New First from 2008!
 

here is a link with some info

Well, at least then the on board experience will catch up with the ground experience in the F Terminal in FRA. ;)

At least a first committment... But funny that it takes almost four years after they introduced HON & the HON Terminal to finally come up with a new F product... LH F was already outdated back then - and with no changes in 2007 there is no real reason to fly LH F on routes where they are competing with Singapore, Thai or ANA.

Glad that ANA just confirmed my waitlisted seat in F for Friday :-)

Sounds like good news...

Darn. I can't read German. I blame myself for that. :(

Here are the highlights in English...

LH beefs up its weaponry in the battle for lucrative high-end-flyer customers. Five years after improving its business class, they'll start with their first class. While lowcost carriers are booming, there's still room (and people willing to pay) at the other end of the scale.

"We're planning, in 2008, even before the start of the Airbus 380 with Lufthansa, to introduce a new first class", said Theirry Antinori.

LH to offer its well-paying customers more comfort, before the start of the Airbus 380 with Lufthansa, and work has already started. Intent was to start with the Airbus 380, but delivery delays are causing LH not to wait.

The idea is to greater differiate between business class and first class, better define the "multi-class society", and draw in more top customers.

The premium segment, on the rise again, is by far LH's most lucrative segment. Although only 20% of their base, they account for an estimated 50% of earnings. This is due to the air travel's unique circumstance: with the train, first class passengers pay 50% more than economy; with airlines, it amounts to 10 times the economy price.

Under the leadership of Wolfgang Mayrhuber, LH is trying to highlight their status as a premium provider, hence their premium customers receiving specialized ground service and terminals in Munich and Frankfurt. In fall 2003, they began their improved business service which should be complete by spring 2007.

For the money these top customers --primarily business travellers-- have to pay, they naturally have corresponding expectations. Comfort and special treatment play an essential role, accoring to air expert Thomas Tomkos from cell Consulting. "Lufthansa invested more money in the last three years than ever before, to bolster its products and services", according to Antinori. Analysts welcome the step from Lufthansa. The basic strategy is already paying off.

Bereits im Herbst 2003 startete Lufthansa darüber hinaus eine deutlich verbesserte Business-Class, deren Umrüstung auf den Maschinen bis zum Frühjahr 2007 abgeschlossen sein soll.

It should already be finished 2 years ago !
Let´s see how long " the Frühjahr 2007 " goes with LH ?
BKK seems to be one of the last destinations, which get´s the new seats.
up to 27.March 16/78/274 and from 28.March it shows 16/52/310

are there more configurations ? I know

old
16/99/234
16/78/274
16/64/310

new
16/80/234
16/52/310

Upon first announcement they were talking about end of 2005 for completion. So it is just 15 months late. :rolleyes:

That is the million $$$$$ question here... :p

Week of March 26 with start of the summer schedule did already show all birds with new configuration many month ago. I'm just wondering, what they do with all the birds flying old configuration til around March 25. :eek:

probably just ground them... they did order a bulk of new 747-8s... maybe some kind of express delivery :p

NOT!

Well, and in the mean time, other airlines ( SQ, BA, CX ) already introduce a 3rd. generation of new business. Which is now already better than LH´s first class ! :rolleyes:

http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...tfeatures.jsp?
http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...lass/index.jsp

I don't understand the problem with investing in new seats more frequently. Given that one seat comes at 30,000 Euro and they use it for 8 years - that would be just 10 Euro a day...

Even UA will start replacing their current F suite several months before LH, and their current product (which they have for many years) is way superior to LH's seat. Pathetic.

...but LH has far superior lounges, service, and soft products. That's the key difference.

That looks indeed good. Thanks for reposting it (again). :rolleyes:

Unfortunately I can't use it on my typical routes (FRA/MUC-SFO/MIA/ATL/LAX/DEN)... :eek:

That's the "Why does LH not offer PTV in Y?" question on a high level. :)