It is now time to write about another “Lufthansa experience”. This time about the Lufthansa flight LH778 from Frankfurt to Singapore with the Lufthansa Airbus A380 “Berlin” and my time in the new Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Terminal “Z” in Frankfurt – the new hub of Lufthansa for your 747-8 and Airbus A380 models, which has recently opened.
My flight LH778 from Frankfurt to Singapore was announced for a Saturday at 9:45 p.m. and I had a short and relaxed arrival, having traveled the day before and arrived at the Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel with a Deutsche Bahn Rail&Fly ticket.
Only a five minute walk between the hotel and the First Class Checkin and a short walk to the new security check. I think it was really the first time I was at Frankfurt Airport and found empty security areas (I actually only know the opposite) – but due to the late departure on a weekend, it is supposed to be like this regularly and in addition the staff was still very attentive and friendly.
Lufthansa Business and Senator Lounges Z-Gates:
The new Z-Gates of Lufthansa and Star Alliance contain all the necessary areas and you enter them directly through currently almost typical “duty free areas and shopping landscape” – but also downstream you will find well-known labels and stores (such as Gucci). For me on the way to Asia, I was not particularly interested in shopping or strolling and preferred to visit the new Lufthansa Lounge (Business and Senator Lounge) directly.
Compared to the aging Lufthansa lounges at Frankfurt Airport, this change is really a milestone with lots of seating and relaxation loungers and power connections for laptop or cell phone at every seat. Perfect! A great selection of fresh food, various drink islands and coffee machines – so no negative points. Plus the new showers and bathrooms, which were also very well maintained that Saturday. The new Lufthansa lounges (Business and Senator) at Frankfurt Airport are a big plus for Lufthansa at the Frankfurt hub. (5/5 pts.)
Lufthansa flight LH778 gate Z58
Boarding was announced for da gate Z58 and my Lufthansa LH778 flight from Frankfurt to Singapore with the A380 “Berlin” and thus I had only a walk of about 10 minutes, but the walkways are really very long. If you have a gate Z68 or Z69, you should already expect a 15-20 minute walk.
My flight LH778 from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) started boarding about 35 minutes before departure and it was a bit “chaotic” due to the limited space in front of the gates. However, I still had plenty of time and had to get to the end of the plane anyway, as I once again chose seat 28A. I really like to choose this seat in business class on the A380, as you have extra storage space there (important for my shoes 🙂 laptop, etc.). – the seat 28K is directly in front of the toilets, also still o.k. – but not so perfect. In the Lufthansa A380 it is not as noisy and hectic in the back as in the middle rows from 10-21 without partitions, but otherwise generally very pleasant.
Service in Lufthansa flight LH778
I was really looking forward to flight LH778 this time, and especially the service, since everyone from Lufthansa has already told me in advance that flights to Singapore, China and Japan have much better service than the North American flights have. Whether it is true, I will write at the end of the report … 🙂
Business Class in LH778 was very well filled and it started again with the typical orange juice, sparkling wine or water and winter “de-icing”. The waiting time was about 20 minutes and with a delay of 30 minutes we went on the 10 hr 50 minute flight to Singapore-Changi Airport.
The seats in the Airbus A380 of the German Lufthansa are of course still the familiar 170° slides – no flat bed (but the new Lufthansa Business Class in V-style is similar, but at least with a flat bed) – but over the years one has become accustomed to the seats and with time also found quite good sleeping positions. The entertainment program is of course not comparable to Asian or Arab airlines, but the in-flight camera system for arrival and departure is always interesting.
Menu in Lufthansa flight LH778
After reaching cruising altitude, there was the first round of drinks and this time the probably for Asia preferred nuts with mango and vanilla flavor (after a short acclimatization period – very tasty!) and directly afterwards also the dinner (not to be compared with airlines with cook on board, but still good!).
I opted for the following courses this time:
Shrimp with potato salad, tomato and avocado cream.
Wok fried chicken breast with black bean sauce
Chocolate and coffee cream with caramel mousse
Compared to Lufthansa flights from Frankfurt or Munich to Los Angeles or New York, there is not much difference in the food in LH778 and the service during the flight….
Since I was able to sleep almost 6 hours without interruption on the plane, one of the great advantages of evening flights – and a very quiet cabin in the A380, I was rested for breakfast.
Two variants were available to choose from and of course I decided against the microwave egg 🙂
My choice therefore bread, Nutella and some fruit
Lufthansa flight LH778 arrival in Singapore
The last 30 minutes on approach to Singapore were a bit covered with turbulence (similar to the first 30 minutes after takeoff), but still o.k. – the arrival in Singapore was a few minutes before the expected landing time and it was raining heavily. Lufthansa planes land in Terminal 1 at Changi Airport and it is still a nice airport (compared to many US and European airports) and immigration was quick and smooth. All counters were open and the waiting time was five minutes maximum). The luggage was already on the belt, the walk through customs and the first search for the UOB exchange office.
UOB offers phone cards for cell phones and and I wanted to buy directly my first phone card for my iPhone (normally about SG$ 25 / Iphone5 nano sim cards a Changi airport cost about SG$ 50 and include a data package of 1GB).
Please look for an ATM in front of it, as the exchange rates are much cheaper, as you will have to pay high fees if you want to pay for the phone card with your credit card. There, directly in the UOB area, your SIM card will be exchanged and you will get the information how to use the phone card in Singapore. Within 10 minutes luggage, phone card and on the way to the cab. The ride to Orchard Road takes about 20-30 minutes and costs SG$20-30. The service is very friendly and they also offer you a bigger limousine – but the cab is quite enough.
Lufthansa flight LH778 – personal conclusion
The flight with the A380 of the German Lufthansa LH778 was a nice experience, but you can’t compare the service and space with Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways, as well as with my preferred airline, Thai Airways. Likewise, two Lufthansa partners, Swiss Airlines and Austrian Airlines offer better catering and, depending on the aircraft type, better business class. If you compare the prices for the flights, you can also choose another airline.
The new Lufthansa lounges in the Z section are very nice in Frankfurt and the new gate area has a modern design, but would not be a main reason to fly the route from Frankfurt to Singapore.
For me, who used points from my Miles&More account on the route and thus only had to pay the taxes and fees, it was a good flight and if you don’t have to pay the full flight, I can recommend this option with Lufthansa’s A380.
