Air France PE vs Lufthansa PE
Jul 21, 2018, 5:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
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Air France PE vs Lufthansa PE
Hello all,
I am planning to fly to Panama city in Premium Economy and i can either fly with LH or AF. Price is almost the same. I am star alliance gold but no status with sky team. I have flew a few times with LH in PE and i have to say i am not very impressed. How is AF PE on this route? Anyone has flew with both airlines in PE?
Thank you.
I am planning to fly to Panama city in Premium Economy and i can either fly with LH or AF. Price is almost the same. I am star alliance gold but no status with sky team. I have flew a few times with LH in PE and i have to say i am not very impressed. How is AF PE on this route? Anyone has flew with both airlines in PE?
Thank you.
Jul 22, 2018, 3:27 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2006
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The hard shell on AF looks more luxurious, but Lufthansa has a more comfy seat in PE which reclines pretty well for sleeping. AfF has a weird seat which doesn’t have a real seatback recline, it’s only the bottom of the seat which slides back and forth, which is very awkward and very strange to sleep on. I sleep better on normal economy seats with AF! Screens are larger and higher resolution on LH
Sevice difference is in the details, and I can’t really favour one or the other on that aspect.
All in all I find LH PE better value for money.
Sevice difference is in the details, and I can’t really favour one or the other on that aspect.
All in all I find LH PE better value for money.
Jul 23, 2018, 5:33 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Would depend on which aircraft.
The PE seats on AF have been derided as pretty uncomfortable due to the lack of real recline (it only "slouches").
However I know on the LH 748 aircraft, their PE is sandwiched between two cabines of regular economy without a real divider, which would irritate me cuz it no longer feels like a separate class of service. That said, the seats would be more comfortable.
Service level would vary, but I find the service and catering better on AF in general through my experiences.
The PE seats on AF have been derided as pretty uncomfortable due to the lack of real recline (it only "slouches").
However I know on the LH 748 aircraft, their PE is sandwiched between two cabines of regular economy without a real divider, which would irritate me cuz it no longer feels like a separate class of service. That said, the seats would be more comfortable.
Service level would vary, but I find the service and catering better on AF in general through my experiences.
Jul 23, 2018, 5:42 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: London, United Kingdom
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Both have their downsides (uncomfortable sliding seat with AF, lack of separate cabin and service with LH) and on balance probably equal. Your Star Gold tips it in favour of LH
Jul 23, 2018, 8:02 am
#5
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Location: NYC
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Geometrically, there's no difference between the seat back angling backward, or the seat cushion sliding forward while the headrest stays longitudinally in place, but just slides down. Either way you end up with a seat moving from this: |_ to this: \_.
Now, if the fixed seat shell on the AF seat results in less of an angle between the seat cushion and seat back because there's simply less usable space with the same seat pitch because of the fixed shell, then I can see why AF would be less comfortable. But the reason would not be related to the recline mechanism, but to the fact that recline is limited due to the additional space of the seat shell.
That said, there is clearly a benefit of having that hard shell in that the person in front of you doesn't recline into your space/face.
FWIW, here are two pics of the AF and LH PE seats in recline. It looks like the LH seat may recline more (a bit hard to tell for sure), but the AF seat is certainly reclined.
Jul 23, 2018, 9:04 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 1,589
I also sleep better in AF coach than AF PE. I like AF PE for the personal space and better service, but for sleeping it simply sucks. Now, I read that the new generation of PE is more comfortable but I always got the older ones (on 380s and 777s) so cannot speak to this. The above picture seems to show the newer AF PE seats.
Jul 23, 2018, 9:24 am
#7
Join Date: May 2017
Location: MAN
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I also sleep better in AF coach than AF PE. I like AF PE for the personal space and better service, but for sleeping it simply sucks. Now, I read that the new generation of PE is more comfortable but I always got the older ones (on 380s and 777s) so cannot speak to this. The above picture seems to show the newer AF PE seats.
The new seats resemble the LH PE seats. The old AF PE seats are very good for day flights but the 'recline' does not feel as comfortable for sleeping as the Joon seats.
Jul 24, 2018, 8:10 am
#9
Join Date: Mar 2006
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Jul 24, 2018, 9:26 am
#10
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I wonder how much of this is just in people's heads.
Geometrically, there's no difference between the seat back angling backward, or the seat cushion sliding forward while the headrest stays longitudinally in place, but just slides down. Either way you end up with a seat moving from this: _ to this: \_.
Now, if the fixed seat shell on the AF seat results in less of an angle between the seat cushion and seat back because there's simply less usable space with the same seat pitch because of the fixed shell, then I can see why AF would be less comfortable. But the reason would not be related to the recline mechanism, but to the fact that recline is limited due to the additional space of the seat shell.
That said, there is clearly a benefit of having that hard shell in that the person in front of you doesn't recline into your space/face.
FWIW, here are two pics of the AF and LH PE seats in recline. It looks like the LH seat may recline more (a bit hard to tell for sure), but the AF seat is certainly reclined.
Geometrically, there's no difference between the seat back angling backward, or the seat cushion sliding forward while the headrest stays longitudinally in place, but just slides down. Either way you end up with a seat moving from this: _ to this: \_.
Now, if the fixed seat shell on the AF seat results in less of an angle between the seat cushion and seat back because there's simply less usable space with the same seat pitch because of the fixed shell, then I can see why AF would be less comfortable. But the reason would not be related to the recline mechanism, but to the fact that recline is limited due to the additional space of the seat shell.
That said, there is clearly a benefit of having that hard shell in that the person in front of you doesn't recline into your space/face.
FWIW, here are two pics of the AF and LH PE seats in recline. It looks like the LH seat may recline more (a bit hard to tell for sure), but the AF seat is certainly reclined.
The B787 has also new more comfortable W seats.
Jul 24, 2018, 12:00 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2017
Location: MAN
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Posts: 313
With all the people here who experienced the AF W seat we can definitely guarantee you that there is a difference. The problem of the AF seat in a shell is that the headrest remains basically at the same place and does not move forward to recline. So you are in a very uncomfortable position for sleeping with your head constantly falling as soon as you fall asleep, and this wakes you up obviously.
The B787 has also new more comfortable W seats.
The B787 has also new more comfortable W seats.
New 787 W seats
New A340 W seats
Old W seats
Jul 24, 2018, 3:16 pm
#12
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The 787 W seats look to be very similar to the old W seats on the 380 and 777, with limited recline in a shell. I would be interested in a consumer report!
New 787 W seats
New A340 W seats
Old W seats
New 787 W seats
New A340 W seats
Old W seats
Jul 24, 2018, 4:06 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2017
Location: MAN
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https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/28785158-post2.html
That report is up there with “mostly harmless”. Something a little more detailed would help.
That report is up there with “mostly harmless”. Something a little more detailed would help.
Jul 28, 2018, 5:01 am
#15
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I wonder how much of this is just in people's heads.
Geometrically, there's no difference between the seat back angling backward, or the seat cushion sliding forward while the headrest stays longitudinally in place, but just slides down. Either way you end up with a seat moving from this: _ to this: \_.
Now, if the fixed seat shell on the AF seat results in less of an angle between the seat cushion and seat back because there's simply less usable space with the same seat pitch because of the fixed shell, then I can see why AF would be less comfortable. But the reason would not be related to the recline mechanism, but to the fact that recline is limited due to the additional space of the seat shell.
That said, there is clearly a benefit of having that hard shell in that the person in front of you doesn't recline into your space/face.
FWIW, here are two pics of the AF and LH PE seats in recline. It looks like the LH seat may recline more (a bit hard to tell for sure), but the AF seat is certainly reclined.
Geometrically, there's no difference between the seat back angling backward, or the seat cushion sliding forward while the headrest stays longitudinally in place, but just slides down. Either way you end up with a seat moving from this: _ to this: \_.
Now, if the fixed seat shell on the AF seat results in less of an angle between the seat cushion and seat back because there's simply less usable space with the same seat pitch because of the fixed shell, then I can see why AF would be less comfortable. But the reason would not be related to the recline mechanism, but to the fact that recline is limited due to the additional space of the seat shell.
That said, there is clearly a benefit of having that hard shell in that the person in front of you doesn't recline into your space/face.
FWIW, here are two pics of the AF and LH PE seats in recline. It looks like the LH seat may recline more (a bit hard to tell for sure), but the AF seat is certainly reclined.