As an aviation enthusiast, there are certain aircraft that have been on my bucket list to try, and certain airline products that I’ve always wanted to experience. In this comparison of Lufthansa vs Delta, we’ll look at a short haul Delta flight from Toronto to Atlanta on an MD-88 and a long haul Lufthansa First Class flight from Munich to New York on an A340.
While these are very different experiences—one being a regional hop in economy and the other a luxurious transatlantic journey—comparing them gives us a fascinating look at what each airline offers.
The Ground Experience
Delta in Toronto
Welcome to Terminal 3 here at Toronto Pearson International, which has a very bright and well laid out check-in area. Flights in Toronto to the USA benefit from customs preclearance which speeds up the arrival process in the States. Once the formalities have been taken care of, I had plenty of time to grab a bite to eat before taking a look around.
My flight departed from the A gates which isn’t the largest of areas but it was clean, bright, and well laid out with a small selection of restaurants and shops available. I was also pleased that power points were scattered throughout the terminal which is almost essential for today’s modern traveler.
Lufthansa in Munich
I’m at Munich Airport and I’ve just flown in from Cairo. I’ve got a very short connection so I’m going to quickly pop into the First Class Lounge. Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge in Munich is a good one. It offers full a la carte dining as well as a buffet food selection. There are also strategically placed treats throughout the lounge.
Onboard the Aircraft
Delta’s MD-88 Cabin
The MD-88 seats up to 149 passengers in a 3-2 layout meaning that only one passenger per row suffers the dreaded middle seat. Obviously given the age of this aircraft the cabin isn’t what you call modern but is very comfortable and has the essentials that you need for a short flight such as reading lights and cool air vents which can be found above each row.
Storage for your bags can be found in the overhead lockers although they aren’t the biggest. If you are packing light, you might need to check is a garment bag a personal item on these smaller overhead bins.
The seat on board the MD-88 is a proper old-school airplane seat that may not have the latest technology but is most of all incredibly comfortable. The legroom is very generous and I had lots of space to stretch out on this really enjoyable trip.
Lufthansa’s A340 First Class Cabin
Whilst the A340 is an older aircraft, Lufthansa boasts that it offers First Class consistency across its entire Long Haul Fleet. The cabin was laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration with eight seats spread over two rows. Overall the cabin is very spacious and this open design enables conversation between first class passengers which I thought was nice.
As with all first class seats, these seats are very comfortable—large plush armchairs with plenty of width and legroom. Using this control panel in the armrest you have total control over every aspect of the seat. You can make the headrest go up and down, in and out, adjust the side of the seat base to match the size of your legs, or even tip the whole seat back.
For independent travelers sitting in the middle seats, it is possible to raise a divider between the seats for added privacy.
Dining and Service
Delta’s Economy Service
As with my flight on Delta’s A321, the cabin lights were left switched off for the duration of my flight which made it even more impressive that the hard-working crew managed to carry out a full service in darkness. When flying Delta all passengers receive a complimentary drink and light snack which I very much appreciated. I chose an apple juice and one of my new favorite snacks Biscoff cookies.
If you’re feeling particularly hungry then depending on the route and time of day additional items are available to buy on board too. The cabin crew that I interacted with today as well were absolutely fantastic really friendly and they genuinely seem to be enjoying their job.
Lufthansa’s First Class Dining
One of the advantages of First Class is on-demand dining. While the rest of the First Class cabin pretty much is tucking into their lunch I’ve decided to delay my lunch and instead get some work done.
I started with an appetizer of asparagus and papaya salad with goat cheese. One of the joys of flying Lufthansa is the wonderful German bread selection. This comes with butter of course which in this case was conveniently stamped to remind us which class we were flying in. For the main course, I went with something I’ve never had before: Roast Goose. This is a traditional German festive season dish and is served with red cabbage and potato dumpling.
I ended my meal with a gingerbread cake and orange. It was very nice indeed.
Amenities and Entertainment
Delta’s IFE
You may be forgiven for thinking that because of how old the MD-88 is that the only entertainment on board is Delta’s in-flight magazine. As well as this though the MD-88 like Delta’s newer jets is fitted with Wi-Fi.
There are various packages available to purchase at reasonable rates and I was delighted that Delta provide messaging free of charge which worked brilliantly. Not only is messaging free but Delta also offer a complimentary streaming service so that you can enjoy the entertainment in flight including a selection of films and TV shows.
Lufthansa’s Luxury Touches
As soon as we were up in the air it was time to get comfortable and in First Class that can only mean one thing: in-flight PJs. Lufthansa really racks it up a notch—a lovely brown color with a scarf. The first airline pajamas I’ve seen with your own scarf which is actually quite good.
The amenities kit itself is well stocked with all the usual suspects. What was really cool though is that the kit is actually a watch storage box.
This aircraft was fully Wi-Fi enabled and the pricing seemed reasonable. That said First Class passengers are given a coupon so they can use it for free. The entertainment system itself was pretty good; there were lots of choices for TV and movies.
If you are trying to decide between luxury travel or group tours for your next trip, you might want to compare experiences like Contiki vs EF Ultimate Break to see what fits your style better.
Sleeping Comfort
Delta MD-88
The seat back support was a little bit low for me; I can see on a longer flight might be a little bit uncomfortable not having a headrest there.
Lufthansa Flat Bed
One of the advantages of flying First or Business Class is that your seat turns into a bed. It’s time to try out the Lufthansa First Class bed. It’s fantastic—it’s nice and wide, it’s long, it’s got a thick mattress protector or a mattress, nice fluffy pillow and a nice soft warm duvet. I had a couple of hours sleep then woke up to a pot of Earl Grey tea.
Baggage Considerations
On Delta, my main cabin booking included seat selection and cost two hundred and four dollars. Storage for your bags can be found in the overhead lockers although they aren’t the biggest.
On Lufthansa, storage wise these seats also deliver. There is a large storage compartment in the ottoman and two smaller compartments next to you. If you are bringing high-end luggage, you might want to check our comparison of Tumi Continental vs International to see which fits best in these cabins.
Comparison Table: Flight Experience
| Feature | Delta (MD-88) | Lufthansa (A340 First) |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Configuration | 3-2 (Main Cabin) | 1-2-1 (First Class) |
| Legroom | Very generous | Infinite / Flat Bed |
| Food & Drink | Complimentary Snack/Drink | A la Carte / Caviar |
| Entertainment | Streaming to Device | Seatback Screen / Bose Headphones |
| Wi-Fi | Free Messaging / Paid Surf | Free Voucher (First Class) |
| Amenities | None | PJs, Scarf, Amenity Kit |
Final Thoughts
Comparing Lufthansa vs Delta in these specific contexts highlights the strengths of each.
On Delta, I found the seats have really good legroom and was nicely padded. The cabin crew were absolutely fantastic. Overall as I say this was a great trip today and I do hope to be able to try the MD-88 again in future and of course to fly Delta again as well.
On Lufthansa, as expected this was a great flight. Whilst Lufthansa First Class lacks the bling of the Middle Eastern carriers I thought this was a very solid first class product with excellent seats, food, and a wonderful friendly and engaging crew. I’d certainly have no hesitation flying it again.
That was an amazing dream run through customs and immigration and we’re straight into the taxi queue. Thanks for watching.