Review: Lufthansa Boeing 747-8i Business Class, Chicago to Frankfurt

I’ve flown the Boeing 747-8i before, but this was my first time in the newest Lufthansa Business Class product. The seat isn’t all cutting edge, but it is a big improvement on their previous product. Despite the price premium, this was a much better experience than what United offers. Due to no availability, United wasn’t an option anyway.

Trip Planning

The first leg of our trip would route Chicago to Frankfurt to Copenhagen.  I was happy with the late departure (10:35pm), as I prefer that for an eastbound Trans-Atlantic flight, as I find it helps with sleep on the relatively short flight.  Plus, it was well past my daughter’s bedtime, so sleep was thankfully easy for her before and during the flight.

I hadn’t flown Lufthansa Business Class long haul in several years, so I was interested to try it again.  I was tempted to try for First Class, but I couldn’t justify the price increase for a relatively short flight.  Waiting at the seat were amenity kits, on this leg we were given a Samsonite kit I will review later.

Lufthansa Business Class seat (Photo via Jun Sieta on Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

This is my first time in these seats.  They were fine, especially when traveling with my wife, but there is no privacy if traveling alone.  In bed mode, I found them very comfortable.  The foot space is odd, with only a thin piece of plastic separating space between the two seats.

Lufthansa 747-8i Business Class bulkhead seat

Since we had a lap infant, we were assigned bulkhead seats, and as much as I wanted to sit upstairs, this was just easier.  Then again, it was a little painful to see the lovely First cabin in front of me all flight.

 A view of Lufthansa First Class.  Wish I was closer to the front!

Lufthansa Business Class dining

Given the late departure time, I mostly wanted to get some sleep, but I feel it is my duty to report on my blog, so I took one for the team and had a meal.  Here is the menu for the meal service:

A warm welcome

It is our pleasure to welcome you as our guest on board today.

Lean back and enjoy the service during your flight.  We are pleased to treat you to the culinary concept we have created for departures from the USA and Canada. We have a representative selection of locally and globally inspired dishes from which you can choose, depending on your point of departure. Painstakingly prepared menus, a selection of the finest wines from our Vinothek and a variety of other drinks – peruse the entire menu and order to your heart’s desire. Because regardless of the purpose of your journey – we have but one: ensuring your personal comfort.

Bon appétit! And have a great flight

Your Lufthansa Team

After Takeoff

Menu

Appetizer
Seasonal Salad with grilled Vegetables, black Olive, Cherry Tomato, Cucumber and shaved Parmesan Cheese

Main Courses
Seared Beef Filet, Béarnaise Sauce, Root Vegetable and whipped Potatoes

Seared Scallops and Shrimp, Celeriac whipped Potatoes, Broccolini sautéed Spinach with Peppers and Onion

Artichoke Ravioli and sautéed Spinach accompanied by grilled Trumpet Mushrooms

Cheese and Dessert
New England Cave aged and smoked Cheddar, Rouge Affinee Cheese
Dulce de Leche Ice Cream
Fresh Fruit

Before Landing

Options for Breakfast

Breakfast
Fresh Orange Juice
Fresh Fruit
Strawberry Yogurt
Pastrami Chicken Breast, Brie and Cheddar Cheese

Last Minute Breakfast
Coffee or Tea and sweet Pastry

Wines

Champagne Jacquart Brut, France
2013 “Dr. L” Blauschiefer Riesling trocken, Weingut Dr. Loosen, Germany
2014 Western Cape Sauvignon Blanc, Alee Bleue, South Africa
2011 Château Pierre Montignac, Médoc Cru Bourgeois, France
2012 Forli Rosso IGT, Borgo dei Guidi, Nespoli, Italy

Thankfully once we leveled off, and the various announcements in English and German were finished, we were able to request a bassinet, so we could put my daughter back to sleep.  She usually takes after her father with regard to falling asleep, so we were lucky this didn’t take long.

Sleeping baby in bassinet on the bulkhead

With the baby asleep, my wife didn’t eat the main meal, opting to sleep.  Probably a good choice. I watched Jobs during the meal service.

 Planning for sleep, I had some red wine which was served with cashews.  

The main meal service began with the appetizer and main course served on a single tray.  Not fancy, but the quicker service was appreciated at this late flight.  I usually know better than to order beef on Lufthansa since it is usually prepared very well done.  This was fine, if unmemorable.  At least it wasn’t dry as is often the case with beef served on planes.  I went German-style during the meal and had sparkling water with no ice…

main meal presented on a single tray.  

I then went full sugar for dessert, with Bailey’s and some ice cream.  

Lufthansa Business Class dessert

Good for sleeping

After this, I reclined my seat, and managed to sleep comfortably for a while.  With Bose QC 20i headphones and and eye mask, I didn’t hear or see my daughter wake up.  Thankfully it was most of the way through the flight.  Due to the height of the bassinet from the floor, I had to get her out since my wife wasn’t tall enough to have the leverage to lift her out of there.  Something to keep in mind.

The flight attendants were helpful with the bassinet, and getting hot water to warm bottles. We were still sorting things out with the baby when breakfast service came around.  We’ve been well practiced in eating in shifts, so this wasn’t too much of an issue

Pre-arrival breakfast in Lufthansa Business Class

In all, this was a pretty solid eastbound Trans-Atlantic flight. While the seat wasn’t all that great, being far from the most modern business class seat, it obviously beats coach, and even it surpasses United’s Business Class product handily.  Flight was long and comfortable enough to get at least some sleep, and the later departure means less time to be fighting to stay awake on arrival.  Next we had a layover in Frankfurt and then our connection to Copenhagen.