Lufthansa Business Class Short Haul Vs. BA Club Europe
Mar 26, 2018, 4:37 pm
#1
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Lufthansa Business Class Short Haul Vs. BA Club Europe
Having flown both Lufthansa and British Airways within a month of each other on a short haul A320, I feel I can compare both products and will do a brief summary.
The seats? Well, they are pretty much the same, I felt that Lufthansa had more leg room on the A320, but maybe that's me, so I would call it even on this.
I preferred Lufthansa, mainly due to the following reasons. If you have time, the lounges at LHR T2 are quite a bit nicer than T5, assuming you have no status and can only access Business Class lounges. I found the food at the Air Canada and the United Lounges to be miles ahead of LHR Galleries, to the point of no comparison. The showers of Air Canada also felt much luxurious than the showers of Galleries Club. On board, The crew seemed cheerier overall (maybe because the staff are more happy at LH than BA these days?). Priority boarding with Lufthansa seemed easier and more organised than BA, maybe its becuase less people qualify. The catering on the London-Munich flight was a cold plate, but really nicely presented. Planes felt cleaner on LH as well?
On balance, there isn't much of a difference. But for the same price, I would choose Lufthansa over British. And frankly if you fly Business Class with Lufthansa, status is essentially irrelevant, unless you are Hon Circle of course! (one can dream)
The seats? Well, they are pretty much the same, I felt that Lufthansa had more leg room on the A320, but maybe that's me, so I would call it even on this.
I preferred Lufthansa, mainly due to the following reasons. If you have time, the lounges at LHR T2 are quite a bit nicer than T5, assuming you have no status and can only access Business Class lounges. I found the food at the Air Canada and the United Lounges to be miles ahead of LHR Galleries, to the point of no comparison. The showers of Air Canada also felt much luxurious than the showers of Galleries Club. On board, The crew seemed cheerier overall (maybe because the staff are more happy at LH than BA these days?). Priority boarding with Lufthansa seemed easier and more organised than BA, maybe its becuase less people qualify. The catering on the London-Munich flight was a cold plate, but really nicely presented. Planes felt cleaner on LH as well?
On balance, there isn't much of a difference. But for the same price, I would choose Lufthansa over British. And frankly if you fly Business Class with Lufthansa, status is essentially irrelevant, unless you are Hon Circle of course! (one can dream)
Mar 26, 2018, 10:00 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2014
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I’m sure you will have lots of fun continuing to fly Lufthansa. I’m not quite so sure BA will be that bothered especially as you have previously admitted to only rarely flying with them.
Reference to lounges in T2 is amusing as you refer to non-LH lounges. Surely a fairer comparison would have been with the non-BA lounges in T3?
I’m also sure that you have posted similar in the LH forum or do you think that won’t give enough traction for a bit of BA bashing?
I’m also sure that you have posted similar in the LH forum or do you think that won’t give enough traction for a bit of BA bashing?
Mar 26, 2018, 10:12 pm
#3
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I’m sure you will have lots of fun continuing to fly Lufthansa. I’m not quite so sure BA will be that bothered especially as you have previously admitted to only rarely flying with them.
Reference to lounges in T2 is amusing as you refer to non-LH lounges. Surely a fairer comparison would have been with the non-BA lounges in T3?
I’m also sure that you have posted similar in the LH forum or do you think that won’t give enough traction for a bit of BA bashing?
I’m also sure that you have posted similar in the LH forum or do you think that won’t give enough traction for a bit of BA bashing?
Last edited by lorath; Mar 26, 2018 at 10:20 pm
Mar 26, 2018, 10:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
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Posts: 3,578
Fair points on cleanliness of the planes and legroom. Also on the LCY routes, they offer 1-1 seating on the Embraers.
Other than that, it is much of the same. The big differentiator for me is that BA mostly offers no-stops from London, whereas LH is usually a one stop. That is worth a few inconveniences.
Other than that, it is much of the same. The big differentiator for me is that BA mostly offers no-stops from London, whereas LH is usually a one stop. That is worth a few inconveniences.
Mar 26, 2018, 10:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
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I’m sure you will have lots of fun continuing to fly Lufthansa. I’m not quite so sure BA will be that bothered especially as you have previously admitted to only rarely flying with them.
Reference to lounges in T2 is amusing as you refer to non-LH lounges. Surely a fairer comparison would have been with the non-BA lounges in T3?
I’m also sure that you have posted similar in the LH forum or do you think that won’t give enough traction for a bit of BA bashing?
I’m also sure that you have posted similar in the LH forum or do you think that won’t give enough traction for a bit of BA bashing?
Why, one wonders, would someone’s first thought be to personalise things in this way, when the OP has focussed entirely on actual flying experiences.
Mar 26, 2018, 10:36 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2014
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As for bias and malice perhaps you should look at some of their previous posts which do indicate that the OP has little history of travel with BA and has been predominantly negative. With that attitude they were never going to be looking objectively. It’s a bit like most of us when faced with the prospect of flying FR. And no, I don’t think my post is out of proportion. OP has commented and I have responded, even given a clear reason which I have repeated above.
Do you think it is appropriate to compare the two lounge offerings when one isn’t even LH? Perhaps a more realistic offering would be with the LH lounge at MUC or FRA, or at least compare to the CX/QF offerings in T3.
Mar 26, 2018, 10:38 pm
#7
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And why the need to post on the BA board and not the LH one? Surely if OP was providing an honest critique they would want to share with both communities or perhaps be prepared to share in the one they are praising rather than the one where they are more critical of, especially as some of those criticisms aren’t even about comparing BA with LH but BA with other airline lounges.
Last edited by madfish; Mar 26, 2018 at 10:46 pm
Mar 26, 2018, 10:44 pm
#8
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Well, to begin with OP makes numerous comments comparing the lounges and shower facilities. They aren’t even comparing LH lounges.
As for bias and malice perhaps you should look at some of their previous posts which do indicate that the OP has little history of travel with BA and has been predominantly negative. With that attitude they were never going to be looking objectively. It’s a bit like most of us when faced with the prospect of flying FR. And no, I don’t think my post is out of proportion. OP has commented and I have responded, even given a clear reason which I have repeated above.
Do you think it is appropriate to compare the two lounge offerings when one isn’t even LH? Perhaps a more realistic offering would be with the LH lounge at MUC or FRA, or at least compare to the CX/QF offerings in T3.
Mar 26, 2018, 10:53 pm
#10
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If the man is carrying the ball then that provides context.
Perhaps you may wish to comment as to why it is appropriate to compare non-LH lounge and shower facilities. I am sure the OP will provide details of their experience of the LH lounges at MUC to offer a fairer comparison. At the moment I don’t think this is a fair comparison and have suggested that comparing the offers at T2 to those at T3.
And the OP could have at least compared with the LH lounge in T2 which is written about in this post on HfP.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2018/0...ow-terminal-2/
Perhaps you may wish to comment as to why it is appropriate to compare non-LH lounge and shower facilities. I am sure the OP will provide details of their experience of the LH lounges at MUC to offer a fairer comparison. At the moment I don’t think this is a fair comparison and have suggested that comparing the offers at T2 to those at T3.
And the OP could have at least compared with the LH lounge in T2 which is written about in this post on HfP.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2018/0...ow-terminal-2/
Mar 26, 2018, 11:35 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2015
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If the man is carrying the ball then that provides context.
Perhaps you may wish to comment as to why it is appropriate to compare non-LH lounge and shower facilities. I am sure the OP will provide details of their experience of the LH lounges at MUC to offer a fairer comparison. At the moment I don’t think this is a fair comparison and have suggested that comparing the offers at T2 to those at T3.
And the OP could have at least compared with the LH lounge in T2 which is written about in this post on HfP.
https://www.headforpoints.com/2018/0...ow-terminal-2/
Sure, a more thorough review would have discussed the LH lounge at T2. But even if it were awful, it wouldn't change the gist of the review at all given the other access options available. And just because a review/comparison doesn't discuss every detail doesn't mean it's all somehow invalid. Most people couldn't care less about some stupid point scoring contest between airlines, they want to know about the actual travel experience!
Mar 27, 2018, 12:03 am
#13
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Surely a fairer lounge comparison would be LH's lounges at its hub at FRA with BAs lounges at its hub LHR
While I prefer the LH lounge in the nice new T2 at LHR, the lounges at FRA are not great, the food limited and the lounges in T1A can be very overcrowded
in my opinion the LH lounges at muc are ok, much better than fra, bit like I prefer the BA lounge at GLA to the BA lounge at LHR
agreed if its point to point, connecting then I would look at the direct flight for the same price, LH if it was a good bit cheaper, all of course subject to timings being suitable
connecting in muc is easy, lhr t5 ok, fra horrid
While I prefer the LH lounge in the nice new T2 at LHR, the lounges at FRA are not great, the food limited and the lounges in T1A can be very overcrowded
in my opinion the LH lounges at muc are ok, much better than fra, bit like I prefer the BA lounge at GLA to the BA lounge at LHR
On balance, there isn't much of a difference. But for the same price, I would choose Lufthansa over British.
connecting in muc is easy, lhr t5 ok, fra horrid
Last edited by scottishpoet; Mar 27, 2018 at 12:13 am
Mar 27, 2018, 12:28 am
#15
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I think it is all to easy to have a reasonably good experience on something new and think it's always briliiant. Familiarity and contempt I suppose.