Lufthansa First Class is one the world’s most decadent First Class experiences in the sky, complete with an entire terminal dedicated to First Class passengers, a Porsche transfer across the tarmac to the plane, and a generous serving of caviar.
Despite its overall opulence, however, the seat itself has begun to show its age – especially since other airlines have released First Class suites with sliding doors, 42″ entertainment screens, and other glitzy features.
Lufthansa has released details of its brand-new “Allegris” generation First Class product, which is set to debut in 2024 with ceiling-high walls, a First Class suite for two, metre-wide seats, and a personal wardrobe. Additionally, we now have more details of what its new business class cabin will look like, and it’s a very welcome improvement to the current state of affairs.
This is the first update to Lufthansa First Class in nearly a decade, and one that the Miles & Points world awaits with bated breath.
New Lufthansa Allegris First Class
We now have more details about the Allegris First Class cabin, which will debut on new Airbus A350s in 2024.
The cabin will have a quasi 1-2-1 configuration, in that the suites on either side will seat one passenger, but the suite in the middle is made for two. It will be known as “First Class Suite Plus”, and it will only be available for booking with double occupancy.
The renderings of the product look pretty outstanding, and the suite offers another option for a bed in the sky.
Aside from the double suite, there are a few major changes to look forward to with the new Lufthansa Allegris First Class, including:
- Ceiling-high walls and sliding doors for privacy
- Climate control in each suite
- A personal wardrobe
- A metre-wide seat and bed
- Face-to-face dining using the suite’s ottoman
- An entertainment monitor that extends the full width of the suite
- Bluetooth connectivity
There’s no mention of wireless charging in the First Class section, but as the new business class (more on this below) will have wireless charging, it would be a strange omission if the same feature weren’t available in First Class.
Indeed, a smartphone appears in one of the renderings, suggesting that wireless charging will be available in First Class, as well.
Signature Lufthansa First Class motifs remain, such as the red rose on the side table. Furthermore, there’s likely a tray table that emerges from the side that can be slid forwards and backwards, allowing you to seamlessly move about during the meal service for up to two passengers.
I can’t be the only one brimming with excitement about the new Lufthansa First Class, as the airline’s onboard seat and hard product were the only things holding them back from being amongst the world’s best First Class experiences.
With an updated First Class suite adorned in a rich and royal deep blue colour, paired with the impeccable ground experience in Frankfurt, I imagine that Lufthansa First Class will very much be in a position to compete with Air France La Première as the leading transatlantic forward cabin.
New Lufthansa Allegris Business Class
Lufthansa’s business class product is also receiving an enormous upgrade, as their current 2-2-2 business class configuration leaves much to be desired. The new Allegris product will debut alongside the new First Class cabin on the Airbus A350, set to begin service in 2024.
Currently, window passengers on Lufthansa business class do not have direct aisle access, and their feet are also mere inches from touching your neighbour’s in lie-flat mode.
The new Lufthansa Allegris business class, which was actually first announced in 2017 but now set to launch in early 2024, features forward-facing seats that alternate between window seats being closer to the window and closer to the aisle, as well as a personal minibar. The walls in the suites will be “chest-high”, offering a much higher degree of privacy than before.
In total, there will be six different business class seat types to choose from, with some including a bed of up to 2.2 metres, a baby bassinet, or extra work and storage space. All seats will convert into a bed that measures at least two metres long, which is great news for taller passengers.
Furthermore, the new Allegris business class suites will have 4K high-definition entertainment screens, large tray tables, wireless charging, and Bluetooth connectivity. The seats will also be equipped with a personal heating and cooling system, which allows passengers to customize their temperature.
The middle seats are most exciting, featuring either one or two seats per row. In this sense, you’ll have an alternating 1-2-1 and a 1-1-1 configuration in the Allegris business class cabin.
The single seats will feature two side tables, which is more surface area than any of the seats in the cabin, and are reminiscent of “throne” seats featured on Swiss, Aer Lingus, TAP Air Portugal, and more.
Moreover, the front row of business class promises to be step above all the other seats, and will feature doors, a monitor of up to 27″, and increased storage in the form of a personal wardrobe. The divider can be retracted to form a “reclining surface for two”, which sounds like a sort of bed for some passengers.
This new kind of “First Class in business class” concept has been growing in popularity, as we’ve seen similar products launched by JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic in recent years. As with those two airlines, expect Lufthansa to charge a premium for these first-row “suites”.
The standard business class monitors will be 17″, and all will feature a tablet to control the seat’s many features. Notably, passengers will also be able to connect their own PC, tablet, or smartphone to take advantage of the crisp new entertainment screen to watch their own content.
New Lufthansa Premium Economy and Economy Class
Lufthansa’s new Allegris generation of airline seats also includes changes to premium economy and economy class.
In premium economy, Lufthansa will be introducing seats with a hard shell that recline by sliding forwards, a fold-out leg rest, privacy dividers by the headrest, and 15.6″ entertainment monitors.
This is the standard premium economy seat for Lufthansa Group going forward, and has already been introduced on Swiss.
In economy class, Lufthansa will be introducing “Sleeper’s Row 2.0”, which will consist of a row of three or four seats with fold-up leg rests to create a wider sleeping space, featuring a mattress topper, pillow, and blanket.
The “2.0” moniker refers to the fact that Lufthansa has already rolled out “Sleeper’s Row” on long-haul flights, but without the fold-up leg rest, so it’s just a row of economy class seats being sold together.
Sleeper’s Row 2.0 will likely closely resemble Air New Zealand’s Skycouch, offering economy class passengers a more comfortable option for getting some rest in the back of the cabin.
Conclusion
Lufthansa will be launching a new generation of Allegris seats in 2024, the most exciting of which are the new First Class suites and business class seats.
Lufthansa First Class will soon feature sliding doors that nearly span from the floor to the ceiling, an entertainment monitor that occupies the full width of the suite, a personal wardrobe, and face-to-face dining. There’s also an option for passengers to book a double-occupancy First Class Suite Plus, featuring a double bed and side-by-side seats.
Lufthansa’s business class, first announced in 2017, will also be launching in 2024, featuring direct aisle access for every seat, a 17″ entertainment screen, and chest-high walls. Some middle seats will be “throne” seats with two side tables, and most excitingly, seats in the front row will feature doors, a larger 27″ entertainment screen, a personal wardrobe, and the ability to convert into a “reclining surface for two”.
We don’t know what award availability will look like, but let’s hope that it remains possible to book with points once it debuts next year.
