In October 2022, Lufthansa unveiled its biggest-ever investment in the premium cabin experience, as part of what’s called the new “Allegris” product generation. In addition to new business class seats, this also includes a new first class product. The airline has today revealed more details about what we can expect, and there’s a surprise most of us weren’t anticipating.
In this post:
Lufthansa’s new first class suite
Lufthansa will be introducing suites in first class, offering ceiling-high walls and closable doors. As it’s described, the seat will be almost one meter wide, and can be converted into a bed. All suites will be forward facing, and there will be just one row of first class seats on the A350 (this includes three suites that can seat up to four people).
Lufthansa’s new first class suites will feature a variety of amenities, including:
- A large dining table and buddy seat, so that passengers can dine together
- Entertainment screens that extend across the full width of the suite
- Bluetooth connectivity for wireless headphones
- A personal wardrobe for storing your belongings
- Individual temperature controls, similar to what you’ll find in Emirates’ new 777 first class
Below are renderings of the new first class.
Below is a video Lufthansa has published about the general Allegris product improvements.
Lufthansa also introducing a double suite
Here’s where things get even more interesting. Lufthansa isn’t just introducing a new first class suite, but the airline actually has two products. Lufthansa will also have the “Suite Plus,” which is a double seat in the center of the cabin. It has all the same amenities as the other suite, except it consists of two seats right next to one another (almost like a loveseat), and can be converted into a double bed. Furthermore, the seat will have a 42″ television.
This is super interesting. This isn’t just two separate first class seats that can be converted into a double bed if a passenger wants. Rather this product will exclusively be available as a double cabin:
- I’m curious how this will be priced; is this just a product you’re able to select if you book two first class seats, or will it have fully separate pricing?
- If all individual suites are sold out, will Lufthansa maybe last minute release this seat for sale at the “standard” first class price, or no?
- Even if I were traveling with someone, I’m not sure I’d necessarily prefer this product; it seems there’s just one shared entertainment screen, and the product looks a bit on the cozy side, especially if one person wishes to eat and the other person wishes to sleep, for example
- Managing inventory is going to be especially tricky when you consider that the cabin has just three suites
In some ways this almost looks to me like a much less spacious version of the Etihad Residence in terms of creating a space that can be shared by two people.
Below are some real life pictures of mockups of the new seats, which give you a better sense of how spacious this product is.
Then below is a picture from Lufthansa’s marketing video, giving you a sense of the layout of the cabin.
The new first class will debut on the A350
Lufthansa intends to introduce this new first class product on select Airbus A350-900s as of 2024. Specifically, at least 10 A350-900s will feature first class, and they’ll be based in Munich. Until recently the plan was for this product to still be introduced in 2023, so it’s a bit disappointing that we’ll have to wait another year.
Lufthansa Group has also just placed an order for 10 Airbus A350-1000, and it has been revealed that they will also feature first class. However, we don’t yet officially know which Lufthansa Group airline these jets will be going to.
As it stands, Lufthansa has first class on its 19 Boeing 747-8s, which are based in Frankfurt. On top of that, the airline has temporarily brought back some Airbus A340-600s, which are based in Munich. These were specifically brought back because they feature first class. Lufthansa will also temporarily reactive some Airbus A380s as of the summer of 2023, also to be based in Munich.
One big question has been whether Lufthansa’s new first class would be in a 1-1-1 or 1-2-1 configuration. As you can see, the answer is somewhere in the middle, as it’s 1-2-1, but in reality the double suite in the center isn’t as wide as two suites would otherwise be. Suffice it to say that this will be an extremely exclusive cabin, with just one row of seats.
While there had been reports that Lufthansa plans to retrofit Boeing 747-8s with the new first class product, it’s now my understanding that no final decision has been made regarding this.
For what it’s worth, Lufthansa’s four cabin Airbus A350s will feature just 279 seats, including up to four first class seats, 38 business class seats, 24 premium economy seats, and 201 economy seats.
What are the implications for award tickets?
I can’t help but wonder what this development means for Lufthansa first class award availability. First of all, with just three first class suites, I think it’s safe to assume that first class awards will almost never be available. With so few seats, we’ll almost certainly see them sell, and the airline would be unlikely to let people book with miles.
On top of that, keep in mind that Lufthansa makes first class award seats available to partner frequent flyer programs at most 15 days in advance.
SWISS is also part of the Lufthansa Group, yet SWISS first class is generally only bookable with miles by Lufthansa Miles & More Senator members and above, and isn’t bookable with partner miles. Even beyond the capacity limitations, I worry that Lufthansa introducing a new first class might cause the airline to eliminate partner first class award availability altogether.
If that were the case, it would mean that Air France, Lufthansa, and SWISS awards are totally off limits for partner award redemptions. Add in American eliminating first class and British Airways greatly reducing its first class footprint, and transatlantic first class awards may more or less be a thing of the past.
Bottom line
Lufthansa has unveiled its new first class product, which for the first time will consist of suites with doors. Not only that, but there will even be a double suite, so that two people can share a suite together. This looks like a massive improvement over Lufthansa’s current first class product, so this is exciting.
This product will debut on the Airbus A350-900 as of 2024, though as of now there are no firm plans to reconfigure any jets with these new seats. The biggest downside to this product is that there will be just one row of first class suites. That means there will be only three first class suites, which can accommodate up to four passengers. That’s not good news for award availability.
What do you make of Lufthansa’s new first class?
Maybe it's like CES's First Class Love seats on the 77W, special fare class.
The whole point of cutting F back to one row is to stop / significantly reduce the number of F seats sold as award tickets, award ticket sales represent way lower amounts than the cash equivalents they go for, why would an airline want to add more seats that just sell as award tickets? If the incremental F row doesn't consistently sell for cash, it's much better to stick in another row of J instead,...
The whole point of cutting F back to one row is to stop / significantly reduce the number of F seats sold as award tickets, award ticket sales represent way lower amounts than the cash equivalents they go for, why would an airline want to add more seats that just sell as award tickets? If the incremental F row doesn't consistently sell for cash, it's much better to stick in another row of J instead, as that has a much higher likelihood of selling for cash. Every airline in the world is reducing their F cabin sizes or eliminating them entirely precisely because they don't sell enough seats for cash, so you get a bunch of low revenue equivalent award ticket sales instead
Product looks really good, not sure how I feel about the double suite. It's a cool concept, but I see it flying empty more often than not. Most people here seem to want their own space but honestly I like being cozy with my partner.
Brilliant! It looks like another ploy by LH to become the world's first 6* airline with just photo renderings... I'm still waiting for that throne seat that was promised. But bless them, it can't be cheap paying for the extra star(s) rating.
LH just posted video of this on their IG.
What will be the best options for transatlantic first class award seats going forward?
Also - your comment that Swiss First is not bookable with partner miles: some married segments were bookable with United a little while ago, but I haven't checked recently.
BA offers a lot of F seats on a lot of routes, with decent award availability
… and an F product that is basically “very good business class”.
Frankly now that BA has lie flats that aren’t from 2000 in J the premium for F for someone who’s OWE is pretty marginal.
and the obnoxious taxes to match
The logical way to sell the 1.5 compartment would be to sell being seated there as a supplement (maybe 500-1000 euro?) on an F booking and then allow (subject to a paid supplement) a companion ticket to be linked at the price (cash or miles) of an economy ticket. If no one has paid the supplement, the third F ticket sold would not have a seat assignment until DoD, at which point the most important...
The logical way to sell the 1.5 compartment would be to sell being seated there as a supplement (maybe 500-1000 euro?) on an F booking and then allow (subject to a paid supplement) a companion ticket to be linked at the price (cash or miles) of an economy ticket. If no one has paid the supplement, the third F ticket sold would not have a seat assignment until DoD, at which point the most important booking (probably status then highest cash price then highest mileage price) has first refusal on moving from window to double (though would not have the ability to bring a companion without first paying the supplement).
It's a creative way to use space that's difficult to sell on an A350.
May be a little tight for couples, they may have to spoon. Enclosed from floor to ceiling, the privacy, but I wonder how sound proof are? ......... Hey ..... clean up those thoughts ....... I'm thinking about my snoring.
It should not be tight for regular sized couples. But for Americans I could see the issue.
How rude
The first thing I thought of was- what's the point of a buddy seat if there is only one other seat with a single person in it? I.e. there's a double suite (they're already eating together) and one other first class seat. My understanding is that you can't bring someone up from business or coach to eat in first so.... yeah. Otherwise I think they look gorgeous.
I like the cozy double suite idea, if...
The first thing I thought of was- what's the point of a buddy seat if there is only one other seat with a single person in it? I.e. there's a double suite (they're already eating together) and one other first class seat. My understanding is that you can't bring someone up from business or coach to eat in first so.... yeah. Otherwise I think they look gorgeous.
I like the cozy double suite idea, if traveling with partner or even more so with a kid who you need to keep an eye on. It's the only time I still like the 2x2x2 arrangement in older business class in airlines- much easier to keep an eye on a kid than when its a little pod away from you. I realize its a niche problem and generally I love the pod/suite idea when I travel alone for business. But I can see why UA and others keep older planes on leisure routes like to Hawaii.
I really like the design choices and colors! But that double suite concept looks absolutely terrible. Now what would be hilarious is that if there's no couple taking the suite, they decided to sell the seat separately closer to the date :D .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvTb1B253fQ&t=2s
The weirdest thing about the double seat to me is that it doesn't have direct aisle access from one side where it appears to have a solid wall. Climbing over someone to go to the bathroom or grab a snack seems like a step backwards in premium cabin design.
What a drab color scheme all that black
The double suite seems naive isn’t part of the fun being close but having your own space? As a couple much prefer the current arrangement.
Hopefully the 747s stay as is
John Walton has posted a vid of the double bed and i'm not impressed. When reclining you don't have much legroom. Plus i'd feel clastophobic in that.
And yes, there's only one row of F on the A350 with a total of 279 seats and rather premium heavy.
Yah, also not a fan of that double suite. Let me clarify; it looks great but I would never want to share it with someone! I hope what they decide to do is ultimately sell the double suite at a 150% premium and so that is either a more expensive solo seat for a single traveler OR a reduced price first class pair of seats for two people traveling together.
I also wonder if this...
Yah, also not a fan of that double suite. Let me clarify; it looks great but I would never want to share it with someone! I hope what they decide to do is ultimately sell the double suite at a 150% premium and so that is either a more expensive solo seat for a single traveler OR a reduced price first class pair of seats for two people traveling together.
I also wonder if this has implications for improved ground experience for First Class passengers. Lufthansa lags behind Air France when it comes to the departure/arrival/connection experience (unless you are departing from the F-class terminal in FRA).
To be fair you could sell them how some sleeper trains sell their berths - so either standard business class seat price each for two people together or at 150% for one person on their own if they want a roomier upgraded experience on their own.
Sell at 150% premium = 2.5 times the price of a first class seat?
The rendering from above clearly shows curtains behind that one F row, so I would be pretty sure there will only be one row.
As for that 1.5 seat in the middle, my guess is their choices were either 1-1-1 or 1-1.5-1, so they went with the latter in the hope that some honeymooners would want to cram themselves into what is effectively three quarters of an F seat. Absolutely unusable for two business people...
The rendering from above clearly shows curtains behind that one F row, so I would be pretty sure there will only be one row.
As for that 1.5 seat in the middle, my guess is their choices were either 1-1-1 or 1-1.5-1, so they went with the latter in the hope that some honeymooners would want to cram themselves into what is effectively three quarters of an F seat. Absolutely unusable for two business people or even an adult child with parent (I'm thinking Dad 70yo and son 40 yo eg).
The big question is, of course, whether they will sell that seat for a solo traveller at the usual cost in the case that both solo seats are taken. My guess is they will.
Definitely uncomfortable for two adults, although it might be a good set-up for a parent with a small child.
After 43 years together, wife and I could still fit together into one of those window suites. : )
That double suite looks terrible. Maybe it is much more spacious than the renderings make it look, but honestly I think I would take traveling in business class over that. You don't even have armrests between you in seat mode!
A double bed with floor to ceiling doors, huh? That sounds like cheating to me. My hot take is that you're not a member of the mile high club unless you both sneak into the lavatory unnoticed.
Looks nice! I’ll try it, assuming they continue offering FC out of IAD.
The center section does appear to allow one person to sleep and another to sit, based on renderings.
Not 100% sure if this is what we expected. While it's looking cozy it's also giving away privacy. You have to share your "private Suite". Unless you are a couple - this double suite can't be used for 2 other PAX traveling solo which means there are only 2 seats avail. for a solo person as I don't think they put 8FC on the A350.
Anyways we will have to be patient. Thank you for the great article once again!
It's obviously for couples only. I like the idea of 1 row only - like SQ 777. It's far more exclusive, quiet and comfortable. Always had a problem to find reward seat in LH first so 4 seats for cash only don't bother me.
I never had problems finding LH F.
Good for you that you aren't bothered
The press release says there will be only one row of first class in the A350 (two single suites and one double suite)
I flew FRA to EZE to FRA recently in F. Both flights were full. The flight attendants knew the other PAXs so clearly they were all regulars. I am guessing award seats will be a challenge. BTW the Star Alliance lounge at EZE was horrible. Massively overcrowded (they were turning people away).