Lufthansa Rolls Out New Business Class Menu and Baggage Pick-Up Service
The German carrier is improving its regional Business Class meal offering
Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa
Lufthansa is upgrading its Business Class catering on short- and medium-haul flights and introducing a baggage collection service for passengers departing from Frankfurt.
Starting February 26, Lufthansa will launch a revised catering concept for Business Class passengers on short- and medium-haul routes.
Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa
Although the airline is yet to reveal details of the new menu, the update includes a broader selection of hot and cold dishes, with an emphasis on European cuisine and ingredients sourced from the region.
On flights lasting around two hours, passengers will have more vegetarian and non-vegetarian cold meal options. On longer flights of three hours or more, the number of hot meal choices will increase from two to three.
The meals have been developed in collaboration with chef Johann Lafer, Lufthansa’s culinary team, and catering partner Gate Gourmet.
Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa
A key addition is the expansion of the airline’s “Pre-Select” service, allowing passengers to pre-order from up to nine hot meal options on flights exceeding two hours. This service, already available on SWISS and planned for Austrian Airlines, is intended to improve efficiency and reduce food waste by optimizing meal preparation.
“The introduction of ‘Pre-Select’ on Lufthansa’s short- and medium-haul routes underlines our ongoing efforts to offer a consistently high-quality and uniform travel experience,” said Caroline Drischel, Senior Vice President Customer Journey Lufthansa Group.
According to Heiko Reitz, Chief Customer Officer of Lufthansa, the airline prioritized regional sourcing and sustainability in developing the new meals. “We made a conscious decision to use local and selected European products,” he said.
The airline says passengers flying in Business Class will have the opportunity to choose from a new range of starters, main courses, and desserts, something that had been missing from the airline’s regional and medium-haul cabins for a long time.
Baggage Pick-up and Check-In Service
The German flag carrier is also rolling out a baggage collection and check-in service in partnership with technology provider AirPortr. Available to passengers departing from the airline’s hub in Frankfurt, the service allows travelers to have their luggage collected from their home or hotel, transported to the airport, and checked in.
Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa
According to Lufthansa, passengers using this service will receive real-time tracking updates and a digital baggage receipt, allowing them to proceed directly to security at the airport.
The service is currently available in Frankfurt and surrounding areas, including Mannheim, Heidelberg, Hanau, Aschaffenburg, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Darmstadt, and Bensheim. Prices start at €25, depending on the location and pick-up time, and bookings must be made at least 36 hours before departure. Further expansion of the service is planned.
Photo: Lufthansa, Airbus A319. Courtesy of Fraport – Frankfurt Airport
Reitz described the baggage service as part of Lufthansa’s efforts to improve its premium offerings. “With the new pick-up and check-in service, we are offering our passengers another exclusive service that is unique in Germany,” he said.
These developments are part of Lufthansa’s broader strategy to enhance the passenger experience, both in the air and on the ground. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives in improving convenience and service quality remains to be seen as passengers begin to experience the changes firsthand.
North American Service
To experience these new dishes and services, passengers flying to and from North America through Lufthansa’s gateways in Frankfurt and Munich will have the opportunity to test them firsthand.
The German carrier provides flights to 27 cities in the U.S., including Atlanta (ATL), Austin (AUS), Boston (BOS), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Denver (DEN), Detroit (DTW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Minneapolis (MSP), New York (JFK), New York/Newark (EWR), Orlando (MCO), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), San Diego (SAN), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), St. Louis (STL), and Washington, D.C. (IAD).
Photo: Lufthansa, Airbus A350-900. Courtesy of Munich Airport
Lufthansa uses various aircraft for these flights, including the Boeing 747-8, Airbus A350, Airbus A380, and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
Among these, the Airbus A350 is particularly noteworthy, as it features Lufthansa’s innovative Allegris cabin experience.
This new cabin will soon be introduced on additional North American routes, with flights to and from Newark, Charlotte, and San Diego launching shortly.
Photo: Courtesy of Lufthansa
The German airline first unveiled its highly anticipated Allegris product last spring, deploying it on newly delivered Airbus A350s. Currently, nine A350-900s are fitted with these modern interiors, including six that showcase the airline’s all-new First Class suites.
