I’m about to embark on my next review trip, and wanted to provide a rundown of what I have planned. A few days ago I shared how I managed to snag an award seat in Lufthansa’s new Allegris business class, and now I’ve managed to finalize most of the rest of the itinerary. I’m really…
Continue reading: BOOKED: I’m Flying Lufthansa Allegris, Thai & Kuwait First Class!!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I’d be a fan of the Kuwait Airways plan, but Air Algerie has a certain appeal to it too… hmmm.
I'm curious, have you given UX's 789 a try? I think they deploy them to MIA, so that'd be pretty convenient if you have to be back quickly after the Allegris flight.
Otherwise, I'm all for Air Algerie! The airport has a Hyatt Regency also, so that may be an additional incentive.
Ok. DMY. M&M availability has actually been surprisingly good. Eastbound less exciting than westbound, but you go with your bad self hun.
Anyway, I’ve been in the seat, and I’m significantly more critical of LH C than you are (so you can tell how horrified I aM BY LH C in general, and I’m HON), and I think the seat is actually fantastic. So if that gives you some hope, which it should, then enjoy.
Would love to see a post covid review of United or Delta international business class. That would be very useful to us readers given that they are based in the US
No idea if this is feasible for this trip but would love to see you review Vistara, Ben!
@Ben - If you fly from Europe to Cairo, try to fly that routing on ITA Airways! They are flying their new A321neo with their lie flat Business Class to Cairo now (as well as on certain routes within Europe from FCO). And, they have amazing cash fares last time I checked. Business Class from Paris to Cairo was only $100-$150 more than economy, and ITA was flying their A321neo to CDG as well! From Munich, you could probably try out ITA's A320neo, and see their new intra-Europe cabins.
From Cairo, I vote for Air Algerie, or Kuwait Airlines First Class. But if your priority is coming home quickly, I think Air Algerie works perfectly. And spend a couple of nights at the St. Regis Cairo!
Please can you explain to me how you are able to fly First and business class with most airlines when in the main you have never paid full price for a ticket and are just a person who reviews products and accrue millions of air miles which you should not really be entitled too.Just sounds like you and your partner and family are conning the rest of the world.
Air Algerie please. I flew them domestic last year in economy and they were good. Allow plenty of time to depart Algiers though. The airport is a cluster, even in biz. I think it took me 2.5 hours curb to gate and there were no priority lines.
You could also fly Kuwait Airways First Class from Cairo to South East Asia, and then fly Air India/Vistara back to Cairo via India. Then, fly Air Algerie back to North America.
Or, you could replace the Air India segments with a review of Qatar's J or F on one of their leased planes from Cathay Pacific (such as HKG-DOH-CAI). I think you may have already flown their 777 F, so maybe try out their 777 J product. Or see if you can book a ticket on one of their ex-Virgin Australia 777s.
Please review meal types and choices on your flights other than fish, vegetarian and avocado toast. Even if you don't eat the main course a photo and description would be helpful to readers who don't share your food preferences. After all, these are business trips and not personal journeys. (BTW-I don't eat pork either. I saw "Babe").
I like the Algeria plan. They also have reasonable fares in Tunis market it seems.
Iceland Air gets my vote. Not a great hard product, but flights from the east coast are short, the lounge at KEF is good, and the new Alaska award pricing is attractive.
In terms of what readers are most likely to actually book, it's up there.
I vote for Kuwait airways first class please 🙂
I’d also be interested in a vistara/air India combo as I’m flying that myself from syd to Frankfurt via Delhi in June.
I think you should try out Air Algerie for the return from this trip. You could fly Beond Airlines from Zurich to Dubai, and then make your way to Cairo for the Air Alergie flights.
In the future, you could do a review trip with the following:
- Iberia's new A350 Business Class (with doors) from North America to Europe
- ITA Airways A321neo Business Class from Europe to Cairo
- Cairo to Bangkok on Kuwait Airways (they fly the A330-800neo to CAI, so you could knock out a review of both their A338 J and 77W F in one go).
- South East Asia to Europe on Air India/Vistara (maybe try out their 777s from EY/DL, or their A350 to DXB, and then Beyond from Dubai to Zurich).
- Europe back to North America in Icelandair Business Class (or Delta One or Polaris).
Anything you can do coming back via South America? Your reviews don't usually touch North/South routings much. I imagine award space is poor, but I'd love to see more.
Good for Ben for doing so. We should all learn how to get the most for our miles and cash. Ben made a career doing what we all do for liesure. More power to him.
Hope that some LH labor group doesn't go on strike an hour prior to boarding. I'll pray the Rosary for you, Ben.
A review of Garuda First would be amazing! Decent availability on Flying Blue for AMS-CGK and you get access to the VIP Service at AMS flying Garuda F, which should be a good experience and makes for an interesting review (private terminal, car transfers to plane, good food and drinks).
Its been a while since we've gotten a Delta One or Polaris review. You could also fly B6 from paris or london or amsterdam.
If I don't have a friend to give me a referral, I'll go through Ben's link. I'm sure he makes a mint off readers. Don't hate the player.
Personally, I’d love to read your Kuwait Airways first class and then Garuda Indonesia first class or Thai Airways first class trip reports. I’ve been considering booking CGK-AMS Garuda F award via FB, but I’m concerned the experience has really gone down from what I’ve read here and there.
I've never seen a single Icelandair business class seat available for Alaska miles under new pricing. Was looking only at YVR-KEF route, but I suspect it's the same zero availability across all routes.
Can you do jal a350 business class review? We all got that the first class is amazing but really hard to get these days but I am not sure if I should divert my route to try jal new business. From the book, it looks ok but not up to ana business on 777
Yawn. Allegris is boring. There's no hype around it at all.
Sure it's a big advancement for LH's hard product, but compared to the overall industry that just shows you how far behind LH was lagging.
LH's lounges, food, and service are all mid as well.
Lufthansa already has the most brilliant first and business class seats in the world. Years ahead of the competition! By the time Allegris is installed on all planes in 2035, the others will never been able to keep up.
Agreed. But there's no hype around it because it's an objectively subpar product. It's better than what LH has now, for sure, but it's not even close to many, many other airlines' J offering. Hell, it wasn't even remotely cutting edge when it was announced 7 years ago. I'm looking forward to the review because it'll be one of two things:
1. Rational and honest about how mid-to-boring it truly is and how it's barely worthy of a footnote in any sort of history of J products, or
2. Milquetoast because of previous LH product review circlejerks due to halo effect from LH F and the tendency to avoid actual criticism of LH's leadership team and this laughable product
If you decide the third option to fly to Dubai, I’d suggest trying Dubai-Delhi on Air India’s brand new A350-900. From Delhi, you have many options for your Indian audience. I’m not sure if you have reviewed any Indian domestic Airline like the new entrant Akasa Air. From Delhi, you can try the new Boeing 737 Amd 8 on either Akasa Air or Air India Express. And then from Mumbai, you can review Air India directly to the United States, or choose Turkish Airlines/Indigo B777 to Türkiye. And then onward to the USA.
Otherwise, India will give you a flexibility to fly to the USA in Singapore Air: A380 either from Delhi or Mumbai to SIN. And from SIN to any American city, May be on another A380, or on A350-900ULR to the west coast. There are so many options if you route it through India.
While it’s been a few years since I flew LH first I would bet any money that seat will only be comfortable laying down on the back with your arms stretched down.
When I flew them a couple of tiles there was a bar right at the position of your knees and the only way not to hurt yourself was to have it under your knees sleeping on your back. Maybe not a problem a German - but certainly a problem for anyone who wanted to stretch.
Out of real 33 First products tried - a dead last tie with American (FA pours champagne over her finger). Can’t remember anyone smiling ever.
You could do BeOnd to Dubai, then Air India's new A350 to Delhi and then after a domestic flight to Hyderabad fly Air India again to San Francisco on an Ex-Delta B77L with the Delta One seat (Which Tim Dunn will happily tell us why it is the best US business class seat and Delta is the best US airline). This would be an interesting itinerary with you reviewing the new products of BeOnd and AI A350, an Indian domestic flight which I cannot think of a time you would have taken one, and finishing off with one of the longest flights in the world, which can travel east or west depending on wind. That would be my suggestion Ben!
Sorry for bad English, it is not my first language.
James
I'd say you should probably try Kuwait's F product to BKK, and then use a Oneworld program to find J award availability to connect via NRT/HND and take JL's new J product back to the US.
Or, you could redeem an Aeroplan award for BKK-SIN-LAX/EWR/JFK on TG/SQ. That would probably mean nothing much to review, but it's good value.
It's probably too early since he's flying soon, but I would've been interested in seeing the upgraded D1 lounges at BOS/LAX/JFK.
Otherwise, Delta One and Polaris have had plenty of reviews and coverage. Their product has basically been the same for the last 5 to 6 years, so nothing else of relevance.
I don't know why anyone would burn AS miles for Iceland Air though. The cash fares are insanely low, the opportunity cost just isn't there, when you could fly valuable OW partners in premium cabins that cost much more than Iceland Air.
Hmmn. I think you feel conned that's maybe more about you, Julian. Also, are you not aware of the dozens of similar blogs to this (Ben's is superior, btw), that are essentially built on the same principle?
Shame on YOU, sir, for being so arrogant, ignorant and all the -ants that make the internet such a periodically loathsome place. Also... GTFO.
Air Algerie or Beond Airlines are the winners for me - the former because it's niche and cool, the latter because it won't exist in a year so it's worth trying it before then
Starlux or Garuda Indonesia First Class will be the best. Fly Garuda to Jakarta from Amsterdam. Take any flight from Jakarta to Taipei & fly Starlux to LAX or SFO.
He won't. There's basically no way to book Starlux F with Alaska miles, which are basically the only partner miles to book JX.
The closest he'll get will probably be Starlux F on SIN or NRT routes with reasonable cash fares
More likely you “may be flying Lufthansa’s Allegris product soon” given Lufthansa’s dismal history in introducing this product and their recent union problems at a time when the German economy is stagnant.
I’d wait for the new Airbus 350’s to come in before flying Air Algerie but that’s just me.
Fly Cairo - Manila on Kuwait Airways first class.
Fly Manila - Chiang Mai on China Airlines regional business class (A321neo full flat seats).
https://www.china-airlines.com/us/en/fly/on-board/fleet/cabin_introduction/premium-business-class
You have already reviewed China Airlines regional business class on A330.
Fly Chiang Mai - Seattle on Asiana business class (pretty decent fares of $1800-$2000 one way). You will get to fly A350 (ICN-SEA).
You have already reviewed Asiana A380 first and business class.
This will also help you to compare Asiana's A350 to others in the region (STARLUX, China Airlines, Singapore Airlines, JAL and Philippine Airlines A350s).
I vote you go to Cairo and fly some (if not all?) of the first class products you haven't yet reviewed.
Just come back from Japan with LH743. We are a family of 5 and actual business class seems much more convenient. We had a really good flight. The new one is okay if you fly alone.
Try the "fantastic" business class of TK for 7+ flights to/from Africa operated by a Max. Would be great to have a proper review of their business class product that is not limited to the ones we already know are good.
I have worked in Corporate travel for over 40 years and never had anything for free and know exactly what I am talking about.Just a con artist like so many of these sites.
I'd definitely love to see RJ review. It's an airline that's very useful for many of your readers since it's close to Europe but one that is often overlooked by bloggers. I flew them in economy many years ago and it was a pleasant airport apart from the airport which I believe was renovated (or replaced?) since.
As for Allegris... Good luck 🙂
Oh, you've already decided. C'mon now
This should be more of, "What do you think I booked"... and why? There you go 😉
"...I mean, I think it’s fair to say that this is one of the most anticipated business class products in history."
That would only be fair to say if you are being sarcastic.
That's not NEW; they're leased DL 350-900 aircraft.
Besides, who wants to fly by AI if they can afford to travel by the top 20 airlines?
Thanks manny! I’m on the old plane and hoping for no seat mate but I do love the old school huge footwell. Then I’m on vistara the next day. Pretty cool to combine both of them on one aero plan award.
I love the Boliviana idea others suggested: MAD-VVI-MIA (not sure you can buy it as a single ticket)
What about YVR-MUC(LH)-ZUR(Swiss)-DXB(BEOND)-DEL(AirIndiaA350)-TPE(Evaair)-SEA(starlux)
YVR-MUC -LH
MUC-ZUR - Swiss
ZUR-DXB - Beond
DXB-DEL - Air India A350?
DEL-EWR - United Polaris
What about Qantas? I don`t remember reading anything about them recently. Last year I was quite surprised by the quality of short haul business class within Australia, never tried them long haul though.
Incorrect - the new A350-900s that they got in Dec 2023 fly only in domestic routes as of now.
For international routes, they are still flying SU and DL 359s and 77Ws, because people see the stripped off logos on the seats.
Akash? Indigo/ Turkiye? Is this a joke??
Worst suggestions ever, except for the SIA, which also flies from many other Indian cities.
Allegris business class review is out
https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-airbus-a35-allegris-business-class-flight-review/
Common Lucky, show them wat you got and you can tr(i)umph that review!
Looking much forward to your indept analysis
Everyone's suggesting Ben to fly Air India A350. Dear Indians, I understand that you people may be excited about the experience, but they're just flying ex-Aeroflot A350 which he've already reviewed on Turkish Airlines. So he may not feel a need to try that out, although I do wonder how would the soft product differ, given that it's been a really long time since he tried AI business class. If Ben wants to try an Indian airline anytime soon, I think he might wanna prioritise on Vistara, given that he've never flown on them and they're to disappear at some point, not so far away.
But IMO, trying KU and TG first class would be the best case scenario.
(I wouldn't call someone a "kid" just because one suggets Ben what to try, btw - though they shouldn't cross the line)
Certain US flights to DEL and BOM use the ex-DL 777-200LRs. The domestic A359s are being re-allocated for international use (first market being Dubai) in the coming weeks. As additional A359s are delivered, these will be sent to additional markets.
Hi
I am Flying next Week Lufthansa A350-900 Business Class from BLR to Munich..
Very First time I am taking A350-900 pl comment how is the comfort for this 9hrs 15mnts flites always flew in A380’s & 787’s Dreamliners Business ..ThnX in Advance
Should be just about equal to the others in terms of comfort. Lower pressurization, quieter, large windows, etc (although for Lufthansa specifically unfortunately their business class seats aren't great). Definitely better than a 777 or A330 though, purely in terms of cabin atmosphere
Air Algérie or Starluxe or, as fellow commentators have noticed, Air India would all be interesting - please let me know if you pass through Vancouver if time permits
Yep @AGM - I meant to call out the wrong information above that there is no ex-DL A359 in AI's inventory.
Well, since you’re asking, I always prefer when you fly F. That’s when I feel you’re the “Luckiest”… lol So, by all means, please do fly Kuwait’s first class, and all the other missing first classes out there!
Agreed. Wait until Air India receive the A350s with their bespoke interior with the Safran Unity product before a review.
He explains it all the time. What you should do is ask one polite question in one sentence and watch this space for Ben's reply. He won't reply to what you wrote so far, but he does respond to readers. Good luck. I disagree with your assessment because I know it's bs, but I respect your right to believe nonsense and try to persuade others, in this forum Ben provides for you, for free.
Ben will only fly if he gets it for virtually nothing.Do you muppets not realise this.
Oh, and it is time to review the Senator Cafe at MUC. You would have to fly Star Alliance out of Munich though.
In Cairo, you will be arriving at terminal 3 with Egyptair, and departing terminal 2 with Kuwait. While theoretically the two terminals are connected, it will be much easier to enter the country at terminal 3, just walk for a few meters, and check in again and leave the country through terminal 2. That way, there will not be any drama with connecting through Cairo. Passport control should not be very busy, and you just need to buy a visa on arrival from the bank stand (I think).
Good luck
What's the only remaining airline in the world with First Class that you haven't flown, Ben?
Fly from Tokyo to Taipei to LAX/SFO on Starlux. JAL A350 or the ANA A380 are good options. Fly the ANA A380 to Honolulu & fly Hawaiian's new 787.
I am excited for you to fly Allegris so we can stop hearing about it as you are obsessed lol. Enjoy!
DXB-DEL - Air India A350
DEL-EWR - United Polaris
Really? This is what you can best come up with? I would rather swim on the seven seas and oceans to return to US.
Haha you must be new to the blog, Ben is no stranger to how "interesting" it is to connect through Cairo 😉
how about this?
ANA A380 NRT-HNL
Hawaiian New J HNL-SFO
United Polaris(they occasionally have their lie-flat polaris on this route)
SFO-IAD
Ben in terms of flying back from Tokyo, check out flights on the A380s to Honolulu as availability is much more open than to mainland US. Then maybe Hawaiian's new 787? Or continue with the US' most premium airline and find a nice itinerary home with Delta one?
Coming back from JP, I think Zipair might be something interesting to try. Certainly not the most comfortable way across the Pacific, but unique. Or maybe connect via MNL on Philippine Airlines
Can't wait for you to get to go into the Kuwait Airways Terminal 4 here in Kuwait.
Ben
I hope you book your delta first class trip in the bulkhead row so you get Delta’s full premium experience. 😉
For the return trip
NH a380 to HNL
HNL to PPT on HA then
TN to the west coast from PPT
For the flight back home to the US, didn't you say you wanted to try some of Delta's other products, like their A330? Do they fly that on any of their Tokyo routes or is it all A330neo/A350?
@KK13 I've seen your other comments, and I just wanna suggest you to seek for help.
ANA A380 would be a great choice, and so the JAL A35K business would be. Or given that you seem(ed) like struggling over how to use Korean Air SkyPass miles, maybe flying KE business (after a long time) might not be that bad idea.
@Ben Got 2 ideas for you:
Asiana, A330 & A380 NRT- LAX dirt cheap in Business Class, around 7.May
OR
Westjet 787 & 737 (sorry, got to suffer in those Military Planes from BOEING) 😉 NRT - ATL or MCO or FLL, ATL, cheapest in C AND . . . collect your Miles with AF/KL to get closer to your goal and Status!
Just an idea. Servus aus MUC.
It would be great to get a flying honu review; there's generally more availability for that than mainland flights so you should be able to find something.
@Ben
Here is an itinerary I thought would be cool:
https://shorturl.at/KOV56
ANA A380 NRT-HNL
Hawaiian 787 HNL-LAX
United 777+737MAX8 LAX-ORD-MIA
Imagine my surprise that an influential blogger was given an award seat on one of the first flights of a new business class product launch. Can't blame the airline though. They will get a lot of publicity for the cost of one seat on one flight.
Yeah, "made available" is probably a better wording than "given". I will give you that much.
Ben, stop being so critical of LH. Compared to other big projects in Germany, such as the Berlin airport and the Stuttgart station, the Allegris launch is ahead of schedule and under budget.
+ 1 to the ANA A380 to HNL, and then Hawaiian's new 787 to LAX!
JAL's A350 is my personal first choice, but if that doesn't become available, the itinerary above is extremely solid. And then you can try out Delta's new A321neo first class from LAX to the East Coast (It's flown on a ton of different routes, but I know you could probably get it on LAX-MCO, and then connect to MIA on the same ticket).
Since you just recently reviewed JAL A35K First Class , why not do HND-JFK or HND-DFW on Business Class? It would be more or less a back to back comparison.
+1 For ANA A380 to HNL then HAL 787 to US.
You say Kuwait A330-300, but think they only operate -200 (nitpicking).
Also looks like it's more of a Regional First on the 330ceo; you'd get a fresher but simliar product on a 338neo flight, plus experience the rarity of a -800. The seem to operate a real a mix of aircraft on CAI-KWI, so a possibility?
Besides the Allegris flight, are you just paying cash for the remaining first and biz flights? How difficult is it to book awards using miles for these flights, that would be very informative.
I just booked that exact Asiana outline but to JFK, and while I'd appreciate the timely review, I more or less know what to expect and kind of don't want to read a terrible review lol. Still, hard to beat $1,400 business class with a full ~20 hours in Seoul
Another east-bound RTW? No wonder they always leave you feeling so wrecked! Long east-bound flights always give me hideous jetlag, even if we've flown in first class.
Would be great to know if any of these airlines open up seats for you? It’s a fair an honest question- no agenda. So they make seats available for you - whether you ask or not? If they do, you should mark the review as promotion as others MMV and that is important . That said, you may not feel the need to hold journalistic standards - your call.
Thai Airways First Class section in the Thai Airways Prestige Lounge is just mediocre at best in my opinion. Very sad especially in TG home hub. I would love to see your take as well Ben.
Sadly, the Royal Orchid Spa has been turned into the so some sort of Tea Lounge for TG premium cabin passenger and ROP Platinum member. If you have time, please do visit. Don't set a high expectation though...
Ps. The previous space that TG first lounge used to occupy is now the Coral Lounge which belongs to Priority Pass. If you have time, I suggest you check it out. There is a complimentary neck and shoulder massage for 15 min. as well. There is also a sleeping room available in Coral Lounge for additional charges in case you want to check it out.
@jcil Wrong. There's award availability on Miles&More and that's how i booked my tickets to YYZ on Allegris. And i was even able to book the business Suite at time of booking. LH is keeping these for Senators/HON Circle. I'm not a blogger but a LH frequent flyer.
Thanks for the kind words!
The reason I picked UA was because they have lie flat seats on their flight from LAX-ORD (777)
Ben, spend the night in Tokyo and then head out to Narita and take the Air Calin flight to Noumea. They may not have caviar again in business class, but they really do offer a great product. From there you can hop down to Australia and head home from there.
Unfortunately, TPG has already reviewed the product. However, they were provided a free ticket, which is rather beyond the "normal passenger" experience.
https://thepointsguy.com/news/lufthansa-allegris-first-flight-review/
@ Blake Pickering -- Interesting post on TPG. I respect David a lot and like his writing, though it seems the story talks more about the overall inaugural flight and Allegris introduction, rather than the new business class as such.
I just got off my Allegris flight, and will have my thoughts in the coming hours. I have a LOT more to say about all the seating options, because there's more here than meets the eye.
That 'review' if you'd call it that, is more of a press release from Lufthansa. The releases we have read in the last couple of months.
Ben will take this apart and i can't wait to fly it in a few days.
How about NRT-HNL via ANA premium economy on A380 and then HNL back to mainland on Hawaiian's 787 business?
My 2 options:
ANA A380 NRT-HNL
Hawaiian 787 HNL-LAX
United 777+737MAX8 LAX-ORD-MIA
OR:
Starlux HND-TPE
Starlux TPE-SEA
Delta A321neo SEA-JFK, A320 JFK-MIA
Hi Lucky, long time reader. Why have you stopped mentioning how many miles and cash for the tickets? Its a practice TPG did and I stopped reading due to transparency issues.