Lufthansa offers one of the best first class products across the Atlantic, and for that matter it’s one of the best first class products between the United States and Europe that’s bookable with miles.
With the summer airline schedule officially kicking in as of the end of March, I wanted to recap which Lufthansa planes feature first class, which routes they fly, what to expect from the experience, and how to redeem miles for the product. There are a lot of changes coming to the aircraft and routes featuring first class, so let’s go over all those details.
In this post:
Lufthansa planes with a first class cabin
Over the past several years, Lufthansa’s footprint of aircraft with first class cabins has shrunk considerably. This was already set in motion pre-pandemic, and was made worse by Lufthansa’s decision to ground so many aircraft. Fortunately we’re now seeing that trend reversed, as there’s a significant increase in the aircraft and routes featuring first class.
For the summer of 2023, you can expect first class to be available on three aircraft — the Boeing 747-8, Airbus A340-600, and Airbus A380. Specifically:
- Lufthansa has 19 Boeing 747-8s, which fly from Frankfurt to key, high yield, and high capacity markets; these will stay in Lufthansa’s fleet for years to come, and they’ll even be reconfigured with new cabins
- Lufthansa is bringing back 10 Airbus A340-600s, which fly from both Frankfurt and Munich to key destinations where there’s demand for first class; Lufthansa has been bringing back these planes since the summer of 2022, though they’re only being reactivated temporarily
- Lufthansa is bringing back at least four Airbus A380s, which will fly from Munich to key destinations where there’s significant premium cabin demand; these planes should be coming back long term, though there’s no indication that they’ll be reconfigured with new cabins
Lufthansa routes operated by Boeing 747-8s
For the summer 2023 season, Lufthansa will operate Boeing 747-8s with first class exclusively out of Frankfurt. You can expect these planes to operate from Frankfurt to the following destinations:
- Bangalore (BLR) — as of June 1, 2023
- Buenos Aires (EZE) — on an ongoing basis
- Chicago (ORD) — on an ongoing basis
- Houston (IAH) — on an ongoing basis
- Johannesburg (JNB) — on an ongoing basis
- Los Angeles (LAX) — on an ongoing basis
- Mexico City (MEX) — on an ongoing basis
- Miami (MIA) — on an ongoing basis
- Newark (EWR) — as of May 1, 2023
- San Francisco (SFO) — on an ongoing basis
- Sao Paulo (GRU) — on an ongoing basis
- Singapore (SIN) — on an ongoing basis
- Tokyo (HND) — on an ongoing basis
- Washington (IAD) — on an ongoing basis
Lufthansa routes operated by Airbus A340-600s
For the summer 2023 season, Lufthansa will operate Airbus A340-600s with first class out of both Frankfurt and Munich. You can expect these planes to operate from Frankfurt to the following destinations:
- Bogota (BOG) — as of June 5, 2023
- Hong Kong (HKG) — on an ongoing basis
- New York (JFK) — on an ongoing basis
You can expect these planes to operate from Munich to the following destinations:
- Boston (BOS) — until May 31, 2023
- Charlotte (CLT) — as of July 4, 2023
- Chicago (ORD) — on an ongoing basis
- New York (JFK) — until July 3, 2023
- Newark (EWR) — as of June 1, 2023
- Washington (IAD) — as of April 17, 2023
Lufthansa routes operated by Airbus A380
For the summer 2023 season, Lufthansa will operate Airbus A380s with first class out of Munich. You can expect these planes to operate from Munich to the following destinations:
- Boston (BOS) — as of June 1, 2023
- New York (JFK) — as of July 4, 2023
Those are the first two routes to see the return of the A380. However, with at least four A380s returning to Lufthansa’s fleet in 2023, you can expect two more routes to get these planes. I’d guess that Los Angeles and/or San Francisco are the most likely markets to see this service.
What about Lufthansa’s new first class product?
Lufthansa has announced its new Allegris premium cabin products, including all new first and business class seats. So, when can we expect to see these products rolled out?
Lufthansa’s new Allegris business class is expected to be rolled out later in 2023, on a newly delivered Boeing 787-9. Then as of early 2023, the product should debut on newly delivered Airbus A350-900s. Don’t expect any existing aircraft to be reconfigured with these seats in the coming years.
Lufthansa’s new Allegris first class is expected to be rolled out in early 2024, on Munich-based Airbus A350-900s. Over the coming years, you can expect at least 10 A350s to feature these cabins, though we don’t yet know on which routes they will operate. Also keep in mind that the new first class will represent a massive capacity reduction, as there will be a single row of first class seats.
What to expect from Lufthansa first class
Lufthansa offers a solid first class experience on its Boeing 747-8. When departing Frankfurt, the awesome experience starts on the ground, as you can use Lufthansa’s incredible First Class Terminal.
While there, don’t forget to pick up your duck, since that’s always a fun feature of Lufthansa first class.
From there you’ll be driven across the apron to your plane, which sure is a treat.
Lufthansa’s 747-8 first class cabin features a total of eight seats, spread across three rows. There are three rows of single seats on each side, and then in the third row there’s a pair of seats in the middle. With so many airlines retiring the 747, it’s such a treat to be able to sit in the nose of the queen of the skies!
Lufthansa’s inflight catering in first class is generally great as well, with a caviar service to start, along with a variety of appetizers, main courses, and desserts.
While Lufthansa’s inflight entertainment selection is just okay, the airline does have inflight Wi-Fi, and first class passengers even receive a voucher for complimentary access.
I’ve found service in Lufthansa first class to be pretty consistently excellent, and to strike the right balance between being professional and personable.
Lufthansa’s A340-600 first class and Airbus A380 first class also consists of eight seats, but the seats are instead spread across two rows in a 1-2-1 configuration. The Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich is also pretty awesome.
How to redeem miles for Lufthansa first class
You can redeem miles from all kinds of Star Alliance airlines for travel in Lufthansa first class. I’d note that generally Lufthansa makes first class award seats available to members of partner airline frequent flyer programs at most 15 days before departure.
The good news is that Lufthansa pretty reliably opens up these seats as the departure date approaches, assuming there are empty seats (this might not be 15 days out, but rather more often than not will be in the days leading up to departure).
So, what are the best programs for booking Lufthansa first class? Here are some popular options that partner with transferable points currencies, with pricing listed for one-way travel between the United States and Europe:
- The Avianca LifeMiles program charges 87,000 miles
- The Air Canada Aeroplan program charges 100,000 points (for up to 6,000 miles of travel)
- The United MileagePlus program charges 121,000 miles
None of those programs have carrier imposed surcharges on these awards, which is why I’m highlighting them.
Bottom line
Lufthansa’s first class footprint is once again starting to increase. For the summer 2023 schedule, you can expect to find first class on Boeing 747-8s and Airbus A340-600s based in Frankfurt, and on Airbus A340-600s and Airbus A380s based in Munich. It’s great to see first class capacity once again growing. Furthermore, in 2024 you can expect Lufthansa’s new first class product to be introduced on select newly delivered Airbus A350-900s based in Munich.
Hopefully the above is a useful summary of which routes you’ll find these planes on, what to expect, and how to redeem miles for the experience.
Any other questions about Lufthansa first class that I missed?
Personally, I thinks LH should add the remaining few business class seat-types that it doesn't already have and then market itself as the only airline with ALL business class seats out there.
Lufthansa must have just an amazing First Class experience to justify all the praise it gets, especially on this (and other) blogs. As someone who has never gotten beyond the Business cabin on LH (and likely never will unless I hit the lottery or the miles fairy visits me), I find the airline so pedestrian. It's never horrible, nor much better than good (nope, not very good).
A few years ago, right before the...
Lufthansa must have just an amazing First Class experience to justify all the praise it gets, especially on this (and other) blogs. As someone who has never gotten beyond the Business cabin on LH (and likely never will unless I hit the lottery or the miles fairy visits me), I find the airline so pedestrian. It's never horrible, nor much better than good (nope, not very good).
A few years ago, right before the pandemic, my German wife, her elderly father and I flew FRA-SFO in Business on the A380. Love the plane in any class, but the service, food, IFE and seat were all just good.
I want LH to be this amazing premium experience as I fly back-and-forth between Bavarian and Florida homes multiple times a year (in addition to other travel). It just isn't. Not even close. I find it as overrated as Florida weather and German food. What am I missing? Is it all dependent on being in first?
JFK LH 400-401 will get the 340-6 beginning 28th March
To those annoyed at the question posts (it's extreme today): it's actually really good SEO for Ben's blog, so it's not necessarily for those of you reading it regularly.
It's just part of life when your business is a blog, so live with it :)
Lucky did not talk about the drink menu. It's a real disaster, my last flight to JNB I got one supermarket level champagne who is been sold at 47USD (Champagne Lanson Vintage, who is not very good). The wine price/quality is even lower than that, what LH have in the mind ?
My IFE was broken, the light did not worked as the remote, so as soon the cabin was dark I can't see...
Lucky did not talk about the drink menu. It's a real disaster, my last flight to JNB I got one supermarket level champagne who is been sold at 47USD (Champagne Lanson Vintage, who is not very good). The wine price/quality is even lower than that, what LH have in the mind ?
My IFE was broken, the light did not worked as the remote, so as soon the cabin was dark I can't see anything unless I used my phone torch.
MDC take my business card and promised that LH will contact me for compensation, I am still waiting for almost 3 months.
I used also the contact form 2 months ago, ZERO answer.
If I compare that experience with my flight in first class from QR BKK to DOH on A380, I got the same kind of caviar but my Champagne was the amazing Krug vintage 2004, the wine was some great vintage of bordeaux grand cru (Pichon Longueville 2009 97/100 Robert Parker) & amazing other wine as Spanish & italian. The seat is much more modern than LH & with the bar/lounge inside the plane as add-on, service was globally nicer with QR.
No comparaison between both experience.
I agree QR's food/wine/seat/bar in A380 F is better, but currently the ground experience and FCT is wayyy better on LH than Al Safwa in Doha.
Any idea why Bangalore gets F but not Delhi or Mumbai even at times where they’re served by aircraft with F..?
@ Leo Guam -- It's a great question. Historically BOM and DEL both received first class, but that hasn't been the case for the past several months, or for the upcoming summer schedule. So for whatever reason there's clearly more premium demand at the moment for BLR than BOM and DEL. I guess there's perhaps a lot of tech business travel?
To save those seats from leaking passengers?
Doesn’t the A340 fly Chicago-Munich?
@ LHP -- Good catch. Updated the post, thank you!
Hey Ben, from what I can tell the A340-600 routes from FRA that you cited are actually set to be operated with A340-300. I believe the A340-600 and A380 are both MUC-exclusive types.
@ Max -- The A340-600 has been exclusive to Munich, but that's changing as of this summer. If you look at the routes cited out of Frankfurt, you'll see that they are in fact operated by the A340-600, and feature first class (no A340-300s feature first class).
Personally, I thinks LH should add the remaining few business class seat-types that it doesn't already have and then market itself as the only airline with ALL business class seats out there.
As a data point, I've been using the seats.aero site as of late to check on F space in LH. They have a great tab you can pull down that lists all the LH F seats that are currently available (typically about a week out). It's updated every few hours. However, be aware that many may go fast and not updated back quite as fast.
The takeaways from watching this is that MUC and...
As a data point, I've been using the seats.aero site as of late to check on F space in LH. They have a great tab you can pull down that lists all the LH F seats that are currently available (typically about a week out). It's updated every few hours. However, be aware that many may go fast and not updated back quite as fast.
The takeaways from watching this is that MUC and BOS are the two city pairs that most regularly show up with F. Virtually every day in each direction it comes available. MUC in general often has more space compared to FRA. With MUC and ORD pairing coming in second as of late with seats.
FRA may be 'awesome'; MUC experience last week, not so much.
That said, I did MUC BOS, and the service was quite good. Not sure if that was normal, or because it was 3/8 and two went to bed as soon as the seat belt sign was off.
I see A340-600 First on 3/27-3/28 MUC=>SFO/LAX/MEX up to 4 seats.
For all of the oohs and aahs, Lufthansa's "old" first class seats look not meaningfully different from those of other carriers that are regularly pooped upon in comments. Just sayin'. On the other hand, Lufthansa's "new" first class seats look incredible.
Booking a transatlantic flight few days before departure? Do people not have Jobs?
MY job requires 40 days notice for any vacation
@StarAdmiral,
Some people travel for work, not only for leisure.
To give you an example I travel for work and can never ever book my flight more than 6 hours before taking off.
Yes, many of us do. And rely on last minute, still. In fact, it guides the majority of my travel. For business it works great, sure, but I actually prefer last minute vacations to odd places that will always have good hotels and availability. If you travel to Hawaii or similar, sure, it doesn't work well. But for many fantastic destinations last minute is the way to go. SE Asia is always a pretty good...
Yes, many of us do. And rely on last minute, still. In fact, it guides the majority of my travel. For business it works great, sure, but I actually prefer last minute vacations to odd places that will always have good hotels and availability. If you travel to Hawaii or similar, sure, it doesn't work well. But for many fantastic destinations last minute is the way to go. SE Asia is always a pretty good bet outside of peak school holiday periods. Why not try and block your vacation time but then wing it from there?
I live in the US and have a job with a lot of flexibility to take time off or work remotely as I want. Have done some relatively last minute premium travel and it’s pretty awesome.
Do one for Qatar Airways as well. I believe they took A380 away from BKK and CDG route
Houston will get the 747-8 beginning 26th March
@ Kevin -- Good catch, thanks!