Lufthansa's Subpar 'Business Class' to India Dies an Early Death
Lufthansa is backtracking after announcing the introduction of a weird, one-off and very cramped premium-class section on its flights from Frankfurt to Pune, India. Starting early next year, it's bringing back lie-flat beds in biz class, ending operations with an Airbus A319 featuring a makeshift "business class," jerry-rigged from a standard 3-3 coach class.
Lufthansa used to fly to Pune on a Boeing 737-700 operated by Swiss luxury-charter operator Privatair, with only 20 flat beds in biz and 66 seats in economy. The 737 has range enough to even get across the Atlantic, and with just 86 seats is also had a spacious layout. But earlier this year, the airline ended its agreement with Privatair, leaving it without planes that could serve Pune nonstop. The runway is too short for its twin-aisle long-haul jets, so Lufthansa had to improvise.
The solution came in the form of the plain old Airbus A319, normally used on routes within Europe, which will be introduced on flights to Pune soon. But it has two problems. One: To get all the way to India, it needs a fuel stop — which Lufthansa decided to put in Baku, Azerbaijan, splitting the nine-hour flight in half. Two: The A319 is configured for short flights, featuring a one-class layout with seats just 31 inches apart and thin seatbacks with no entertainment monitors. Hardly fun for a nine-hour flight.
Within Europe, the front of the plane becomes "business class," by blocking the middle seat. To make things a bit more tolerable on the Pune run, Lufthansa decided to block all but two seats per row at the front, producing what is arguably the world's weirdest (and possibly worst) long-haul biz class. Hardly worthy of an airline that prides itself on service standards.
But not for long. According to Airline Routes, Lufthansa and Privatair have patched things up, and the lie-flat 737 is returning next year. Starting Feb. 1, the A319 goes away and the 737 returns, flying Frankfurt (FRA) - Pune (PNQ) - Bucharest (OTP) - FRA. The stop in Bucharest is needed for fuel, since winds blowing eastward increase fuel burn when flying westbound.
As for the question of who is going to fill all those seats from Frankfurt to Pune, not a prime tourism destination, the answer is: Employees of the more than 200 German companies that have set up shop there, including Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz. Pune is a large automotive-industry hub, with a list of German businesses based in the city that runs to 88 pages.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees