I was devastated that my last trip report

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/trip_reports/read.main/46275/6/
(shameless plug)

was not as popular as my previous ones (only one reply!). But I'm not
really sad about... not at all... grrr...   Anyway, I'll have
another shot at this to see if I do better this time.

I have taken the BOS-FRA flights many times in the past (something
like 7-8 times during the last two years), but this was the first time
I'd do it in First Class (I had only flown in economy before). LH has
two flights per day on this route in the summer and one in the
winter. From past experience, I prefer taking the later of the two
redeyes, as I'm much more likely to get some sleep and I won't arrive
in Frankfurt at the ridiculous hour of 530am. Unfortunately, for this
trip, I couldn't find seats on the later flight, so I had to get on
the early one. Oh well... I hoped First Class would make up for it!  

Saturday, Aug 28, 2004

Got to Boston's Logan Airport a bit late, for my standards at least,
due to heavy traffic in the roads around where I live (the taxi
arrived half an hour late!). I went directly to the First Class
check-in desk and checked in very quickly. I had been assigned seat 2D
and I asked whether there was a window seat available. The agent said
yes and I ended up on 1F, which is both a window and an aisle
seat. Nice. Going through security was quick and painless and we
started boarding, on time, 20 mins later. They called boarding for
First Class, Business Class, and all passangers with kids or who
needed special assistance at the same time, which made the whole
process a bit messy and chaotic. I wish they had called us separately
for the sake of everyone.

LH422, BOS 425pm to FRA 530am, Gate E8A, A340-300, Seat 1K

I entered LH's very cozy First Class cabin,

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Photo © Viktor László - Budapest Aviation Photography

put away my luggage at the overhead bins, and gave my jacket to the
purser. The seat was very confortable and I was surprised with
how much storage space it had. I was offered champagne but I just
asked for water, which arrived quickly with a small bowl of nuts. I
was also given the amenity kit and a gray sweater. Apparently the gray
ones are the older ones, but according to Daumueller in a previous
post

http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/1616239

they are more confortable that the newer blue ones. I put it on
immediately and it, indeed, felt very nice. They also gave us
slippers that looked very similar to what I had been given in the past
in hotels in Japan. They were dark blue though, not white, and also
felt considerably sturdier. The First Class was almost full, with 7
out of the 8 seats occupied. I think we had two dedicated flight
attendants for First Class and two dedicated bathrooms too, which had
lots of refreshment towels, shaving equipment, and other perks.

We pushed back and took off just before 5pm. The flight attendants
distributed the personal entertainment list, menu, and wine list. They
also took the main course orders; I had a choice of four dishes and I
opted for the turbot with mango and basmati rice. They then set up
the tables with tableclothes and modern with a slightly square look
cutlery, and gave each passanger a rose (there's a dedicated small
holder for it on the seat). I started the meal with a glass of red
wine and caviar. I had a choice of three appetizers, but was given all
three: shrimp with some coleslaw-type sauce, marinated artichoke, and
lovely tender beef with porcini mushrooms, the latter being the
best. Throughout the meal, the purser kept tempting me with a good
variety of difference breads from the bread basket. I gave the
post-appetizer salad a miss and went straight into the succulent
turbot, which arrived in a tastefully curvy dish (the fish was
particularly well cooked and tasted great, the rice was a little bit
on the dry side). They even gave me a proper fish knife and asked me
whether I wanted to change to white wine; how could I say no to that?
For dessert I had a nice selection of cheeses, with toast (not
crackers!), and a very lovely (and recommended by the crew) German
dessert wine. I skipped the coffee or tea; instead I had a post-meal
Metaxa with small chocolates; there were 8 difference varieties and I
hesitated a bit deciding which varieties I wanted, so I was given all
eight! What a service!

After dinner, I was asked whether I would like some breakfast in the
morning and I said only if I wake up by myself. I brushed my teeth,
was given a blanket (duvet-style, which was fluffy and confortable),
flattened my seat, and tried to get some sleep. Despite the confort
and all the "refreshments" I had consumed I couldn't get too much
sleep (I got around 2 hours or less). I think it was because it was
still early and because I found the cabin a little bit on the hot
side. Nevertheless, it was very relaxing.

In the end, I got up a bit before breakfast. The crew set the tables
again. We started with fresh orange juice (it was proper juice! not
from concentrate!) and I chose the fresh fruit over the cereal. I then
opted for the cheese omelette with a filling (I can't recall what it
was) and lots of coffee. It was lovely and it definitely hit the spot.

Shortly afterwards, we started our descent and landed at FRA slightly
ahead of schedule. Still too early for my liking though (530am). On my
way to immigration I saw other people holding the LH roses. They had
obviously arrived in First Class too!  

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Monday, Sep 6, 2004

I checked in quickly at the dedicated First Class check-in desk at FRA
and went through security. When I got on this flight in the past, it
usually left from one of the gates near B25. Unfortunately, this time,
it was A60. The problem with A60 is the fact that there is no lounge
near it. The closest lounge is before the second US-specific security
check and it's quite small. So, I struggled to find a seat and the I
did find was close to the smoking area. Needless to stay I didn't stay
there too long.

The line to the US-specific extra security check was not too long, but
it still took me around 10 mins to go through it. Interestingly, the
dedicated First/Business Class line seemed twice as long as the
economy ones. I eventually got to the gate and a bit later we boarded.

LH423, FRA 1040 to BOS 1245, Gate A60, A340-300, Seat 2A

This time First Class was almost empty and it was only 3 of us in
it. So it was nice and quiet. I had, again, a window/aisle seat, which
was great. We pushed back on time and had a smooth take off shortly
afterwards.

Apart from the amenity kit, menu, wine list, and personal
entertainment options, I was also given another sweater (a blue one
this time, so I now have one of each; yes, the gray one is more
confortable) as well as a set of blue pyjamas! The pyjamas were
excellent. They gave me XL size, which were a little big for me
(NIKV69, I hope you're reading this!  ) but were extremely
confortable. Two of us opted to wear our pyjamas, whereas the third
guy stayed in his suit. There was a thread some time ago in which some
people insisted that First Class passangers should wear suits and
nothing less. I would love to know what they would say if they saw us
sitting in First Class in our pyjamas! Having said all this, I really
wonder why they didn't offer pyjamas during the flight to FRA; it
would have made more sense as it was an overnight flight and would
have made sleep even more confortable. Oh well...

Lunch was as delicious as the previous flight. I started, again, with
caviar, followed by the three appetizers: smoked salmon terrine, cured
duck, and a goat's cheese terrine. This was followed by a salad: green
leaves with mango yoghurt. Then the main course arrived. I had ordered
the fish dish, halibut, which was again lovely. I skipped the cheese,
but I did have dessert, an absolutely outstanding chocolate tart, with
a capuccino (A capuccino in a plane! Can you believe this? I couldn't)
and some more of those delicious small chocolates. What a life!

After lunch I did some programming on my laptop while watching
movies. The first one, Shrek 2, was part of the scheduled programme on
my PTV. I had seen it before, but still laughed so much economy
passangers at the very back of the plane must have heard me (given how
quiet the A340 is supposed to be, right?  ). Then I ordered Man On
Fire (it was pretty good), followed by Peter Pan (this left a lot to
be desired). During the movies I ordered a second capuccino.

Finally, it was time for the pre-landing "snack". This "snack" ended
up to be a full three-course meal with plenty of choice too. I had a
raw tuna appetizer (if I remember well), another fishy main course
with an unusual, but very tasty, kaffir lime sauce, and a selection of
fruit for dessert with a nice cup of tea; proper tea (Darjeeling I
think), in my own personal pot! Lovely.

Shortly after this "snack" I changed into my clothes (facing the US
immigration officer in my pyjamas didn't seem very attractive at the
time) and we started our decent. I did take some pictures during the
landing (after checking with the purser to be on the safe side!),
which turned out to be just OK.

We landed on time and taxied towards our gate at Terminal E. Due to
the small number of immigration desks at BOS, sometimes passangers are
asked to stay at their seats after landing to wait for the immigration
Hall to clear. In the past I had to wait up to 30 mins in the
plane. This time there was no wait. We were cleared to deplane
immediately. The great thing about sitting in First Class is that
you're off the plane first. As a result, and thanks to the fact that I
didn't have to wait for checked in luggage, I cleared immigration,
went through customs, and was outside the terminal in under 20 mins; a
personal record.

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Final Thoughts

In terms of confort, food, service, etc. these two flights were,
undoubtedly, the very best I've ever been on. I also have to mention
that all the attendants were very pleasant, polite, helpful, and very
professional. So, thanks to all of them for the enjoyable flights!
Now, if only they could teach the LH crews back at economy to be a bit
more cheerful...

If you want to get an idea of how the First Class meals in LH look
like, the www.airlinemeals.com WWW site has several examples.

One of the things that I really enjoyed in First Class was how quiet
it was. Not only because I was located at the front of the plane but
also due to the small number of people in the cabin. I believe that
this was one of the main contributing factors of arriving at my
destination rested, refreshed, less headachy, and less stressed
than when I travel in economy.

As I said before, I hadn't flown in First Class before so I cannot
compare it to the product of another airline. My other recent
non-economy experiences are limited to AC's Executive First in the
same route, BOS-FRA vi YYZ, and AA's Business Class one-way NRT-ORD. I
would rate them this way: LH F, AC EF, AA B. I think that's expected,
given that LH's First is a real First Class, AC's Executive First is,
I would claim, a First/Business hybrid, and AA's Business Class is a
real Business Class. Something that I should point out though is that,
in my opinion, AC had the best amenity kit of the three.

I'll be back in the BOS-FRA flight in a couple of months, but it will
be in economy this time. I'm dreading it. It will seem ten times more
crammed and unconfortable, now that I know how confortable the seats
at the front are. And I'm really not looking forward to hearing
the dreaded question, which I was thankfully not asked in First
Class. What? Yes, of course you know what the dreaded question is:
"Would you like chicken or beef?" YUK!