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Lufthansa…Innovations in Premium Air Travel

by Arie Boris, CruiseGourmet.com Editor-in-Chief In a recent issue of Lufthansa’s in-flight magazine, the cover story was about the increasing popularity of cruise vacations and the airline’s extensive network with connections to major cruise ports worldwide. With close to fifty percent of international cruise passengers traveling in Business or First Class, Lufthansa has recognized this valuable market and has provided an innovative approach to premium air travel.

Lufthansa Business Class is truly state of the art and continues to offer variety and innovation. The current twin aisle wide-body fleet (747’s and Airbus 330/340’s) has been upgraded and offers electronic flat-beds with only a nine degree incline to the cabin floor. Increased legroom with a foldaway privacy screen gives passengers more personal space. Electronic seat controls allow personalized seat adjustments and each seat has a power port for lap tops. A significantly larger work table and convenient laptop compartment in every seat makes work more comfortable.

Onboard entertainment is an appealing distraction. Lufthansa “Media World” provides 10.4 inch screens (four times larger than the old personal monitors), video and audio on-demand, language courses, audio books and CD’s along with an extensive games program.

With the advent of the airline’s Airbus A380 super jumbo service in 2009, comes the promise of increased space, amenities, and Lufthansa’s penchant for continued innovations for Premium air travelers. Recently, the airline, in conjunction with the manufacturer, operated the first trans-Atlantic proving flights to North America of the big bird. The flying machine is truly enormous, but once onboard it is quite reminiscent of today’s wide body jets. With two grand staircases, the double deck airliner has great potential for innovative and spacious premium travel. Let’s hope the executives at Lufthansa don’t succumb to the airplane’s capacity for 850 all coach seating!

My favorite Lufthansa innovation is the airline’s all Business Jet Service from Chicago and Newark to Düsseldorf and Munich. Onboard there is only one class of service, all Business Class. With only 44/48 seats on the entire single aisle aircraft, this is one of the most exclusive ways to cross the Atlantic! With lie-flat beds, and all the extra space, passengers can enjoy their premium experience in an especially quiet and relaxing space. Onboard service is truly personalized and because of the small number of passengers, boarding, deplaning and time spent at the baggage carousel is greatly reduced.

Lufthansa’s Private Jet connection service is really an impressive innovation! The airline can arrange a private biz jet (6-12 passengers) for immediate connections from your arriving or departing International flight to anywhere in Europe…point to point connection service to over 1000 destinations. The private plane is actually waiting for you on the tarmac. Lufthansa provides private security and through baggage service, along with other perks like, individual onboard catering and limousine service at your final destination. That’s what I call “Premium” travel!

When it comes to dining in premium classes, Lufthansa continues to set the standard. In 2007, the airline has aligned with executive chefs from the three Peninsula Hotels in North America to offer gourmet dining from all gateways in America. Examples include pistachio crusted shrimp with mango salsa from Chef Gordon Maybury in the Peninsula, New York, Szechwan king snapper from Chef Terry Crandall of the Peninsula, Chicago and stuffed baby eggplant with tomato fondue from Chef Sean Hardy, Peninsula, Beverly Hills. My particular favorite was Sean Hardy’s wild salmon with cauliflower, caper and golden raisin marmalade. Menus include backgrounds on the chefs and a recipe for one of their signature onboard creations. Desert was pure comfort food…Apple Raisin Bread Pudding with sweet cream.

Lufthansa’s Vinothek Discoveries wine program offers superb wines especially selected by World Master Sommelier, Markus Del Monego. Selections on our flights included a Nordheim Silvaner White with distinct aromas of apple and citrus, a 2005 Chilean Chardonnay, Baron Philippe de Rothschild along with Barrel Aged Merlot, Chateau Julien from Monterey California and a wonderful Champagne Duval Leroy, Frankreich.

With major hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, connecting to almost any European port on Lufthansa is efficient and well worth the experience, especially if you are in one of their comfy Business Class cabins! For more information about flying to your next European cruise with Lufthansa, log onto www.Lufthansa.com.

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