and LH has the A380

IMO, the choice is pretty easy. While LX typically beats LH in onboard food and inflight service, LH seats are more comfortable and 744s and 380s are much better planes. But the biggest factor is the ground product at each of the primary hubs. The LX ZHR First Class product is not very First Class. So-so lounge that gets ridiculously crowded at peak transfer/departure times. The worst part is the horrifically bad boarding process. Yes, you get a (shared) van from the basement of the main terminal to the international departure concourse. But then you are dumped into the bowels for the concourse and then on your own. And this is what LX First Class boarding looks like...

https://sfo777.smugmug.com/Other/Swi...IMG_9957-L.jpg

Incorrect. I was brought to the boarding gate and onto the plane. When walking to the flight I noticed other flights leaving and the boarding process did not seem like the above. Different experiences, however at least we agree that the food is better ;)

You were very lucky as that has not been the norm for LX.

Really nice conclusion! The table set-up on LX looks much nicer, and that big table really gives the feeling of a ton of space (or so it seems). It just looks like you can have a glass or 3, a plate, flatware and bread plate on the table and not feel like you are going to knock something over.

And you had new LX first on the A330 instead of old LX first on the A340, which we all seem to agree is comfy but more in place in the halls of classics. I wonder how your comparison would rate overal if you had the older seat :)

I agree, this was a lucky exception to the rule: in many years it happened to me only once to be driven to the plane in ZHR, and it was because plane was in apron position. Typically you are dropped off at Terminal E and you are on your own.
Lunch menu at FCL in Zurich has been basically the same for years, nothing to do with the variety and quality of FCL/FCT in FRA and even FCL in MUC. Good Lindt chocolate though...
We are talking of First Class problems...both are excellent, but if I can choose, I prefer LH A380 via FRA...

Lufthansa First Class vs. Swiss First Class
 

The food on LH is not that great compared to the food on LX. It is always hit and miss with LH. I would not fly LH just for the lounge in FRA. i would prefer decent food on the flight than on the ground. Also my ground service on this flight (and recent flights) has not been amazing with LH....

Ideally, I would fly LX F but transit through FRA for the LH FCT for the best of both worlds!

Agreed however with the Tarmac views of LX F Lounge

I see that the last comment was ~2 months ago but I'm happy to have found this!
I am planning a trip and have been trying to determine LX vs LH F between NYC and VCE. I have only flown LH within Europe so haven't tried their long haul product. I flew LX a few months ago in C was was underwhelmed. I hated the lounge at JFK, hated the boarding process in ZRH, and found the seat to be quite uncomfortable with very little personal storage space. However I did like the food (although was surprised that the serving of Swiss chocolate was an FA walking around from seat to seat with a large box of chocolate asking people to pick one from the box - reminded me of the bucket of chicken scene in Soul Plane).

But F is a different animal than C and I just might go for LX on this upcoming trip!

Thanks for reading! All aspects considered I do believe LX F is better than LH F. Also I believe they are rolling out their new 777-300 planes in the coming months and the First Class looks a lot more private than the current seat. Of course when using points LH F is more attainable however when paying cash for me there is a clear winner.

The only positive thing that LX can outweigh LH is the food aspect. Otherwise, LH would beat LX in all other aspects.

This.

No caviar on LX! :td:

I personally hate FRA and connecting there is one thing I actively avoid. So any connection I make, should I choose LH over LX, would be a schedule that puts me through MUC.

I'm guessing that you've never flown Lufthansa First.

Sadly not yet!

I have long said that LX has the best food in the air, even in J. Too bad their J cabin is sub-par. Looking forward to the refresh on the 77Ws.

Thanks for reading. I agree about the new 77W's, they look pretty decent especially compared to LH J.

Great trip report, it reminded me of my LX flight to NYC in First ... fond memories

First or not, the OP's point is valid -- FRA is an awful airport to transit

Hi all;
Thanks first of all for this great trip report !
Right now, I am SEN and have 315000 miles to spend before february 2017, when I will be losing my SEN status. I was hoping to use these miles to fly (with a friend) to Asia from France in First class and was considering the following options (I know theses flights are available btw...). LYS-FRA-HND on LH 748 (so in the nose of the plane) and return on LX HKG-ZRH-LYS on their new 773; so with the new F cabin. I have otherwise the opportunity to fly at these dates via MUC on HKG-MUC-LYS in a 346 or via FRA to NRT on a 343 (LYS-FRA-NRT). Unfortunately, I cannot find availability at my dates on the 388 service to or from HKG.
My question is : Out of the above mentioned options, do you think I am right to select the 748 on LH and the 773 on LX, I wanted to try both LH and LX, and despite the fact I hate FRA and love transits in MUC, I never tried the FCL in FRA. So far, my only first class experiences are on BA and AA (both 773), so not to the class of LH or LX from what I can read !
I like the new mini suites on LX 773 but I am not sure about the seat on the 748 on LH (seats 1A and 1F seem to be available on my dates though...)

Concerning the lounge access, is it worth for us to visit the FCT in FRA (we will have a 5h connection) or is the FCL "good enough" ? For ZRH, we will have a 6h connection, but since we will be connecting to LYS, i suppose we will not have access to the new E gates FCL right ?

Thanks for your advice !

Yes, take the FRA option. If you are traveling in First, I would avoid MUC as there is no guarantee of a limo to your plane. Also, the 747-8i is much better than the 346/343. And better than the 388 IMO.

FCT...

One day I will get to use the LH FCT!!

Thanks for the excellent report.

It will spoil you.

Swiss FCL A has two snooze rooms complete with bathroom (shower+toilet) and aminities. You need to ask the key from reception. They also have standalone showerrooms available with Bulgari white tea products. The FCL E snoozerooms have great outdoorviews.

Swiss F doesn't serve caviar but the filet of Balik salmon is of superB quality.

The weakpoint of Swiss F is the older A340 seat (still comfy but old!) but it is compensated by the wonderfull multi-lingual FA

Thanks for the tripreport!

^ Caviar is fun, but I loves me some salmon!
Given a choice, I'll take Balik Salmon.

Have to agree. Caviar is often only salty:eek:

If you can, grab the LX option. Personally, I prefer the LX F experience to LH F (if you can fly the new 77W). It's also much harder to snag, unless you're SEN. That said, both LX and LH are great so you can't go wrong with either.

If you do pick LH, go through FRA and definitely visit the FCT. If you pick LX, the FLC lounge in Term E is absolutely great, too.