Beware Lufthansa's bait and switch

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BKMD
BKMD
in General Discussion

I've avoided flying across the pond with Lufthansa for years because of their sub-standard business class cabin. Just about all their A350s and A380s are 2-2-2 configuration, with no cubicles and not even a privacy screen between the pairs of seats. As a solo traveler, I prefer a solo, window cubicle with aisle access, as offered by the other biggies, UA, BA, AF, Delta, etc. LH really should be charging fares at the level of Iceland Air, with a sub-standard biz cabin, and not identical to the other carriers.

I've read online about Lufthansa finally becoming competitive by refurbishing their planes. So I booked a flight from DEN-MUC on an A380 that had a 1-2-1 config as confirmed by their seat plan and reservation system. 48 hours before the flight, they changed it to the old 2-2-2 garbage. At that point, there was nothing I could do about it.

I currently have another supposed 1-2-1 LH plane ticket for next Spring. I'm going to see if I can rebook that with another carrier. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me 😁

If you're picky about seats, like I am, be advised.

Comments

  • MikeHenderson
    MikeHenderson
    edited September 23
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    Thanks for the heads up. I have a Lufthansa flight coming up in January. I'll let you know what happens with that flight. Both going and return are on a 747 with a 2-2-2 layout.

    Since my wife and I travel together, we want 2 seats together. But on one Lufthansa flight we took, the inside seat person had to climb over the outside seat person when both were in lie-flat mode (the two seats were window-side, not center). That's really ancient.

    If I have to travel in a plane with that configuration, we take the two seats in the center of the plane. That way, we both have aisle access. Only problem is when we board, I'm not in a position to help my wife put her carry-on into the overhead.

  • BKMD
    BKMD
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    Didn't know anyone still flew 747s. They are pretty ancient, so you may need to hand crank those seats into recline. 😀

  • Claudia Sails
    Claudia Sails
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    Some of KLMs planes also use the 2/2/2 configuration which is fine for my husband and I but I can understand why others hate it. We were once suppose to fly on one of the 1/2/1 planes and they switched at the last minute. Mad scramble for new seat assignments. Since we had both been in window seats when they went to the 2/2/2 they literally had me in the window seat in the row ahead of my husband with strangers next to each of us. Thankfully everyone was flexible and I swapped with someone to sit in the aisle next to my husband.

  • Folsomdoc
    Folsomdoc
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    I believe Lufthansa is the last carrier to have a fleet of 747’s. We flew business class upstairs last year and it was very nice. We’d do t again.

  • MikeHenderson
    MikeHenderson
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    My wife and I few a couple of Lufthansa 747 flights in the upper deck. The seat arrangement is 2-2 but the inside person has to crawl over the outside person once the seats are in lie-flat mode.

    Also, you have to climb the stairs to the upper deck. We're older and my wife had difficulty getting her carry-on up the stairs (and then back down). So if we have to travel on a 747 I now choose the lower deck with two center seats.

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