Routing: LH718 from Munich to Seoul, January 2, 2010, and LH719 from Seoul to Munich, January 10, 2010
Below is an extract from my blog report on this great trip. You can find more details, and hi-res versions of the pictures:
http://www.luxurytravelblog.net/The_...2_Entry_1.html
Willkommen in Munich
The Lufthansa bosses have clearly decided that Asia is the future, and anyone travelling First Class to one of its major cities has to be treated like a minor Deity. We stepped off the London flight to be greeted by the driver of a gleaming black Mercedes, who transported us in considerable style past the usual immigration nonsense and bureaucracy straight to the Lufthansa First Class Lounge.
Munich Lounge
I always thought it would be hard to beat Virgin’s incomparable Club House at Heathrow. Lufthansa Munich doesn’t quite do that. My favourite experience remains having a three-hour Virgin breakfast one Sunday on the way to New York, eggs benedict and the Weekend FT. But this one comes pretty close. Like Virgin, you get a cooked breakfast (or lunch, dinner) in the restaurant.
The shower facilities also give Baron Branson something to think about, as they have jacuzzis as well as showers (I didn’t indulge). Where they have the edge is in the standard of service, as even Virgin staff suffer now and again from the British ‘whatever’ attitude when you ask them for something. I’ve always thought German standards of service overall are the best in Europe, and this experience reinforces that view. Finally, which other airline lounge gives guests their own special rubber duck!
On Board
Then it was time to fly to for Seoul. In a way, what I am about to write can be considered a period piece, as Lufthansa has now unveiled a complete revamp of its First Class service for its new fleet of A380s. But in a crazy way, unveiling a super-swanky A380 is easy! Offering outstanding service on an A340-300 with several years of hard graft under its wings is much harder.
Our A340-300 certainly passed the test. Let’s start with my favourite: the food. It was all glorious, and our pictures probably speak for themselves. I went for as many Asian options as I could, and had my introduction to the legendary Korean vegetable dish: kimchi (below).
Since we flew, Lufthansa has enhanced its Asian cuisine offer by hiring noted Korean chef Hyo Nam Park to offer ‘classical French cuisine with an Asian touch’. According to the Korea Times:
“Park presents classical French cuisine such as almond jelly topped with caviar goose liver parfait, lobster lasagna in a saffron cappuccino sauce, medallion of veal and potato pyramid, ice cold souffle with lemon sherbet and chocolate tahini cream. He added subtle Asian flavors to French cuisine and created his own style of innovative and inspiring dishes.”
Moves like this are clear signs that Lufthansa is thinking about its Asian routes as a service which requires special attention. That’s smart thinking about the future which most other European airlines are not emulating.
High Amenity
As good as the food was, the best of Lufthansa First Class is to be found in the accessories, which have become notably less impressive on most airlines in recent years. As a result of our two flights, I am now the proud owner of two Lufthansa Rimowa amenity kits (above) - which seem to sell for ridiculous prices on eBay, and one pair of specially-designed Van Laak pyjamas - the most stylish you’ll find anywhere at 30,000 feet.
The Lufthansa cabin crew were terrific, and we landed at the super hi-tech Seoul Incheon airport feeling fresher than we did leaving London.
Sadly, this will probably be the last time we can ever travel First Class on Lufthansa to Asia or anywhere else long haul. Someone has leaked the fact that the Germans are going to scrap my Diamond Club Card next year and replace it with ‘Miles & More’, meaning you’d have to fly virtually every second day or the year to earn a Gold Card and access to the fabulous facilities on offer at Munich and the other German airports.
END