Ammermann: It’s a sign of quality. It’s a sign of luxury ambiance. We made some research about sho

On one hand, the carrier is being squeezed by discount European carriers, which can offer considerably lower fares for flights within the continent. On the other, Lufthansa is facing increased competition from worldwide, high-end airlines, like  Etihad Airways  and  Emirates .
But Lufthansa officials say they re up for the challenge. For one, they re building up subsidiary  Germanwings  to compete with cheaper airlines like Air Berlin and Easyjet  for shorter flights. For another, they re investing in their on board product. That means new first and business nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada class seats. But it also means Lufthansa is seeking to become a friendlier airline. The goal: to become the only European airline to receive a five star rating in all three classes from Skytrax . (Lufthansa nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada now has five stars in first class, three and a half stars in business class and four stars in economy.)
I visited Lufthansa headquarters in Frankfurt recently, where I was introduced to Klaus Ammermann, senior manager for cabin crews. Klaus wasn t expecting an interview, but he was kind enough to answer some of my questions. I have edited nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada the interview for space and clarity.
Ammermann:  We must be a quality airline. We cannot offer cheap prices because our locations are expensive. nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada  We have high salaries. We have all those costs.  We have no chance to be cheap. nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada So we have to be a quality carrier. I think the people are rich enough to in our area to pay a little bit more for a little bit better service.
Ammermann:  The hardware. The seat, of course.  But now since three or four months, we are working to improve service quality. It needs to be in you. If you are a service man, you have to feel it. We are working hard to ensure that are people are willing to serve. Germans are not very good in serving. We are good in processes. You can trust in a perfect process. But you cannot trust in smiling and having eye contact and so on. The Asians are much better at this.
Ammermann:   A little bit. It's less about processes – to build your trolley like this, like that, like that. It's (not necessary). You learn it on board.  To go into the training department and tell the people you have to put the pot here and not there? If we do that, we are perfect,  but we are not friendly. Now we train a little bit more in terms of service improvement and soft skills.
Ammermann:  My job is to train my people to get the fifth star. That's what I do from 9 to 5 or 6 or 7.  Our CEO told me, When I enter an aircraft and I see the purser, I see which quality the flight will have. If he stands in the door like this, (hands in pockets, relaxed posture), there's no chance of having a good flight. The purser is the most important influence of a good service. We have a briefing one and half hours before the flight leaves, which is 30 minutes, and that is the determination nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada of what makes a good flight. If (the purser) is a friendly guy, an open minded guy, you will have a good flight.
Ammermann:  It's a sign of quality. It's a sign of luxury ambiance.  We made some research about showers on board. Nobody will pay $1 extra for having nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada a shower. But the research says they do pay for caviar. And I think it is also a symbol.
I'm the airports and airlines reporter for the nine newspapers and websites in the Los Angeles News Group, including the Los Angeles Daily News , Long Beach Press-Telegram and Torrance Daily Breeze . I love to fly. l'll follow aviation trends here with a Southern California nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada focus.
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I am the airports and airlines reporter for the nine newspapers and websites in the Los Angeles News Group, including nevada luxury cars for rent in nevada the Los Angeles Daily News , Long Beach Press-Telegram and Torrance Daily Breeze . I love to fly. l'll follow aviation trends here with a Southern California focus.