Lufthansa rant

[rr-nyc]

I've flown Lufthansa several times to Europe both in business class and coach. Overall, I find the airline to be very good however I feel the need to rant a little about my latest flight.

A company I am meeting with purchased my first class ticket from NYC to Milan. Lufthansa is in the process of fitting all their long haul planes with satellite wifi which this particular plane had been fitted.

The cost is €10 for an hour or €39 for 24 hours so I ask my flight attendant if internet access is included in first class and she replied no.

Seriously...For the cost of a transatlantic first class seat, Lufthansa can't include internet access? I don't see how the food and seat warrant the cost over a business class ticket.

Rant over

[capote]

Yeah that seems cheap. My experience with Lufthansa is good though. Continental on the other hand...

[Solidarity]

I dont think any airlines do? It is really cheap and I bet the first carrier that advertises free wifi in Biz/1st gets a big leg up on the competition.

[azguy]

airlines are in the revenue business no matter how much your seat costs

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by azguy

airlines are in the revenue business no matter how much your seat costs

No matter how hard I tried to understand what you wrote, it still makes no sense at all

[Tri-Tip]

They figure that if you're shelling out several thousand dollars for a ticket, you won't mind a little more for wi-fi.

[rajurama]

If you can afford a first class seat I guess 39 euro is petty. However it would be nice if they provided it complimentary.

[mfer]

Sorry, but that price is stupid.

[Cru Jones]

i imagine the initial cost of setting it up was expensive, and whoever did the modeling convinced the brass to go ahead with the project based on certain revenue projections without thinking of the various classes on the plane. as the service becomes standardized, i'm sure certain classes will get it "for free".

as an aside, i enjoyed your "rant" about your free first-class transatlantic ticket!

[Zirotti]

That is ridiculously expensive. But it's a luxury tax. Why should the service of a Rolex cost 4x as much as the service of a Tag with a normal ETA movement? They are both equally as "complicated".

[towernick]

Having just flown Singapore Airlines from LAX to Tokyo and back, I have to say that the Aisan airlines from a service standpoint are so far ahead everyone else.

[Zed Homme]

I refuse to fly with them. They are always ridiculously over priced and the customer service is poor. Also I feel like I need an engineering degree to operate their first class seats. Add the Frankfurt airport and an allegiance to united and you'll have me running the other way.

[Jocke]

That was cheap.

Last time I fly with Norwegians they have free WiFi at all places. I guess that is something that the customers
looking for when the book a ticket.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Tri-Tip

They figure that if you're shelling out several thousand dollars for a ticket, you won't mind a little more for wi-fi.

Part of me agrees with that but you are paying for all the luxuries (i say that part humorously) so why not throw in some internet

[Zed Homme]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Part of me agrees with that but you are paying for all the luxuries (i say that part humorously) so why not throw in some internet

I hear you. However look at hotels. Every holiday inn express, comfort inn, la Quinta, etc has free wifi, but all the top end hotels charge between $12-30 a night.

[agsstructures]

Originally Posted by Zed Homme

I hear you. However look at hotels. Every holiday inn express, comfort inn, la Quinta, etc has free wifi, but all the top end hotels charge between $12-30 a night.

I have noticed this also. Going to Madrid at the end of the month and were staying at a nicer hotel and the wi-fi is expensive!

[esspee1200]

lufthansa is one of the best airlines i have ever used. their munich hub is superior! but, agree that there should be comped wifi.

[superlollo]

Same reason why you pay 180.000€ for a ferrari but you have to pay an extra 500+ if you want the logo above the front wheels (and every ferrari i see has them, so people probably don't care and just shell out the money)

On the other hand, i agree that biz and first should have complimentary wi-fi.

Asian and middle east airlines are so ahead of european and american ones that it's not even funny any more

[TSW]

Not my favorite Airline.

[KKB]

If I were CEO of Lufthansa I wouldn't want my top paying customers to feel like they are being nickeled and dimed to death after shelling out a big premium for first class tickets.

[conrail]

Originally Posted by esspee1200

lufthansa is one of the best airlines i have ever used. their munich hub is superior! but, agree that there should be comped wifi.

x2. Couldn't agree more. I also really enjoyed flying into Frankfurt. The airport layout makes such simple sense...wonder why everyone doesn't do it that way.

However, once you install the wifi system, just build it into the cost of the ticket and give it to everyone. Even if you itemized it on their tickets charges as such, I don't think people would really care all that much to be paying for it. Nothing seems to tick people off more than being nickled and dimed.

[gwalker]

I flew them back in 01 to Italy. That's seriously f'ed up that you are charged that with the cost of those tickets nowadays. I'm a member of the $9 fare club on Spirit so I'm used to being screwed with fees but when I fly Delta or American Buisness class I expect much more. I do like them but IMO I'd be much happier given the cost upfront and wish most airlines would quit this hidden fee crap. Guess that's why I like Southwest so much.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by Zed Homme

I hear you. However look at hotels. Every holiday inn express, comfort inn, la Quinta, etc has free wifi, but all the top end hotels charge between $12-30 a night.

True, the road warrior hotels in the US do offer free Internet while their full service counterparts charge but it is free to their status members like Marriott rewards

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by KKB

If I were CEO of Lufthansa I wouldn't want my top paying customers to feel like they are being nickeled and dimed to death after shelling out a big premium for first class tickets.

I completely agree. I imagine this will eventually change but unfortunately, not for me on this trip.

The cost of this ticket is more than the 12 coach class seats they remove for a lay flat seat. There is still a profit in these seats for them to throw in €39 internet access even if they had to pay tmobile for it.

[rr-nyc]

Originally Posted by esspee1200

lufthansa is one of the best airlines i have ever used. their munich hub is superior! but, agree that there should be comped wifi.

Lufthansa is certainly one of the most efficient airlines IMO. Munich and Frankfurt are very easy to maneuver. Their clubs are well taken care of and the staff are all professional. They are very good at getting everyone on a plane quickly for departure too compared to any other airline

This is the first time I connected through dusseldorf and it's not quite the same

[jolimont]

Originally Posted by towernick

Having just flown Singapore Airlines from LAX to Tokyo and back, I have to say that the Aisan airlines from a service standpoint are so far ahead everyone else.

SIA for the win, miles ahead of any other airline

[Zed Homme]

Originally Posted by rr-nyc

Lufthansa is certainly one of the most efficient airlines IMO. Munich and Frankfurt are very easy to maneuver. Their clubs are well taken care of and the staff are all professional. They are very good at getting everyone on a plane quickly for departure too compared to any other airline

This is the first time I connected through dusseldorf and it's not quite the same

My experiences in Munich and Duesseldorf have always been good, but frankfurt is pure hell. Frankfurt may be the airport that I hate more than JFK. I'd rather take heathrow (and their miserably disappointing T5) anytime. In all fairness, despite my hate for lufthansa, they always have the newest nicest planes, and the have an incredible safety record. My choice to Germany is Delta or Air Berlin.

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by conrail

x2. Couldn't agree more. I also really enjoyed flying into Frankfurt. The airport layout makes such simple sense...wonder why everyone doesn't do it that way.

However, once you install the wifi system, just build it into the cost of the ticket and give it to everyone. Even if you itemized it on their tickets charges as such, I don't think people would really care all that much to be paying for it. "Nothing seems to tick people off more than being nickled and dimed. "

Case in point: Certain hotels in this town charge a mandatory daily service fee for incidentals that you may or may not use, spa, in room phone use, newspaper, internet, concierge service. Up to 25 dollars a day, on top of the daily rate of the room.

Needless to say lots of people are surprised when they check out and see that 20.00 daily charge on the bill.

[manuu]

Originally Posted by superlollo

Asian and middle east airlines are so ahead of european and american ones that it's not even funny any more

That is so true. I travel quite a bit on business. Emirates is hands down the best airline I've travelled on. Their business class is better than most American and European first class. Moreover they have really nice cabin crew unlike the American ones like united and continental ( who are the most grumpiest I've ever seen ).
Close on their heels in terms of service are Singapore Airlines, Malaysian and Cathay Pacific. If I have a choice I would prefer to never fly an American or European airline ever again.

[bayerische]

A first class ticket from NYC to Milan must be close to the price of a Sub? And 39e more for wifi?