For the first segment of my trip of downgrades, suspensions, and delays, I flew Lufthansas Airbus A350-900 Allegris first class on the 7hr15min flight from Newark (EWR) to Munich (MUC). As you might expect, after having flown Lufthansa’s ”old” first class dozens of times over the years, I was delighted to finally try Lufthansa’s new…
Continue reading: Review: Lufthansa Allegris First Class Airbus A350 (EWR-MUC)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Waiting (I hope not in vain) for this to one day be bookable with Aeroplan points…
Meanwhile in the bulkhead row of economy a wealthy businessman watched a movie , went to asleep , and then arrived at his destination.
Thank you for a most interesting review Ben. Like you, I feel that for two people, the double suite has limited appeal. For a single traveller it must be devine.
Although I cannot imagine that we will ever find it appealing to fly LH to our destinations, one should never discount the possibility. Thank you again.
For some it might well be E39, however, for those who know …. hardly tolerable …. 🙂
Total waste of time and effort, especially on such a short flight. Just awful!
And this relates to a points-and-miles blog writing about premium redemption experiences how exactly?
Where is the star rating? I am guessing it would be 4/5 (no storage, meal not particularly impressive).
Really? Jessie, you must try harder to justify such an absurd statement, without doing so you simply loose any credibility dear.
Light pollution you say... Isn't that what that eye shade thing in the amenity kit was for?
That's what I was thinking. LOL. When I go to sleep, eye mask comes on automatically.
The double suite is just a marginally wider version of JAL’s new F seat with some fabric panels around it, no? It’s hilarious that it’s being marketed for two people…
Totally laughable that some of the small details weren't thought out more. It's as if the product wasn't tested before it was launched to the public. Or at least any testing with someone flying with actual luggage to a destination.
Great review as usual Ben. Why no pictures with your dad? No commentary from your dad? Your blog is much better when you include him (and rest of your family).
Question: the 43" monitor is great, but were the movies / shows high quality resolution as well? I found it was hit or miss on JAL for example where they might have a large 4k monitor, but some movies appeared to be streaming at 480p so it was all pointless.
I read a scientific article that said your body naturally starts the wake-up process due to light exposure on other body parts outside of your eyelids, so it's still a valid concern. And not all eye masks fit perfectly.
Meanwhile in the comments section of a points and miles blog, a commenter in his mom's basement got Cheeto dust on his keyboard causing him to put extra spaces before each comma, and then smugly hit post knowing he had added no value to the world that day.
It's probably just Eskimo/Mason/Julie or one of his/her 10 other alias/fake names
It shows up for me in the normal location at the top of the article. 4.5/5 stars
Surprised how old fashioned looking they’ve made it. Looks very dark and austere, like a 1980s Mercedes S Class interior.
Ben, curious about your thoughts on the iPad as controllers. I am not a fan at all... They are bright, even when turned down all the way, they give off a lot of heat, and they are heavy. They make everything pretty easy to control and they look good, but I really hope they do not become a trend.
Was that scientific article that you read peer reviewed? I call BS on it being a valid concern. If light on body wake you up, I would not be able to fall asleep on the beach under my umbrellas on my beach vacations.
All eye masks fit perfectly if you add a knot and tighten it accordingly to make the mask fit.
Ben, did you book the original biz class booking using points or cash? Just wondering if points biz class bookings are eligible for the paid upgrade or blocked?
pstm91, as a long term iPad users, we would not wish to be without ours. iPads help us to control our lives …. well almost. Certainly many of the automated features around our home.
For our cars, navigation, cooling and heating, charging etc.
Then there are the health Apps, viewing our health statistics is devine on the iPad.
Reading the news and viewspapers, watching TV, films or videos and as many other means of communication, etc.
The iPad really is one of the single most useful tools which people own. I am hard pressed to think of a more versatile or useful device.
Yeah, I can see it now, too. I feel like 4.5 is quite a lot when Air France F is only 0.5 more.
Afterthought pstm91, I forgot to mention that the tablets used and photographed by Ben, are more than likely, android devices. Those are nothing like iPads, of limited use and so inferior actually.
So, if there are three people in the first class, a couple and a person traveling alone, why wouldn't this individual traveler want their own private aisle and book the seat 1K. That leaves the couple to have both the wide middle seat and the window seat on that same aisle without paying anything extra. In that scenario the couple could sleep together in the middle seat, eat together in the window seat and spend some alone time watching movies on their own seats. Why would they pay extra to have less, only that middle seat?
Thank you for your terrific reviews, as always. I note that the menu said white asparagus for an appetizer but they offered the cheaper green alternative.
Because Lufthansa won’t allow one passenger to reserve the double seat typically.
Yeah it’s mind blowing how poorly thought out this product was, especially given all the time they had to rethink certain elements given the delay in planes. I bet they could charge a slight premium over business class per passenger for two passengers in the double suite, but if I were traveling with a loved one and could afford two F seats I would still pick 1A and 1K over sharing the double seat for two.
Could you elaborate? I've flown Lufthansa first class on the A-380, but no other first class products. The price was certainly right at 100,000 Aeroplan points (I was connecting eastward from Munich). The experience was very nice, and the FA very kindly showed me multiple ways to make caviar palatable (to no avail). TIA.
Thanks for the review, Ben. I echo the sentiment of „thanks for biting the bullet for us“. Based on the review I find the product confusing and not superior to AF (man do I want to experience La
Premiere) or EK (very appealing to me as a wine lover, even though I know it‘s stupid because of the altitude).
It seems to be actually be very similar to their previous first class product, missing an opportunity to improve on the F&B experience which I found very good for the starters, mid for the mains and meh for the wine department.
But if Lufthansa has already sold three first class seats they can't sell the fourth unless that couple wants to be in the middle seat together, and why would they when they can get the middle seat AND the window seat for less.
Is it possible to pair more than one Bluetooth headset to an in-flight screen for the center two seats?
And does the screen/seat still have a traditional wired headphone jack?
I have an audio splitter with me nearly always for wired headphones and now frequently the AirFly Pro 2 for streaming audio to two Bluetooth devices, but I would rather not have to pull out either of those when sharing a screen on a flight.
im shocked at the wine selection. really bad and cheap for how special this is suppose to be.
Smashing post Eskimo, out of the closet on this article comments page too and using your long standing trolling login. Have you forgotten which ‘john’ account to use? One suspects that you have been frozen out by your partners in mediocrity.
One continues to be so flattered to be stalked by this websites number one troll, thank you once again darlink …. Xxxxx
"A standard size carry-on should snuggly fit into the bin". Snugly! Snuggling is something different altogether!
How does this compare to Emirates game changer? To me Emirates seems like a step above.
Lufthansa has by a mile the worst customer service experience in the history of airlines. No almost-luxury flying experience will ever be able to make up for that
I flew Allegris product on the SAN - MUC route in August. I was seated in Business class. Interestingly on this flight they were not selling the first class product. Purser admitted that they have been having problems with the seat controls on some of the A350 aircraft. Additionally there was a delay in the certification of the A350 First Class seat (supposedly fixed now). On my return flight First Class had one passenger.
Also on my flight to Munich (new aircraft less than one year old), the WiFi was inoperable. I had purchased the plan for the whole flight. What was irritating is that they never made an announcement that it was down. I agree with you about the entertainment options - and I too noticed repeatedly a screen pop up about changing the language.
If you pay for a first class seat you should get a first class seat - even if it's a suite for two - it should be equitable. Why you need to pay for a second seat with limited space? Curious what does Etihad charge for two versus one occupant in its Residence Suite?
Loved the multi camera function camera - left and right side from cockpit, in addition to the regular views from tail and underbelly. But agree - the seat screen doesn't show it - only the tablet which needs to be stowed for take off and landing ??
Food looked nice - always nice to see more main course options than there are seats !
In my opinion Daniel, having experienced some of the very best F suites on offer, I see no reason to go out of my way to sample this product.
The single suites may well have much to offer the individual, however, for two people the centre suite is a none starter. One TV monitor, one sided access equals individual inconvenience.
Furthermore, there are much better experiences available on carriers who fly nonstop to my favourite destinations from LHR.
I notice the LH breakfast includes smoked salmon. Also, it contains scrambled eggs with chives or bacon.
As per my norm when flying LH, the FA graciously prepared me scrambled eggs with smoked salmon and chives. Breakfast in the air, but with a homey touch.
Also, I would say that we were always treated very well, and attentively: a hallmark of LH FC.
LH F wines at the moment are sub-par - and it's not tied to Allegris. They need to sort things out, quickly.
Ben sent his Dad back to business class where it likely was pretty similar in that regard...
iPads are no different to android tablets except the cost and the chip on the shoulder it gives it's user
Right, says someone who probably cannot afford the best and only travels in basic economy …. thanks for the sneer Ben (Guest) or are you just another incarnation of Eskimo and Co?
The seats concept and tech is just wayyyy too complicated - can see a lot of maintenance issues, with things not working and seats even ending up inoperable. Lufthansa have basically dug massive hole for themselves with these.
I'm surprised you didn't take the opportunity to visit the new Allegris Lounge in Munich. Especially in direct comparison with EWR. As you probably know you have access to the lounge on arrival as a First Class passenger.
Reminds me of Roomette on Amtrak! 😉
Surprised they didn't add a fold out top bunk so that two PAX could share the suite at night.