Lufthansa “domestic” business

At the end of our last installment, I was in Heathrow, waiting for a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt.

Lufthansa’s “domestic” (intra-Europe) business class is more or less equivalent to US airlines’ domestic first, except that the seats are exactly the same as those in coach – which is to say, small and uncomfortable.  Really, the only things that differentiate it from coach are a vacant middle seat and a nicer meal.

I have to say, I perked up quite a bit once the flight took off and the sun started streaming in through the window, and even more when my breakfast was presented.

US airlines – take a lesson.  This is what an airplane breakfast should be.

There was a bowl of museli studded with red currants and a few shards of chocolate (and one rogue blackberry), a dish with Brie and some salad, and a mini Bundt cake.  I liked the touch of having a small bottle of cold milk to pour over the cereal.

It was varied and tasty (and healthy), and really hard to mess up.  I think there’s an expectation that even breakfast needs to be a hot meal on US airlines, which leads to mediocre food.  I’d much rather have this!

***

We were a bit delayed landing in Frankfurt, so I rushed to my connecting gate to meet my aunt and uncle.  I did have time to notice the cute little blue bicycles for the staff to ride around the terminal – very European!

This flight featured a light lunch, with a plate of thinly-sliced Parma ham, melon, shrimp, petit mozzarella balls, a roasted cherry tomato, and a dollop of pesto.  Admittedly, by some standards, this is more of a snack than a meal, but it was perfect for me, especially with a multigrain roll.

And there was even dessert, chocolate mousse topped with custard, then stewed apricots and a sprinkling of lavender.  It was attractive and tasty, practically restaurant-worthy.

I spent the rest of the short flight looking out the window at the Alps in the distance and looking forward to landing and starting vacation in earnest.  But Lufthansa’s airplane food had kicked things off well.  Who’d have guessed?