Seat 41K, in the rear economy class cabin, with a seat configuration of 3-4-3. I’m fortunate on this flight to score what I call “poor man’s business class” – that is, two empty seats next to me.
Entertainment + tech
My seatback touchscreen doesn’t really like being touched.Credit: Alamy
Lufthansa’s seatback entertainment is delivered via an 8.5-inch (21.5-centimetre) touchscreen that, unfortunately, in my case, doesn’t really like being touched. I’m constantly having to mash the thing with my hand to get it to respond, and the whole system packs it in with about half an hour of flying time to go. And FYI, if you were doing this route on Singapore Airlines, your entertainment screen would be 2 inches (or 25 per cent) larger.
Service
Without wanting to resort to national stereotypes, the service on board this Lufthansa flight is friendly and efficient, though brusque, with little room for niceties.
Food
Airline food has come along in leaps and bounds in the past decade or so, with plenty of carriers now serving cuisine you would be more than happy to eat at a cheap restaurant. Lufthansa is not one of those airlines. I’m served a soggy ravioli with tomato sauce for dinner, and then, as there’s no choice of dishes for the second meal, some rubbery scrambled eggs for breakfast.
Carbon emissions
0.82 tonnes in economy.
One more thing
With a tight connection, there was no time to linger at Frankfurt airport. Credit: Getty Images
Be warned: though Lufthansa’s ticketing system allows passengers to book very tight transfers through its German hubs, this in no way indicates that you will have time to make those connections. On both my outward flight via Munich and return flight via Frankfurt, I had to make a crazed dash through the airport to make my connecting flight, and my baggage is “delayed” – that is, lost – both times.
The price
From about $1700 return in economy class (or $2500 if you’re flying the full route from Sydney to Frankfurt return).*
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The verdict
Remember the bad old days of flying, when entertainment was minimal, food was inedible, you got around on Boeing 747s, and your bags got lost all the time? No? Well, after this Lufthansa flight, I do.
Our rating out of five
★★
The writer flew as a guest of World Expeditions
*Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and are subject to change.