Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Washington to Frankfurt – My First Flight and Review
Business-class seat, upper deck
Right now, if you wish to fly on the new Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental jumbo jet from the United States, you have only one choice, namely to fly Lufthansa from Washington, D.C. to Frankfurt. Not only will you then be flying on the world’s newest and longest passenger jet, but you’ll be able to experience Lufthansa’s brand new business- and first-class cabin design as well.
In getting from New York City to Dulles International Airport (with the threat of storms in the offing), I gained a healthy respect for those who must regularly travel from other locations to a gateway city in order to make an international flight. Nonetheless, I made it to Dulles, one of the nation’s most beautiful airports (the main terminal building was designed by Eero Saarinen), and was soon at the business-class check-in for Lufthansa, where I was greeted warmly, invited to visit the business-class lounge, and informed where to find the priority line for the security checkpoint.
Lufthansa Business Class Lounge, Dulles
Dulles is a fairly busy airport and the line for security – even on the priority side – was fairly long. The interesting interior architecture, however, made the wait bearable. At the checkpoint, the airport’s staff is dressed in black tie and were very pleasant, greeting passengers and helping keep the lines moving. The TSA screeners were also very friendly and helpful.
I headed to Lufthansa’s business-class lounge, where I found a quiet corner to relax and have a snack before the flight.
BOARDING
Lufthansa invites first- and business-class passengers to board first and, in order to get a good look at the new aircraft, I was one of the first aboard.
Flight crew preparing for departure
My seat, 82x, was on the 747-8’s upper deck and flight attendants were in the aisle welcoming passengers, hanging up coats, and offering pre-departure beverages.
I took the opportunity to look at the aircraft in an almost empty state and the differences were immediately apparent. The main entrance was spacious and you could definitely see the influence of the Dreamliner here, something reinforced by the Boeing Sky Interior with larger windows and surrounds and adjustable LED lighting. A curved staircase leads to the upper deck.
Click here to continue to Page 2 – Seat Comfort, In-Flight Service, Dining, and Virtual Tours
