AIRWAYS TRAVELER Queens on Vacation
9 to take care of the first Business Class section — around 16 passengers — and the only meal service was a very tasty appetizer : a selection of German roast beef , a fruit salad , some bread , and a beverage of choice . In our case , white wine .
One of the unique features of the Boeing 747 is that the passenger cabin extends along the entire length of the main deck . I was in seat 2H , which meant that I was actually seated forward of the Pilots ! This does not happen on board most planes .
MOVING TO ECONOMY
Moving along the cabin , we counted a total of 272 basic Economy Class seats in a 3-4-3 configuration . That may sound tight but , due to the 20ft-wide cabin , the layout was more than comfortable . The seat was very well padded and the legroom very spacious . The high comfort level of the Economy Class product is related to the age of the airplane ; today ’ s cabins tend to feature slimmer seats and decreased legroom in order to squeeze in more passengers .
The inflight entertainment system , however , was small and old , and the screen had some issues . Despite this , the film selection was world-class : more than 220 movie titles and 67 TV episodes . This catalog was the same found in Business Class and more than sufficient to allay any boredom on a long-haul flight . Universal power outlets were available , but their placement under the legs was uncomfortable and the charger continuously failed to remain plugged .
While the Business Class passengers were offered an adequately sized meal that included a main dish , a dessert , and a beverage , those at the back of the plane were only offered a little bottle of water after takeoff accompanied by the now very standard little Lufthansa chocolate . That was it . It ’ s a shame to see airlines drifting away from the tradition of serving at least some complimentary beverages , rather than offering them for a price .
All in all , should one need to choose an airplane for a longhaul flight , the Boeing 747-400 would be among the first to come to mind . The large cabin and spacious and comfortable seats made this two-hour journey very pleasant , even in Economy Class .
www . airwaysmag . com AIRWAYS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2024 31