First Class – outweighed the initial disappointment!

Lufthansa Business Class flight to Frankfurt

After security, we quickly grabbed a coffee in the empty lounge. There's not much to report about Leipzig itself. But we're not complaining, at least the airport has one!

The Boeing 737-500 (registration D-ABIL "Memmingen", first flight February 19, 1991) for our flight LH157 was fully booked. Shortly after takeoff, a small cold breakfast of rolls and cold cuts was served. Nothing special, but we planned to eat in the lounge in Frankfurt anyway.

The approach to Frankfurt and the taxiing to the apron took almost as long as the actual 25-minute flight. Upon disembarking, we were greeted by a young man holding a First Class sign and escorted to a waiting Mercedes-Benz Vito. It was very comfortably equipped with individual leather seats in the rear and other extras. It also appeared to be the latest Mercedes model.

We were driven to Terminal 1B and the driver explained the short route to the First Class Lounge, located opposite Gate B22. Just 10 minutes after leaving the aircraft, we were in the very nice, spacious lounge. A detailed report about the You can find Lufthansa First Class Lounge B in our lounge reviews..

Since we wanted to stretch our legs a bit before our long-haul flight, and of course to enjoy the flight experience as much as possible, we set off for the Lufthansa First Class Terminal around 9:45 a.m. This meant we had to briefly "enter" Germany again and then make our way through the hidden corridors of Frankfurt Airport down to arrival gate A1. From there, it's just a short walk past the taxis to the terminal. A detailed report about the Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt is featured in the lounge reviews..

Exclusive chauffeur service to the aircraft in the Lufthansa First Class Terminal

After a wonderful time in the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, where we fully enjoyed the excellent service and luxurious atmosphere, we were picked up by our personal assistant shortly before 1 p.m. Together we went down one floor to collect our passports from the Federal Police. These had already been sent there upon our arrival at the terminal, so we didn't have any additional waiting time.

After a friendly farewell and a few helpful travel tips for Vancouver, we boarded our vehicle, which took us directly to the aircraft. Since we were sharing the transfer with three other guests, we were chauffeured in a comfortable Mercedes Vito – although we secretly wished we could have driven to the plane in a Porsche. Driving across the tarmac, past countless aircraft, we finally reached Gate C15, where our flight LH493 was being handled.

The car was parked directly under the gangway, and the elevator took us comfortably to the waiting area, which was already completely empty. All passengers were already on board, so only the five of us First Class guests were waiting for us. This exclusive service perfectly complements the luxurious stay in the Lufthansa First Class Terminal and makes traveling in First Class a truly special experience.

What is the cabin and seat like in Lufthansa First Class on the Boeing 747-400?

The Boeing 747-400 "Düsseldorf" (D-ABVH), whose maiden flight took place on March 14, 1991, offered us an impressive experience in Lufthansa First Class. After boarding, we went directly up the stairs to the upper deck of the aircraft – one of the most exclusive areas of the "Queen of the Skies." Our personal chauffeur even accompanied us to our seats and bid us farewell there.

The Lufthansa First Class cabin on the Boeing 747-400, with only eight seats, is designed to be exceptionally exclusive. Each passenger benefited from an innovative concept: next to the seat was a fully equipped bed. This bed wasn't just a simple sleeping surface, but a proper sleeping arrangement with a thick mattress, soft pillows, and a high-quality duvet, all perfectly prepared upon arrival. Switching between working, eating, and sleeping was therefore seamless and effortless.

The beds were located by the windows, of which each passenger had four – ideal for enjoying the magnificent view during the flight. The seat itself impressed with its high level of comfort and functionality. The brown reclining seats, installed on the upper deck of the 747-400, replaced the older blue seats and offered a significantly improved travel experience.

The Lufthansa First Class cabin on the Boeing 747-400 was equipped with numerous well-designed storage options. Overhead compartments provided space for personal items, while a spacious storage compartment under the bed offered additional room. Measuring over 50 cm wide and 40 cm deep, it was large enough to securely stow hand luggage or other belongings. These practical solutions ensured a tidy environment and allowed for a relaxed and trouble-free journey.

The only downside was the outdated in-flight entertainment system with its 4:3 screen and lack of HD resolution. However, the high-quality Bose active noise-canceling headphones partially compensated for this. Nevertheless, it wasn't possible to listen to music and watch the airshow simultaneously, which somewhat limited the entertainment options.

What food and drinks are available in Lufthansa First Class on the Boeing 747-400?

The service in Lufthansa First Class impressed us from the very beginning. Upon boarding, we were warmly greeted with a glass of Pommery Brut Apanage Prestige champagne, a glass of water, and a bowl of macadamia nuts. A particularly lovely touch: the crew congratulated us on our wedding, treating us to this moment with genuine warmth and personal attention.

Despite a 45-minute delay – caused by minor technical issues – the time was put to good use. A flight attendant surprised us with a Polaroid camera, captured the moment, and presented us with the photos in a nice display case as souvenirs. After takeoff, the purser personally greeted us, handed out the menus, and gave us valuable tips for our destination, Vancouver.

The culinary journey began shortly after flying over the North Sea coast with a complimentary amuse-bouche: trout canapés with passion fruit and mango, an exquisite combination that we particularly enjoyed in the air. The service continued with the stylish setting of the table, accompanied by warm bread, olive oil, and butter imprinted with "First Class." The small pepper and salt mills were also a lovely touch. I'd love to have one of those at home.

One highlight was the caviar service, which was served with classic accompaniments such as lemon, onions, egg and a fine Beluga vodka.

The menu, put together by star chef Christian Eckhardt from Villa Rothschild in Königstein im Taunus, offered a variety of appetizers:

• King prawns „Creole style“ with crustacean chili vinaigrette
• Pink roasted veal loin with escabeche vegetables and iced radish
• Confit of Belgian chicory with ginger, lemongrass and honey-curry emulsion
• A colorful leaf salad with zucchini, carrots, dried tomato strips and chanterelles, with pumpkin seed or passion fruit dressing.

Christin only ordered the chicory. I had a dish of king prawns, chicory, and veal loin. The king prawns were my absolute favorite. I paired it with a German Riesling (Scharzhofberger GG, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, 2012 vintage).

For the main course, there was a choice between:

• Lamb loin with spicy bean cassoulet and Parisian potatoes,
• Turbot in bouillabaisse broth with saffron vegetables and risoni pasta,
• Guinea fowl in sauce riche with pea mousseline, baby carrots and king oyster mushrooms,
• Glazed pumpkin gnocchi in their own broth, flavored with the Indian spice blend "Vadouvan".

Christin ordered the gnocchi. I had chosen the guinea fowl. We paired it with a 2009 Barcolobo Crianza (Castilla y Leon, Finca la Rinconad, Spain). A fruity wine that went well with the guinea fowl. We both enjoyed our main courses. Christin was particularly enthusiastic about the pumpkin gnocchi.

For dessert, we opted for the dark chocolate cake with exotic fruit compote and mango-passion fruit sorbet, accompanied by a 2005 Bonnezeaux dessert wine from France. I don't usually like sweet wines, but the aromas of quince, honey, and exotic fruits were a perfect match for the dessert. The meal concluded with a perfect espresso from the Nespresso machine.

Dinner was served about 90 minutes before landing. After our chef, Christian Eckhardt, had already treated us to a creative lunch menu, he now invited us to enjoy the finest Asian specialties. From the passing trolley laden with appetizers, we could choose between sweet and sour pork with roasted sesame seeds, spring onions, and chili; various sushi with Japanese ginger and wasabi; Thai vegetable salad; marinated wakame seaweed; or mango-ginger chutney. I also ordered a hot main course of beef fillet strips in red Thai curry sauce with stir-fried vegetables and fragrant rice. Now I was definitely full.

Shortly before reaching Greenland, we changed into our Van Laak pajamas and settled into the bed next to our seats. It was already 5:30 p.m. German time, so a nap was just what we needed. I was able to relax completely on the mattress. It was comfortable and had just the right firmness. I was a little warm, though, partly because I was sitting on the sunny side of the plane. Perhaps the alcohol also played a part.

We lingered to enjoy the breathtaking view of Greenland's eternal snow and glaciers. We couldn't get enough of gazing out the window. Everything looked so pristine, as if no human had ever been there before. The visibility was so incredibly clear that you'd think you weren't even flying that high.

Just before landing, we quickly brushed our teeth and changed back into our street clothes. We were given a bottle of water for the drive to the hotel. In a brief conversation with the purser, we thanked him again for the excellent service. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our two flight attendants who took such wonderful care of us.

As a small souvenir for our first few days in the dreary hotel room, we decided to take the rose with us. This turned out to be a bad idea, as we hadn't declared it on the customs form. After a few red marks on our paperwork, however, everything worked out in the end. The first-class experience ultimately lost some valuable points, as we had to wait what felt like forever for our luggage. That could have gone better; after all, the HON Circle members present received their luggage first.

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