[Rumour] LH F & FCT going away?
#166
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Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
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Yes, even for HON you have to be flexible to be sure of obtaining upgrades to F with Evouchers , add to that they are only really good value if you combine them on a P class business special.....
#167
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Oneworld Silver
Posts: 779
... I wouldn’t bet on F being around on LH for too long.
My thinking:
Before the pandemic- F on 346, 380, 748. Seems likely that 346 and 380 won’t fly again. Are they really going to keep F on 748 only? And that assumes they will keep 748 at all instead of favouring 2-engined aircraft.
Down the line- long haul additions will be 779, and more 350 plus 787- depending on what goes to LX/OS. For 779 there seems to be no plan to change what has already been announced: it will have no F. And despite a few noises here and there (mainly on other FF sites), does anyone really see F being fitted on the coming 350 (the ones already delivered are doing well with no F) or 787 ? Seems unlikely...
What I find semi realistic is the idea of some kind of “premium business” consisting of new business seat plus enhanced service. This could give the same flexibility currently seen on narrow body aircraft with a curtain divider.
Or... LH just offers up to C class and no further.
With lounges and M&M status - I guess FCT/FCL get renamed the HON Terminal / Lounge...Or opened to C pax for a fee (like AF at CDG)... Or closed.
And somehow I think LH, like so many airlines, wouldn’t miss F that much...
My thinking:
Before the pandemic- F on 346, 380, 748. Seems likely that 346 and 380 won’t fly again. Are they really going to keep F on 748 only? And that assumes they will keep 748 at all instead of favouring 2-engined aircraft.
Down the line- long haul additions will be 779, and more 350 plus 787- depending on what goes to LX/OS. For 779 there seems to be no plan to change what has already been announced: it will have no F. And despite a few noises here and there (mainly on other FF sites), does anyone really see F being fitted on the coming 350 (the ones already delivered are doing well with no F) or 787 ? Seems unlikely...
What I find semi realistic is the idea of some kind of “premium business” consisting of new business seat plus enhanced service. This could give the same flexibility currently seen on narrow body aircraft with a curtain divider.
Or... LH just offers up to C class and no further.
With lounges and M&M status - I guess FCT/FCL get renamed the HON Terminal / Lounge...Or opened to C pax for a fee (like AF at CDG)... Or closed.
And somehow I think LH, like so many airlines, wouldn’t miss F that much...
Last edited by FlyerLX; Sep 18, 2020 at 12:24 am
#168
... I wouldn’t bet on F being around on LH for too long.
My thinking:
Before the pandemic- F on 346, 380, 748. Seems likely that 346 and 380 won’t fly again. Are they really going to keep F on 748 only? And that assumes they will keep 748 at all instead of favouring 2-engined aircraft.
Down the line- long haul additions will be 779, and more 350 plus 787- depending on what goes to LX/OS. For 779 there seems to be no plan to change what has already been announced: it will have no F. And despite a few noises here and there (mainly on other FF sites), does anyone really see F being fitted on the coming 350 (the ones already delivered are doing well with no F) or 787 ? Seems unlikely...
What I find semi realistic is the idea of some kind of “premium business” consisting of new business seat plus enhanced service. This could give the same flexibility currently seen on narrow body aircraft with a curtain divider.
Or... LH just offers up to C class and no further.
With lounges and M&M status - I guess FCT/FCL get renamed the HON Terminal / Lounge...Or opened to C pax for a fee (like AF at CDG)... Or closed.
And somehow I think LH, like so many airlines, wouldn’t miss F that much...
My thinking:
Before the pandemic- F on 346, 380, 748. Seems likely that 346 and 380 won’t fly again. Are they really going to keep F on 748 only? And that assumes they will keep 748 at all instead of favouring 2-engined aircraft.
Down the line- long haul additions will be 779, and more 350 plus 787- depending on what goes to LX/OS. For 779 there seems to be no plan to change what has already been announced: it will have no F. And despite a few noises here and there (mainly on other FF sites), does anyone really see F being fitted on the coming 350 (the ones already delivered are doing well with no F) or 787 ? Seems unlikely...
What I find semi realistic is the idea of some kind of “premium business” consisting of new business seat plus enhanced service. This could give the same flexibility currently seen on narrow body aircraft with a curtain divider.
Or... LH just offers up to C class and no further.
With lounges and M&M status - I guess FCT/FCL get renamed the HON Terminal / Lounge...Or opened to C pax for a fee (like AF at CDG)... Or closed.
And somehow I think LH, like so many airlines, wouldn’t miss F that much...
Keep in mind that the plan was to have F fitted on the 2023 A350s, however right now all seat maps are up for debate because the demand has changed and shifted quite extremely.
It does not take too long to change the seat maps and potentially introduce F once LH actually knows how demand and the future looks.
LH F was never profitable (in contrary to LX F) but I can assure you again: LH will *not* discontinue F. They will have 30-40% covered by F once things turn back to normal. My source was very clear about this.
#169
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,198
I had to dig up this old thread just to point out that LH indeed closed the FCT in 2020 and discontinued all but 3-6 F routes too
#170
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 471
If they get rid of all A346 and A388 that would mean a reduction of F capacity by 60%. A permanent closure of the FCT is off-the-table right now. However, should we see those F cuts, at least one of the three first-class lounges will have to go IMHO.
#171
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Oneworld Silver
Posts: 779
It's not 2021 yet.
If they get rid of all A346 and A388 that would mean a reduction of F capacity by 60%. A permanent closure of the FCT is off-the-table right now. However, should we see those F cuts, at least one of the three first-class lounges will have to go IMHO.
If they get rid of all A346 and A388 that would mean a reduction of F capacity by 60%. A permanent closure of the FCT is off-the-table right now. However, should we see those F cuts, at least one of the three first-class lounges will have to go IMHO.
#172
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Oneworld Silver
Posts: 779
#173
#174
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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It's not 2021 yet.
If they get rid of all A346 and A388 that would mean a reduction of F capacity by 60%. A permanent closure of the FCT is off-the-table right now. However, should we see those F cuts, at least one of the three first-class lounges will have to go IMHO.
If they get rid of all A346 and A388 that would mean a reduction of F capacity by 60%. A permanent closure of the FCT is off-the-table right now. However, should we see those F cuts, at least one of the three first-class lounges will have to go IMHO.
#175
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Oneworld Silver
Posts: 779
It’s possible that F would then only be on 748 in the existing fleet (and I could see that going too....)
Are they then really planning to put 4 or more F on the second wave of A350 when the first A350s have apparently done well so far?? A350 have been doing plumb routes like HND from MUC- presumably those routes were still profitable before Covid, and I didn’t hear any outcry due to no F... And that assumes the second wave of A350 will go to LH and not LX or OS.... Same goes for 787...
I think LH has decided that F is history except on LX as a kind of boutique offering. LX does F so much better anyway- the old SR service ethic, and staff who really understand how to look after premium pax (whereas LH crew are more occupied with organising their break times and dividing up the first class catering among themselves).
Maybe LH will go for a movable curtain in the business cabin with a kind of “business plus” giving enhanced service at the very front. They could get some training from LX for that.
Last edited by FlyerLX; Sep 19, 2020 at 2:43 pm
#176
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
#177
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Oneworld Silver
Posts: 779
I don’t claim any superior knowledge, but I am pretty sure that is at most the subject of internal discussion... And there must be plenty of internal discussions on plenty of subjects...
It was most likely just a rumour from someone or other who claims superior knowledge.
It was most likely just a rumour from someone or other who claims superior knowledge.
Last edited by FlyerLX; Sep 19, 2020 at 2:37 pm
#180
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
I don’t claim any superior knowledge, but I am pretty sure that is at most the subject of internal discussion... And there must be plenty of internal discussions on plenty of subjects...
It was most likely just a rumour from someone or other who claims superior knowledge.
It was most likely just a rumour from someone or other who claims superior knowledge.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if the new 777s got a first class in some of them but that bit is pure speculation on my part