Having been escorted to a waiting car from the lounge, we quickly drove along the terminal past Lufthansa’s various widebodies waiting to depart to far-off lands.
Until we turned left and drove past the jetbridge, it didn’t occur to me that this was the 747 scheduled to fly to New York.
After stopping the car, my driver escorted me and my suitcase to an elevator next to the jet bridge so I could board the plane.
Lufthansa 400
Frankfurt (FRA) – New York (JFK)
Tuesday, December 31st, 2013
Depart: 10:55AM
Arrive: 1:35PM
Duration: 8 hours, 40 minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 747-430 (D-ABTL)
Seat: 82C (First Class)
While many airlines place their first class cabin behind the nose on their 747’s, Lufthansa has its on the upper deck. The 747 First Class differs a bit from those on other aircraft (such their A340) by featuring a dedicated bed next to the seat, minimizing the compromises necessary to get a seat that can morph into a bed at a moment’s notice.
One of the flight attendants stopped by to drop off a pair of pajamas and an amenity kit.
After finishing up boarding soon after the first class passengers arrived, we had a short taxi past a waiting United 777 before taking off.
The menu read as follows:
The initial place setting, complete with butter, olive oil, and grinders for salt and pepper.
As we were departing from a Lufthansa hub, they could afford to attend to details such as ensuring the butter is stamped “First Class.”
When United’s reservations system dropped this Lufthansa segment, I lost my vegetarian meal reservation. Nonetheless, the flight worked out and I was able to find suitable vegetarian options from the menu. I began with the salad and lettuce mousse.
For my main course, I selected the walnut gnocchi.
Finally, I had some carrot cake, topped with fresh carrots, for dessert.
Having woken up at the crack of dawn in Europe (and with minimal sleep from the night before), I settled down to take a nap. I woke up shortly into the snack service just before landing, selecting the canape with cream cheese.
Once off the plane, Customs was a zoo, even for Global Entry, so I was a bit delayed in getting into the city.
