LUFTHANSA’S new Premium Economy Class was presented to industry experts in ITB Berlin this year making it a new travel class to be launched by the airline for the first time in 35 years.
The introduction of Premium Economy Class will complement the many improvements that Lufthansa plans to make in all classes on board and on the ground by 2015. By this point in time, the entire long-haul fleet will have the new First and Business Class – which will involve the installation of 7,000 new seats on the company’s aircraft. The design and features of the new seat in particular are based on extensive passenger surveys and workshops with sales partners – a process that has been successfully used at Lufthansa. Following the upgrade of our First and Business Class, the installation of 3,600 seats on all 106 of our long-haul aircraft in just one year will mean another step towards becoming a five-star airline. The airline expects to see more than 1.5 million passengers per year in its new Premium Economy Class alone.50PC MORE ROOM
Depending on the aircraft type, seats are up to three centimetres wider and have about 10 centimetres more room, have their own armrest and a centre console sits between the seats. As a result, passengers have around one-and-a-half times as much room as Economy Class. Practical features around the seats such as a bottle holder, electrical socket and lots of storage space for passengers’ belongings also help to ensure a relaxed and pleasant journey.
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Karsten Zang, Lufthansa GM UAE and director Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq |
Premium Economy passengers can take twice as much free luggage with them compared with Economy Class with a baggage allowance of two items weighing up to 23 kilogrammes each. For an extra €25 ($35), passengers can also enjoy the comfort of the Lufthansa Business Lounges before their departure. Lounges were previously only open to status customers and are otherwise unavailable on a paying basis. Premium Economy passengers are greeted with a welcome drink and will find their own water bottle as well as an amenity kit with practical travel accessories at their seat. Meals are presented on menus commensurate with the new travel class and served on porcelain tableware. Passengers can navigate the extensive in-flight entertainment programme using their own touchscreen monitor on the seat in front of them.
ATTRACTIVE PRICING
Lufthansa Premium Economy Class is located within the cabin as a clearly identifiable separate compartment between Business and Economy Classes. Depending on the aircraft type, it contains between 21 and 52 seats. Ticket prices in the new Premium Economy Class will be closer to Economy Class than Business Class. The new travel class can be booked from May onwards and will be available from November 2014, initially on the Boeing 747-8.
IMPROVED BUSINESS CLASS
Hot on the heels of the Premium Economy Class announcement, Lufthansa has announced improvements to its award-winning First and Business Class as well. Key improvements in 2014 will focus on Business Class in particular. Fro m as early as August 2014, the amenity kits provided in Business Class will be upgraded along with many other aspects of service including the seats. A new kit has been developed with Samsonite and will include high-quality personal care products from the Greek premium brand Korres. Link for the High-Spending Markets: