endrond

I fly SFO-FRA-XXX a few times a year. A few thoughts.

1. Don't connect, don't connect, don't connect. If you do you'll have a much longer flight and a real risk of misconnects (both due to SFO and due to ZZZ in SFO-ZZZ-FRA).
2. I think the choice between non stops on UA vs LH depends crucially on your height. If you're over 5'9'' I'd go for UA (for the possibility of E+, even if it's less legroom than E+ on non-747 aircraft). If you're <5'9'' I'd recommend LH.
3. Another consideration is that on discount fares, LH won't assign seats. UA will (and you should check out the seat map as you book).

gaobest

I concur for the nonstop sfo-fra. Even e+ sucks on the 747 (ual), but if your work (and personal schedule) allows it, try to stay an extra night before you start working there so that your body has extra time to adjust to jet lag. And get a sandwich or something yummy at sfo before you board because it'll taste better than what you receive on the plane.

boolean64

If you do take the connection, do not do through EWR or IAD as the flight is much shorter...more time via ORD to get an OK night's sleep...just pop an ambien and put your head up against the window.

On that topic, doesn't the united flight from SFO leave much later in the day allowing you to be more ready to fall asleep?

jpezaris

I would add to that list that LH has a tendency to run cabins on the warm side. For many people, that would be OK, but I find it uncomfortable.

BruceWG

Thanks again for the info.....

aacharya

If I were the OP, I'd shoot for a W fare, and try for a GPU upgrade on UA metal. As long as it's UA metal (easier if an 016 ticket), then it can be done. I know it can be done on LH metal with the new e-GPU request process, but I'm not as familiar with that.

Surftel

Agreed.

I have flow SFO-FRA a few times and IIRC the IFE that plays on your tablet or laptop is pretty. Lots of movies. Just remember to download the latest app prior to getting on the plane.

E+ and a direct. Hard to argue with that. Lufthansa economy is painful

ckidder331

Any chance you can tell how full the load is?

Maybe trying to snag an empty row could make it more doable for you?

BruceWG

As of now the 747 is pretty open....of course it all changes as we get closer but at least it's not a full flight yet.

sbm12

Betting on an empty row is a fool's errand. You might get lucky but the odds of getting such are very, very low. Best to plan on that not happening.

BB2220

Regarding UA IFE on the 747, it's much improved. Assuming you have ISP, which seems to be showing up more frequently. My last flight was in BF and I actually ended up using the streaming entertainment rather that what was on my PTV because the selection was better

Mike Jacoubowsky

It would take more than streaming IFE to get me back into Y in a 747. Have the interiors been refreshed? The last two I've flown (and I admit it was 18 months since the last one) were not just "relics of the 80s" as someone mentioned, but felt, and smelled, like they hadn't been refurbed since then either.

I was initially in the camp of avoiding the 747 for the OP's trip like the plague, but reason has prevailed; the main point to the trip is not the flight but rather the destination, and a non-stop is going to be a better choice in January.

If nothing else, bad weather tends to cancel shorter flights first, even when the shorter flight is a TCON mainline. So you're more likely to "drill through" bad weather at SFO on the 747 to FRA than on a 737 to ORD or IAD.

QBK

The exit row aisle seats -- 45C and 45H -- on a 747 are excellent seats for long-haul. Infinite legroom, and the people next to you can get out without waking you up. Bring a camp stool for a footrest (or use your rollaboard), pop some Ambien, and you've got a pretty decent ride.

Of course, there's nothing else to recommend the 747 in Y... and, unfortunately, you have to be Gold or above to pre-reserve the exit rows. (That said, they open up within 24 hours with surprisingly frequency, probably because the sort of people that grab 45C/45H also tend to put in GPU requests.

Which means it's probably not relevant to the OP. However, I figured it was worth pointing out that there are reasons to choose the 747 in Y over the alternatives. (Well, one, at least).

BruceWG

I actually did just that many years ago - made the trip moderately tolerable. After all is said and done I believe I'll most likely book the 747 and hope for E+ availability on the day of departure. Sounds like the best, or at least the non-worst, alternative!

Cargojon

As a silver I was 100% on E+. I agree on the UA bird, last time I was in Y on LH I vowed it would be my last.