Lufthansa unveils stunning new first-class and business-class seats
Lufthansa's decade-old premium cabins are finally getting a refresh — and it looks like the wait was worth it.
The German flag carrier on Friday unveiled renderings of its new first-class and business-class products. Both represent a significant upgrade from the existing offering: First class becomes an enclosed suite with a privacy door, and business class now features industry-standard direct aisle access.
The new onboard product, called "Allegris" by the airline, is actually a nose-to-tail upgrade across all cabins. It will be introduced next year, starting with new delivery Boeing 787-9s and Airbus A350-900s. The new product will also be found on the carrier's Boeing 777-9s, which will be delivered in 2025 at the earliest. Lufthansa also plans Allegris refits — it specifically mentioned its Boeing 747-8 fleet — and in all will replace 30,000 seats across its fleet.
"We want to set new, unprecedented standards for our guests," Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said in a statement. "The largest investment in premium products in our company's history underpins our claim to continue to be the leading Western premium airline in the future."
Here's what we know so far about Allegris.
Lufthansa's new first-class suite
The new seats will be nearly three feet wide — and each suite will contain a door. Each suite contains a personal wardrobe and, underscoring the amount of privacy afforded by the suite, Lufthansa says you can even change into your first-class pajamas while the door is closed. Like the existing first-class seats, the new ones convert into a flat bed.
More: The holy grail of award tickets: Flying Lufthansa first class on the Boeing 747-8
The seat will also feature a buddy seat with a seatbelt, allowing a companion to enjoy Lufthansa's signature caviar service with you.
Lufthansa's current generation first-class product doesn’t officially allow for companion dining, though it is theoretically possible to have a face-to-face meeting or snack with a colleague or loved one by sitting on the small ottoman.
Lufthansa promises more details about the new suite early next year.
Lufthansa's new business-class seat
The new business-class seats represent Lufthansa's first homegrown direct-aisle access product. (Select 787s and A350s currently offer direct aisle access because they were originally destined for Hainan Airlines and Philippine Airlines, respectively.)
There will actually be two tiers of the new seat: a suite in the bulkhead row and a regular business-class seat.
More: So sweet: Review of Lufthansa business class on the 747-8 from New York to Frankfurt
The suites feature "extended personal space," as well as a monitor that's up to 27 inches. Like the first-class suite, the business-class suite will feature a personal wardrobe. These suites will feature a door.
Regular business-class seats feature walls that will be at least 45 inches high and convert into a bed that's about 6.5 feet long. Inflight entertainment screens on the regular seats will be 17 inches and will allow for Bluetooth pairing with personal devices. The suites will also feature wireless charging and, as is already the case on Lufthansa flights, noise-canceling headphones.
The new product is a massive upgrade over Lufthansa's dated business- class seat.
Lufthansa promises more details about its Allegris business class in the spring.
Lufthansa's new premium economy seat
If Lufthansa's new premium economy seat looks familiar, that's because it is: It was first unveiled last year with Lufthansa's sister airline, Swiss.
The seats are based on a hard shell, allowing ergonomic adjustments to be made without affecting the passengers seated in the row behind you. The seats feature a fold-out leg rest and come with a 15.6-inch monitor.
More: High comfort, low fare: Lufthansa's premium economy on the A330
Swiss premium economy features 39 inches of pitch. It's unclear how Lufthansa will configure this seat on its fleet of widebody aircraft.
As with the other cabins, the new seat is a big upgrade over the current offering.
Lufthansa's new economy-class seat
While Lufthansa offered few details about its Allegris economy-class seat, it noted two product upgrades.
The airline will be introducing "Sleeper's Row 2.0" in economy class, which will be located in the first rows of the cabin and contain greater seat pitch. In an upgrade to the original Sleeper's Row, Sleeper's Row 2.0 features a fold-up leg rest, and a mattress is provided. While photos were not provided, the concept sounds similar to fellow Star Alliance member Air New Zealand's Skycouch, which has gotten rave reviews over the years.
The second upgrade is that Lufthansa will now allow travelers to purchase a vacant seat next to them — giving passengers some much-desired additional space.
Bottom line
Lufthansa's new Allegris hard product is a significant upgrade for the German airline and is many years in the making. Lufthansa will now need to overcome the supply chain challenges that have plagued similar projects in recent months. Come back to TPG for more details on Lufthansa's new cabins next year, once the airline reveals additional information.
A 10-hour flight is a lot more snooze-able in first class – see how many points away you are from a cozy, 30,000 foot slumber with the free TPG App!
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.