This spring, Lufthansa launched its new Allegris first class, initially available on select Munich-based Airbus A350-900s. I’ve had the chance to fly the product, and it’s no doubt a massive improvement over Lufthansa’s old first class. However, there are also some quirks.
Along those lines, aeroTELEGRAPH reports on how a representative for Lufthansa flight attendants has written a letter expressing frustration with the new Allegris first class, in terms of both design and staffing. They have some valid points…
In this post:
Lufthansa flight attendants point out Allegris design flaws
As I’ve covered extensively, Lufthansa’s new Allegris first class includes a double suite in the center, which just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me (especially factoring in current pricing), given there’s a single TV, a single tray table, and there’s less storage space than in the individual suites.
Lufthansa’s flight attendants have also noticed the strange execution of this seat, explaining:
“Couples rarely have the same sleep patterns or movie preferences. Instead of an exclusive, comfortable atmosphere, it creates a feeling of confinement and pressure – no trace of a premium experience.”
Ouch! Flight attendants also see design flaws beyond that, like the lack of any storage space for first class service items. For example, the first class bedding actually has to be stored in the overhead compartments in the first row of business class. So the flight attendant representative questions how the development process failed to consider this basic reality.
All their points are 100% accurate, so what can one really say? The only issue is that there’s not much Lufthansa can do to reverse course here, since it’s not like Lufthansa is going to ditch its Allegris first class product (never mind that it’s now also coming to the SWISS fleet, under the SWISS Senses branding).
Lufthansa flight attendants not happy about reduced staffing
While flight attendants aren’t happy about the design flaws, there’s something that they’re even less fond of, and that’s reduced staffing.
The old Lufthansa first class had two flight attendants for up to eight passengers, while the new Allegris first class has one flight attendant for up to four passengers. You might think “well that’s the same ratio, so what’s the problem?”
The reality is that there’s a bit more nuance to that. When there are two flight attendants, one works the galley, while one works the aisle, so there’s an easier division of responsibility. During meal times, it’s really difficult to have a single flight attendant working both the galley and aisle, especially if you’re trying to provide a personalized experience that’s attentive, while not feeling rushed.
Lufthansa’s plan all along has been to staff the Allegris first class cabin with just one flight attendant, but during a temporary introduction phase, the airline had two flight attendants. With that now being back down to one flight attendant, flight attendants aren’t happy:
“The removal of the flight attendant not only represents a clear decline in service quality, but also once again reveals significant weaknesses in strategic planning and product design. This will massively reduce the time spent with guests – especially in first class. And this is happening at a time when Allegris, a new seating product requiring explanation, is being introduced.”
“It’s not just about jobs, but about the future of a product that aspires to be among the world’s best. This is precisely why the removal of a flight attendant is not only a quantitative problem, but above all a qualitative one.”
Total staffing on the plane has been reduced from 12 flight attendants to 11 flight attendants. In fairness, the A350-900 has gone from 293 seats to 267 seats, though with the plane’s previous configuration, there also wasn’t first class.
I see both sides on this topic. On the one hand, the union is absolutely correct, which is that having only one flight attendant working both the aisle and galley makes it really difficult to provide great service. I also see this from the perspective of Lufthansa management — the economics of having two flight attendants taking care of so few passengers is difficult to justify.
I should also mention that Air France La Premiere first class has four seats, and is also staffed with one flight attendant. In situations where the cabin is full, you definitely feel that staffing could be better. However, Air France does sometimes have a second flight attendant come up and help, when available.
Bottom line
A representative for Lufthansa flight attendants has expressed frustration about the new Allegris first class product. For one, flight attendants seem to be noticing the impractical design of the double suite, plus some other design flaws, like the lack of storage for first class bedding.
Beyond that, flight attendants don’t like how staffing has been reduced, as it’s hard for one flight attendant to provide attentive service for the entire cabin, while working both the galley and aisle.
What do you make of this feedback from Lufthansa flight attendants?
Just my two pence worth.
1. What makes an experience or product 'premium' can differ vastly from individual to individual.
2. One FA for 4 pax is reasonable (LH has 2 for 8 F seats on the 747) but you also have to factor in the pilots who the F crew also tend to look after on the A350. There can be 2, 3 or even 4 pilots depending on route length and some pilots...
Just my two pence worth.
1. What makes an experience or product 'premium' can differ vastly from individual to individual.
2. One FA for 4 pax is reasonable (LH has 2 for 8 F seats on the 747) but you also have to factor in the pilots who the F crew also tend to look after on the A350. There can be 2, 3 or even 4 pilots depending on route length and some pilots are quite easy to look after, others are like an extra F passenger.
3. Overall seat count is not a good indication of what a good crewing number of FA's should be. Generally, if the overall seat count has reduced but the number of premium seats has increased you need MORE not LESS FA's or at the very least maintain existing numbers.
did I miss the link to who made these comments?
who would have thought that a labor group would have thought the product is inferior because it isn't staffed the way they think it should be?
Your assessment and theirs (whoever they are) may be true but...
Tim, after decades of flying in both F&J on the World’s best airlines, I can attest to the fact that in my experience every word is very likely to be true.
I can think of no reason why one would choose to spend one’s own ‘hard earned’ on a LH, F or J seat, unless the only alternative was a U.S. carrier.
I'm not doubting it is true.
the point is that there should be a source for it, not galley hearsay.
and since AA is the only US carrier that still has a first class international product, as lame duck, as it may be, they aren't an option.
LH didn't want to be left out in Europe and there is no doubt that Allegris is a massive miss on so many levels. The implication is...
I'm not doubting it is true.
the point is that there should be a source for it, not galley hearsay.
and since AA is the only US carrier that still has a first class international product, as lame duck, as it may be, they aren't an option.
LH didn't want to be left out in Europe and there is no doubt that Allegris is a massive miss on so many levels. The implication is the cost to provide it for years to come and the lack of competitiveness LH will have. The irony might be that other LH Group carriers might do better w/ it than flagship LH
Or the deal is significantly better than otherwise available. Not exactly what an airline wants to hear, that their product is only competitive if it has a low yield.
A trip I'm taking in December had swiss as a consideration as it was almost £1k cheaper than any other airline in J (except Egypt air (they're on my personal no fly list)) and it's good value at 65% the price of QR, BA, Etihad or EK.
Another reason Swiss should have two rows of Allegris First class.
How did this Allegris concept ever get off the ground? Someone (s) failing upwards? Did any employee provide any objection to it while it was in the planning phase? What happened to those objections?
Although I see AF crews pitching in to help in Le Premiere. The purser will often help during meal times etc. Should be no different for LH.
The flight attendants want to "serve" 2 passengers each??? Unless you had the Rolling Stones asking for... stuff... this is akin to "give me a cozy job, pay me lots of € and let the world burn"
Air France has 2 in La Premiere which seats 4.
The point is two cabin crew can do more than twice the work of one by specialising when there are many different tasks to do. For example, if all four first class passengers want to eat at once after take off (a common occurrence), one crew member has to do all the cooking and plating whilst also doing drinks refills, responding to call bells etc. High chance of messing up a meal. The service one...
The point is two cabin crew can do more than twice the work of one by specialising when there are many different tasks to do. For example, if all four first class passengers want to eat at once after take off (a common occurrence), one crew member has to do all the cooking and plating whilst also doing drinks refills, responding to call bells etc. High chance of messing up a meal. The service one cabin crew member provides to a cabin of four is massively different than a cabin of two, whilst the difference in service between two cabin crew members serving four or eight is arguably less.
Your attitude is precisely why no US airline will ever have a proper premium product, by the way.
Spot on Tom, well articulated …. anyone who possesses a modicum of knowledge about F&J World Class airline cabins, would never choose a U.S. carrier over the better alternatives.
Just read Ben’s reviews for Proof, if proof was ever needed.
There is absolutely nothing to attract the discerning F cabin passenger to this unfortunate mistake. LH, have scored a very expensive own goal with this attempt to upgrade the cabin.
How many FA does Etihad have in A380 first? Almost feels like too many (not a bad thing!). I know it’s a much larger cabin but they seem to have it figured out
The lack of storage for service items is not just a Lufthansa design issue, it is an A350-1000 issue. The airframe is a good deal smaller than the 777-300ER, and once the airlines squeeze in seats to make it comparable you clearly feel the smaller cabin space. The A350 is a nice plane to fly, but it is just too small for what airlines is trying to do in terms of passenger capacity.
Okay, but it’s not an A350-1000
Samo is correct - La Première staffing during mealtimes usually goes up to two, often the chief purser or someone from J helping (tend to be trained for LaP as well).
Lufthansa is not a premium airline, no matter how much it strains itself to try and prove that it is. The service is mediocre, as is the food. The premium offering is wildly inconsistent. The Senator Lounges are at best, institutional chic. Swiss's existing First Class cabin is plush, yes, but that can't be said for its Business Class on the A330-300 and A340-300s, which are ancient at this point, with boxy, hard seats, no...
Lufthansa is not a premium airline, no matter how much it strains itself to try and prove that it is. The service is mediocre, as is the food. The premium offering is wildly inconsistent. The Senator Lounges are at best, institutional chic. Swiss's existing First Class cabin is plush, yes, but that can't be said for its Business Class on the A330-300 and A340-300s, which are ancient at this point, with boxy, hard seats, no privacy, and absolutely nothing premium to speak of in terms of food and amenities. The coming Swiss Senses product hold a lot of promise, but across the brands, Lufthansa is a run of the mill airline, and doesn't add up to anything more. Even United took less time to roll out Polaris.
Since you started explaining to us the details of this product, I confess I’ve been nothing but confused. Not your fault, turns out it really is just silly. This is like the Dentist Office Class on Singapore A380s which one can’t help but feel wasn’t live-tested.
Swiss should have kept first (could have kept their existing layout and added doors) and LH should have mirrored the US3 and dropped it over time. And of course instead of Allegris they should have installed something like what AA and UA are rolling out now (Adient Ascent).
While LH 2-2-2 business never made any sense, I personally always liked the Swiss 1-2-2-ish cabin. Not private but accomplished many of the goals of Allegris...
Swiss should have kept first (could have kept their existing layout and added doors) and LH should have mirrored the US3 and dropped it over time. And of course instead of Allegris they should have installed something like what AA and UA are rolling out now (Adient Ascent).
While LH 2-2-2 business never made any sense, I personally always liked the Swiss 1-2-2-ish cabin. Not private but accomplished many of the goals of Allegris - space for couples/families to travel together, throne and non-throne space for solo travelers, middle seats all with direct aisle access, a nice mini-cabin… I’ll miss it. Not everything has to be a mini-suite with a door!
Agree except for the „LH should have dropped 1st“.
They have the numbers, if they see the demand, they shall offer it. 1st class terminal Frankfurt is a unique.
Agree except for the „LH should have dropped 1st“.
They have the numbers, if they see the demand, they shall offer it. 1st class terminal Frankfurt is a unique.
Ugh no, the LX 2-2-1 was terrible when travelling alone. Either exposed to aisle and constantly bumped or very squished near window with barely any storage space. About 20% of seats were ok. Throne seats are terrible for anyone over 6 feet, unless its your first ever C flight. Glad it will be gone, even if Allegris is extremely inconsistent, the number of seats with some space increases.
I believe La Première is going up to two CC. I believe there's some flexibility involved, with the second CC helping in J when there's not much work in F, but for the meal times, there should be two CC. Although I'm not sure whether this is implemented already or just planned.
Yeah, I‘m really afraid they destroy their product, I prefer old seat with outstanding Service and Menu over bling bling cabin, where even staff feels unhappy.
I understand your sentiments, but this is nowhere close to being a 'bling bling cabin'. In true LH 'style' it's simply.....a boring boring cabin.