Lufthansa is Germany’s national flag carrier and one of Europe’s major airlines, founded as a Star Alliance founding member. The airline operates from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) as its largest hub, with Munich Airport (MUC) serving as its second-largest hub. The Lufthansa Group is the fourth-largest airline group in the world by revenue and second-largest in Europe by passengers carried, and it’s a major player in international aviation.
Lufthansa flies to over 200 destinations worldwide. When I lived in South Africa, it was one of my go-to airlines for visiting family in the UK. It hit that sweet spot of excellent service, convenient connections and reasonable fares for the Johannesburg to London route.
Lufthansa can’t match the rock-bottom prices of budget carriers like easyJet and Ryanair on European routes. For me, though, the comfort and reliability make it worth the premium.
Short-haul travel classes
Lufthansa offers three economy fares for European flights: Economy Light, Economy Classic and Economy Flex. The main difference comes down to baggage allowances and flexibility. I’m a fan of Economy Light for overnight business trips or weekend getaways when I can skip checked luggage and save some cash.
If you need to check a bag up to 23 kg (50 lbs), Economy Classic allows you to add checked baggage for a fee. With travel plans being more fluid than ever, many travellers (myself included) value flexibility. It might be worth paying extra for an Economy Flex ticket, which lets you rebook your ticket free of charge or even get a refund for a fee.
For a more comfortable experience, Lufthansa also offers Business Class on European flights. The main perks include priority check-in and boarding, an empty middle seat for extra personal space, a full meal served on real china, and a generous baggage allowance of two carry-on items and two checked bags up to 70 lbs (32 kg) each.
Long-haul travel classes
On intercontinental flights, you have four travel classes to choose from: Economy (with Light, Classic and Flex fare options), Premium Economy, Business Class and First Class. Personally, I find Economy Light isn’t practical for longer trips since you’ll almost certainly need more luggage than the fare allows.
Premium Economy delivers solid value with up to 50% more personal space and an extra checked bag compared to standard Economy. If you’ve got the budget, Business Class takes comfort up a notch with seats that convert into fully flat beds almost two meters long. First Class sits at the top tier for those who want the full experience.
First Class travellers get the full VIP treatment. This includes access to the First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport, valet parking at Frankfurt and Munich, personal assistance on the ground and a luggage allowance of two carry-on bags and three 70 lbs (32 kg) checked bags. The seats are more like private pods, offering great sound insulation, space and privacy.
Food & drink
What you get to eat and drink on Lufthansa depends on your travel class and route. On European flights, Economy passengers receive a complimentary Lufthansa chocolate on all flights and a bottle of water on flights over 30 minutes, but will need to pay for any other snacks or drinks from the Onboard Delights menu available on flights over 45 minutes.
Business passengers get a full meal on all flights, no matter the length. On long-haul flights, Economy travellers are served a three-course meal with complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Depending on the flight’s duration, the crew might also serve a second meal.
Lufthansa offers 11 special meal options for travellers with dietary requirements, from gluten free and low cholesterol to kosher and halal. You’ll need to order at least 24 hours before departure. One quirk I’ve noticed: despite separate vegetarian and vegan options, the crew often serves me the vegan meal. The cabin crew has always been happy to swap it for the standard vegetarian option when I ask.
In-flight entertainment
On long-haul flights, the entertainment selection is on par with any other major airline I’ve flown. Your seat-back screen will have a solid choice of recent movies, TV series, music, audiobooks, games and podcasts.
I also recommend checking out the Lufthansa e-Journals library before you fly. You can download newspapers and magazines in different languages to your personal device. Your free download quota depends on your travel class and Miles & More status.
If you need to get online, FlyNet Messaging (good for WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger) and FlyNet Premium (for social media and basic streaming) are available on more and more flights. Miles & More members get free FlyNet Messaging on all flights, while First Class passengers get free FlyNet Premium on all flights. Otherwise, you can buy internet packages on board or in advance.
Lufthansa Allegris
Lufthansa recently introduced a new travel experience called Lufthansa Allegris, currently rolling it out across its fleet. This upgrade introduces approximately 27,000 new seats across all travel classes, covering more than 80 brand-new aircraft and retrofits to existing planes, with ongoing expansion across the fleet.
In Economy, you’ll find tablet holders and USB ports, with increased legroom in the first rows. You’ll also have the option to book first-row seats with more legroom or seats with an empty adjacent spot for extra space.
In First Class, the new Suite Plus offers a luxurious experience. It’s a private cabin with ceiling-high walls and seats that can be converted into a double bed. You’ll also have your own wardrobe and a dining table for enjoying gourmet meals in style.
Miles & More loyalty programme
If you fly often, it’s worth downloading the Miles & More app to earn Miles and Points on eligible Lufthansa and Star Alliance flights. You can also earn Miles on hotel bookings and some everyday purchases. Miles can be redeemed for flight awards, upgrades, car rentals and even luxury goods from the Lufthansa Worldshop.
Flying with kids
I’ve flown with my kids many times, and I find Lufthansa to be a family-friendly airline. Examples of this include free jars of baby food and toddler-appropriate snacks available, as well as child-friendly menus for those aged two and over.
Trust me, this is a lifesaver when your picky little one decides mid-flight that they hate the food you packed, even though it was their favourite yesterday. The cabin crew will happily warm baby food and bottles for you, though you might have to wait a bit during meal service, so it’s best to ask just before or after.
Other benefits include in-flight entertainment options aimed especially at 0 to 2 and 2 to 7 year olds. For luggage, babies under 2 get one complimentary checked bag up to 23 kg (50 lbs) in all classes except Economy Light. Child seats, baby baskets and foldable pushchairs are typically checked free of charge, and you can usually take your pushchair to the gate.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up to date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others. Find more perspectives in our user reviews below.
