BOOKED: Lufthansa 787, Condor A330neo, And Alaska 737 MAX!

As I acknowledged initially of the yr, my single largest aim for the weblog for 2023 is to take as many overview journeys as doable. These will principally be “pure” overview journeys, within the sense that I’m attempting to take journeys that permit me to overview as many merchandise as doable, whereas minimizing my time away from dwelling.

I’ve already printed my Whirlwind Aeroplan Journey, and I’m at present within the technique of publishing my 4 Instances Throughout the Atlantic. I’ve now gone forward and booked my subsequent overview journey, which I’ll be taking shortly.

Lengthy story quick, I’ll be doing a head-to-head comparability of the most effective that German aviation at present has to supply in enterprise class.

Lufthansa 787-9 enterprise class

For the outbound portion of my journey, I’ll be flying Lufthansa’s Boeing 787-9 from Detroit to Frankfurt. Lufthansa began flying the 787 on lengthy haul routes in latest months, and it’s the primary time the airline has supplied a enterprise class product with direct aisle entry from each seat.

Sadly this isn’t Lufthansa’s new “Allegris” enterprise class product, however slightly it’s a brand new interim enterprise class product. Particularly, Lufthansa is taking supply of 5 787s that have been initially supposed to fly for China’s Hainan Airways, however in the long run the airline couldn’t finance the planes, so Lufthansa picked them up advantageously.

These 787s may have reverse herringbone seats, that are frequent on so many airways. Having flown Lufthansa enterprise class so many instances earlier than, I can’t assist however point out how unusual it should really feel to not be sitting subsequent to somebody. It’s one thing I so intently affiliate with flying on Lufthansa.

I booked this phase for 63,000 Avianca LifeMiles.

Condor A330-900neo enterprise class

To return to the US, I’ll be flying Condor’s model new Airbus A330-900neo from Frankfurt to Seattle. Condor has lengthy been a German leisure airline, however the service is basically taking its product to the subsequent degree, with all new A330-900neos which have a product that may compete fairly favorably with Lufthansa.

With Condor having affordable transatlantic fares and more and more competing in Lufthansa’s markets, I feel it’s a product price figuring out about. I even determined to splurge on one of many “Prime Seats,” that are the entrance row enterprise class seats that even include some further facilities.

I booked this phase for 55,000 Alaska Mileage Plan miles.

Alaska 737 MAX 9 top notch

To return from Seattle to the East Coast, I’ll be flying Alaska’s Boeing 737 MAX 9 top notch. I haven’t flown the Alaska 737 MAX but, so I’m curious to see what the expertise is like. Alaska does differentiate itself a bit by having 41″ of pitch in home top notch, which you gained’t discover on different airways. Moreover, I’ve usually discovered Alaska’s delicate product to be superior to what you’ll discover on different legacy airways.

I booked this phase with money, as I discovered an inexpensive paid fare, and it permits me to earn American AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Factors.

Count on some resort & lounge critiques as effectively

I’ll in fact be reviewing some resort and lounges throughout this journey as effectively.

So far as lodges go:

• I’ve just lately reviewed the Marriott Frankfurt Airport and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport, so is it time to take a look at the Hilton Frankfurt Airport, or is there one other airport resort I ought to take a look at that may be extra intereesting?
• For my quick in a single day in Seattle, is there a SeaTac Airport resort that’s higher than others? I’m leaning towards the Marriott, however am undecided if there’s a greater choice

So far as lounges go:

• I’ll be trying out the Lufthansa Lounge Detroit
• Upon arrival in Frankfurt, I’ll be visiting the Lufthansa Welcome Lounge, which I’ve by no means visited earlier than
• In Frankfurt, Condor makes use of the Lufthansa Lounges, and I’ve reviewed a lot of these; does anybody know in the event you can entry Terminal 2 at Frankfurt with a Terminal 1 identical day boarding cross, in order that I might take a look at the Air France and Primeclass Lounges via Precedence Move, or is {that a} no-no?
• In Seattle I’m wanting ahead to trying out the flagship Alaska Lounge and new Amex Centurion Lounge

Backside line

As you may inform, I’m doing the whole lot I can to keep up the tempo of the overview journeys I’ve been taking. This journey is a bit easier than the 2 others I took to date this yr, however I feel there’s one thing cool about doing a direct comparability of Germany’s two present greatest enterprise class exhausting merchandise.

I’ll be sharing my preliminary impressions of the journey as I take the journey, after which you may anticipate a full journey report as soon as the present collection is completed.

For these hoping for one thing a bit extra unique, fear not. I nonetheless have Etihad’s A350, Air Mauritius’ A350, Vistara’s 787 and A321neo, and Singapore’s 737 MAX, close to the highest of my listing of merchandise to overview subsequent.

Any predictions or ideas for my upcoming overview journey? How do you assume Lufthansa and Condor will examine?