NEWS: Lufthansa now has a fleet of Airbus A380 superjumbos operating - and with it, the newly developed First Class cabin. It flies to destinations including Johannesburg, Tokyo, Beijing, Singapore, Miami, San Francisco, and New York JFK. Shorthaul Lufthansa is fitting a new slimline seat developed by Recaro, which gives a higher seat density.

Lufthansa are the efficient, business like, top quality, and totally soulless national airline of Germany. It gets its passengers where they want to go with ruthless efficiency, and generally pretty much on time. There is a vast route network covering most of Europe, although requiring a change at either of the two main hubs, Frankfurt of Munich. Add to this good solid food, a brilliant First Class terminal, and great drinks, and its suprising more people don't fly on "Luffy".

Fares have been dramatically slashed in recent years. Alas its all badly let down by appalling inflight entertainment on long-haul economy (Lufthansa are only now retrofitting seatback TV screens), bad business class lounges, a very tough frequent flyer scheme, and brusing customer service.

In the premium classes, it's important to note that Lufthansa have put their money behind ground services. The First Class or Hon lounges are top notch (and some of the best on any network), however the seats and flight are not that great (there is little privacy, and the meals are so-so). Back in business you are given to the feeling that you've only paid a little bit more for, well, a bit better food and a couple of extra inches legroom, while the lounges are just a good place for a free beer on a plastic seat, as opposed to sitting outside on a plastic seat.

In short if you know what you're in for, its great. If not, it can be a bit of a shock.

Lufthansa has a small subsidury, Eurowings, which brings together five small airlines - Lufthansa CityLine, Air Dolomiti, Augsburg, Contact Air, and Eurowings itself. It flies to smaller destinations that Lufthansa may not supply, and also in parallel with some routes Lufthansa itself serves at busier times of day. ... read more.