Lufthansa has a distinct spot of its own among the list of unparalleled world-class luxury-centric airlines and most people straight away associate it with lavishness and top-of-the-line luxury onboard services. However, Lufthansa still has a solution for budget luxury travelers, i.e. its cost-friendly premium economy class, which is full of amenities and seating plans at par with its business class cabins.
Lufthansa is among the various European airlines that offer premium economy – which can be said as half economy and half business class. Its premium economy class flights operate on almost all the intercontinental air routes from Germany. Lufthansa is an early adopter of premium economy and its products are somehow in the middle comfortable range.
Lufthansa Premium Economy is all about more free baggage, more space, more meals, and more service – Premium Economy Class long-haul flights are renowned for their top-notch comfort and endless features that ensure you’re never out of options for entertainment. Consequently, passengers get rewarded with a comfortable journey to the destination and they’ll head off for sightseeing or begin the meeting right after your arrival.
With a few exceptions of a few subfleet of the A340 aircrafts, all the wide body Lufthansa aircrafts serve on long haul routes across Germany and they’re outfitted with Premium Economy.
While the ground level services are almost the same as Economy, Lufthansa also aims to include Premium Economy experience in its air upgrade over the economy in different ways. A comfortable and larger seating with better recline, comfortable blankets, and pillows, amenity kits, and upgraded meals all also sum up for the overall pleasing experience of the Premium Economy.
Here are a few examples for what price expectations should customers have while booking a seat on the Lufthansa premium economy:
A few basic benefits of Premium Economy are: up to 50% more personal space, two baggage free items, each of up to 23 kg, and a welcome drink. Thus, Lufthasna premium economy is a total comfort package you get on board.
Premium Economy on Lufthansa is your guarantee to a restful on board stay. The practical Premium Economy seat travel kit lets you arrive at the destination with an overall refreshed feeling post sound relaxation on your long haul flights.
You must look forward to comfortable and spacious seats with over 50% higher room on all sides. Most of all: not only you’ll have a comfortable seating experience, but your drink will also perfectly rest while being comfortably adjusted on the armrest cocktail table.
As a greeting form in Premium Economy Class passengers get a welcome non-alcoholic drink. Additionally, a water bottle is also available at all seats. Customers can take out some time while selecting from the menu and also enjoying the served meals.
Passengers can enjoy an in-flight comprehensive entertainment programme on the 11 or 12-inch monitors as they’re relaxing within the line of spacious seats.
Lufthansa provides Premium Economy access for passengers (for any additional fee) to the business lounges at most airports, with Welcome Lounge (arrivals lounge for the locally-arriving passengers) in Frankfurt. Passengers must buy access at the ticket counter or the Lufthansa service desk for most towns; at Munich and Frankfurt, they can buy direct lounge access.
Passengers in the Premium Economy can use the areas with economy check-in areas, unless the Lufthansa Miles and More on the Star Alliance status is able to afford various benefits.
Premium Economy passengers also get double the checked baggage economy allowance and also check two free bags that weigh up to 50 pounds/23 kilos each.
However, unlike the Premium Economy on a few airlines, the carry-on baggage allowance for the Premium Economy on Lufthansa is the same as the Economy (it is higher for first and business-class passengers).
The Lufthansa flying experience involves the Premium Economy seating, with significant recline, an adjustable headrest, with large touch screen entertainment screens and optional remote control on the armrest. Tray tables are present in arm rests.
Premium Economy cabin is at the economy cabin front – with a few exceptions. On 747-8 and a few 747-400 versions, the economy cabin is there between a Premium Economy and Business Class Cabin. A little ceiling divider is present between the Premium Economy and Economy class; otherwise there isn’t any separation between the cabins.
Premium economy meals on Lufthansa offer a highly enhanced effect on the taste buds compared to the food menu served in the regular economy class. The main course meals are inspired from Central European meals (on a few flights departing from Germany they might take inspiration from destination cuisine).
Passengers find amenity kits at their seats, which are mostly paired versions of Business Class amenity kits. Headphones get distributed after takeoff, and are the same earbuds as the ones offered in economy.
Travellers on the intercontinental flights on Lufthansa are offered a full bar without the need to pay any extra charges. The bar served on the premium economy is the same one as served for economy passengers.
Passengers get the choice of booking an upgrade from the economy class to a premium economy on Lufthansa flights. However, under their policies Lufthansa doesn’t allow passengers to upgrade their seats to premium economy for free except under rare circumstances of functional inevitability, like ticket oversale.
Lufthansa sells upgrades to the premium economy through both flat fee and auctions that range from many days before the departure at the ticket counter on departure day. Fee-based upgrades begin around $400 and also vary by route, flight and length of the journey.
Award charts were used in the past while the airlines were moving towards dynamic fare pricing with upgrades and awards. Lufthansa generally provides upgrades from the economy to Premium Economy from 20,000 to 45,000 miles with more miles for each segment on the original paid fare. Star Alliance member airline programs can also utilise miles for upgrading from full fare unrestricted categories.
Besides all the additional checked baggage allowance, no significant benefits are there for economy and premium economy on Lufthansa flights. The Premium economy passengers use the same check in areas and also board with the same priority like the economy passenger unless they are separately entitled to frequent flyer benefits. Passengers will get a water bottle at their seats on departure and they also get non-alcoholic welcome drinks before the takeoff while being seated in the premium economy cabin.
While flying on Lufthansa premium economy, you’re eligible for the following basic amenities.
Luggage Allowance: A great benefit passengers get while flying with Lufthansa Premium Economy is the luggage allowance they get. Under the luggage allowance policies for Premium Economy, Lufthansa Premium Economy as you’re able to check in 2 pieces each up to 23 kgs and also take a carry-on up to 8 kg versus the economy class where you’re allowed to check in only a single piece and also take carry-on.
Travel Kit: All passengers flying on Lufthansa Premium Economy get a travel kit with toothpaste and toothbrush, socks, an eye mask and a refreshing towel. While availability of such kits are quite handy it is still a standard in economy class for many airlines so it isn’t an outstanding premium feature mainly as there is less availability of such products.
In-flight Entertainment: You also get an 11” to 12” screen with many series, movies and also live TV. Additionally, you also get the possibility of downloading current magazines and newspapers on the phone/iPad prior to the trip.
The Airbus A330 fleet with the premium economy cabin has 21 seats with the 2-3-2 configuration. Comparing cabins of other classes on the aircraft, passengers get eight seats for first class and around 42 in the business class cabin. The feature was made available by Lufthansa in 2014, and the premium economy sets and cabin are quite clean and fresh.
Overall, Premium Economy seating design and arrangement on the Lufthansa, offers more comfort with plenty of padding, legroom and padding. For passengers it is a huge leapfrom the economy.
On the Lufthansa Premium Economy, all passengers are welcomed onboard with a fresh OJ concoction and are onboard with a drink and a perfectly sweet mint.
Around after some time after taking off the flight attendants offer passengers with refreshments and beverages. Passengers are also served with sparkling water and beer.
The menu for Premium Economy passengers is the same as the Economy menu. The only difference would be that the China-served food and drinks are poured in glasses. The menu has two main starter choices: pasta and chicken breast. Between the main course and the drinks, flight attendants also distribute hot towels.
Lufthansa’s on board services on Premium economy are well appraised by passengers. The drink services are nonstop and all flight attendants are more than happy to keep premium economy passengers hydrated. Lufthansa is truly proud of the products, and love for the airline was evident in the service. Overall, Lufthansa scores pretty high for the plating experience, food quality and their hospitality.
The tiny kit for amenities are offered to all the passengers in the premium economy cabin. A few basic included things are socks, eye mask, toothbrush, earplugs, moist towelette, and toothpaste.
Passengers get noise-cancelling headphones, all of which are available with new form covers for keeping all ear pieces, and are clean for your ears. All seats are available with a blanket and a small pillow. The in-flight entertainment system on Lufthansa is loved by passengers. The high-definition 12-inch HD screen displays vibrant colours and it is simple to navigate it.
Other than touchscreens, people can use tiny remotes attached to the seats. It has a separate tiny button on the controller with touch response control that bears similarity with a mouse. Something which is never seen before in an airplane. Also, there was a USB outlet right next to your screen.
Summary
Overall passengers can conveniently enjoy the premium economy seating on the Lufthansa A330 with the range of amenities and on-board services provided and all of the above benefits. Comfort delivered to the passengers are top notch and they feel like the seating is a large upgrade over economy which is a reasonable compromise when you can’t afford the business class.
Their soft products are also solid, including the service and the food, and their delectable meals make the long-haul worthwhile. Other than the elusive Wi-Fi and odd boarding processes, passengers have an overall great in flight time on Lufthansa.
