What’s the difference between dining in Lufthansa First Class and Lufthansa Business Class? The plate.
On Lufthansa, My First Class Dinner Was The Same As My Business Class Dinner
Let me let you in on a little secret. On flights out of the USA (and other outstations), the meals in Lufthansa Business Class and Lufthansa First Class are identical. Yes, first class still has caviar, but the appetizers are the same as in business class…and so are the main courses.
Furthermore, Lufthansa also has not really updated its menus in many, many years. On Lufthansa, menus change every two months, but they cycle back such that you can expect the same food in premium cabins as the same calendar date the year before.
Don’t believe me? This was my dinner in Lufthansa First Class from San Francisco to Frankfurt in December 2021:
Honey Ancho Beef Jicama Roll with Corn Pepper Salad and Gazpacho Vinaigrette
Beef Short Rib with Gremolata, Braised Red Cabbage, Grilled Baby Carrot and Rutabaga Whipped Potatoes
And this was my Lufthansa Business Class dinner from San Francisco to Munich one year later in 2022:
Yes, the meals were identical.
(and to be honest, the beef short rib was much better a year later in business class)
This is not a complaint nearly as much as an observation. I understand that catering a unique menu for first class costs extra and may not be as efficient. The advantage of having identical menus in first and business class is ensuring that every first class passenger receives her first choice, even if everyone in the cabin orders the same appetizers and same main course.
I will say that the cheese selection is always superior in first class, there is usually an extra dessert choice, and breakfast prior to arrival is always a treat. Furthermore, first class passengers can have as many appetizers as they want.
> Read More: One Flight. Four Cabins. Four Meals.
But when it comes to the appetizers and main courses, the difference between first and business class on many flights really is the plate…
It’s fine to serve recycled meals as long as F gets served all German Institute for Bread (of course there is such a thing), 3,200 officially recognized types of bread in the country.
LH first catering is not a strong suit.
BA does a much better job on that front for example among the Transatlantic choices.
LH seems to less strong suits than not
seems to have*
Fewer, not less.
Interesting, thanks, was not aware of fewer/less controversy lol
Generally, fewer is used when the number of things is counted (“fewer problems”) whereas less is used when the number is measured (“less trouble” or “less time”). However, this is not a strict rule and there are accepted instances of less being used with countable amounts such as “250 words or less,” “3 items or less,” and especially with money (“less than $20”) and distance (“less than 3 miles”).
When my wife and I flew ORD-FRA in the upper deck of the 747-8i for the first time, we shared a conversation with a fellow passenger who confirmed the meals were similar. We asked him if he thought first class was worth it (compared to biz) and his opinion was only if you could take advantage of the FC terminal.
This is why airlines struggle to sell F
They made J, F light. F needs to be meaningfully better than J in order for airlines to actually sell J
Y should be standard Y
O should be an upgraded domestic F
J should be flat beds, but overall similar service to O (maybe meals in courses instead of most on one tray as in O or domestic F)
F should be over the top luxury
Emirates and ANA do the same as well on select routes (though in ANA’s case, it’s usually limited to of the snack items and pre-arrival meals).
WHY DO PEOPLE FLY ON A PLANE JUST FOR THE F-ING FOOD,GO TO A RESTAURANT BEFORE YOU FLY.I ONLY WANT TWO THINGS FROM A FLIGHT—COMFORTABLE SEATING AND TO GET ME THERE IN ONE PIECE
Here on Live And Let’s Fly we say live and let peace. I fly for the food. Peace.
Because of the f’in price:
As with other tickets, the price of business class varies with dozens of factors, but in general you can expect the typical price of an international business class ticket to range from $3,000 to $5,000+.
A meal at a nice restaurant and a comfortable classy hotel (for a couple of nights) won’t cost you $5,000!
I know but that isn’t the point.
I agree. Have a nice meal at a restaurant without worrying about spilling your wine during air turbulence. Or getting nauseated and airsick for that matter.
When you’re taking a 11 hour flight, I would like to know what kind of food is on my flight. If it’s something I am unable to eat. (Have allergies with some seasonings & foods) Then I will purchase something at the airport and bring it with me so I do not starve on the flight. For the price you pay for first class, I would expect something decent. I checked the menu card and it wasn’t available for first class on my flight.
Not surprising, another reason to ensure I don’t get unduly tempted by LH first class award availability when other airlines have seats available in business.
Flying through FRA or MUC I’d say the ground product still makes it worthwhile.
Good point, forgot about that
I did enjoy my single visit to the FRA first class lounge a few years ago, but having to connect to LH intra -Europe business would all but ensure that the trip won’t end on a positive note. I suppose it could be worth it for a journey originating from Europe, ideally with a long connection so that one can fully enjoy the FCT.
Curious what those around these parts would think about a direct EUR-USA routing in UA C vs EUR-MUC-USA routing in LH euro biz/F
I agree, though from my experience it’s usually the exact same menu in Business except that First has an additional choice or two as the main. Maybe that’s changed in the past few months but it used to. Just booked it again June and can report back,
Lufthansa publishes it’s longhaul menus for each quarter (right now they are showing menus from April to June), so you should be able to check out the menu on your route from now.
https://www.lufthansa.com/am/en/menu-card
I know you are a foodie, but airplanes are for flying and restaurants are for dining. Why expect more? Flying and food don’t go together for me.
Pax paying J/F fares/$$$$–literally supporting the stability of the industry–shouldn’t have to pack multiple meals in their carry on for a long haul or transcon..
I actually got medium steak on LH F a couple of weeks ago. First time I’ve seen it not well-done. And the meals aren’t identical, you get all the appetizers plus caviar plus salad plus a basically unlimited cheese plate in F. Silly comparison.
Are you complaining? What a waste of time to write this whole article. There are important things in the world like some people do not have food. Why don’t you write about this?
This blog is a break from the real world.
And no, I was not complaining here (though I love to complain).