Prepare to be amazed by the ultimate in luxury travel! Lufthansa's new jet is setting the bar for first-class experiences, and I had the privilege of an exclusive preview.
The German airline's latest innovation, the Allegris suites, boasts an impressive array of features. Imagine relaxing in your seat, enjoying the warmth of heated seats, and being entertained on a massive 43-inch TV. But that's just the beginning. These suites transform into spacious 7-foot-long beds, ensuring a comfortable journey.
Lufthansa, born from the merger of Junkers Luftverkehr and Deutsche Aero Lloyd in 1926, has introduced a game-changer with its Airbus A350. My visit to Munich Airport revealed a remarkable cabin experience, especially in the first-class section.
The Allegris first-class cabin is an exclusive sanctuary with only three suites, surpassing Air France's La Première cabin with its four separate seats. The minimalist design exudes elegance with blue leather, fabrics, and backlit blond wood finishes accented with gold. The 3-foot-wide seats are a dream come true, reclining into beds that almost reach 7 feet in length. Each suite features sliding shutter doors, offering a sense of privacy, though they don't quite touch the ceiling, unlike Emirates' first-class suites on their Boeing 777 jets.
But here's where it gets interesting: the doors are made of sturdy fabric, ensuring a quiet and rattle-free journey, even during turbulence. Say goodbye to the annoying rattling of plastic doors!
The suites offer ample storage for hand luggage, eliminating the need for overhead bins and creating a spacious feel. The TV screens are as large as those in your living room, measuring a whopping 43 inches diagonally. And for couples, there's an ottoman with a seatbelt, allowing them to dine together in comfort.
The suite's ambiance is customizable, with mood lighting and temperature controlled via an iPad. Even the upholstery temperature can be adjusted, a first for any carrier. A near-full-length mirror on the closet door adds a touch of practicality and style.
The central suite, First Class Plus, takes luxury to the next level. It features two adjacent seats with no divider and a minimal gap, creating the largest double bed on a commercial jet—a massive 6 feet long and over 4 feet wide.
Until Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines unveil their new first-class offerings for the Boeing 777X, Lufthansa's Allegris suites reign supreme in the skies.
The business class seats also showcase the same upholstery heating and cooling technology found in first class. With four seat options, Lufthansa offers more variety than any other carrier. The front-row suites, without seats in front, provide extra space and storage, along with higher walls for enhanced privacy.
Some seats are strategically positioned in the center of the cabin, offering a throne-like experience with no adjacent seats and larger table space, perfect for working. For those seeking a good night's sleep, certain seats recline to create extra-long single beds, measuring 7 feet and 2 inches, surpassing the 6.5 feet in the regular suite and even outdoing first class on most other carriers. The remaining business class seats are standard, either aisle or window seats.
Premium economy class seats are designed with style and comfort in mind, featuring blue fabric, faux wood finishes, and head-height partitions for added privacy. Interestingly, the seat shell is fixed, causing the upholstery to slump forward when reclined, ensuring the seatback doesn't intrude on the space of the passenger behind. This design is a welcome relief for those who dislike the seat in front reclining, especially on long daytime flights. However, the comfort for sleeping remains to be tested.
Lufthansa's new A350s introduce a novel concept in the front row of economy class. These seats offer not only extra legroom but also larger TV screens, measuring 15.6 inches diagonally, a 25% increase over standard economy seats. There are four rows of these spacious economy seats, providing 2.7 extra inches of legroom. In a groundbreaking move, passengers can book the adjacent seat, creating even more space, resulting in nine unique seating options on the jet.
Some critics argue that offering numerous classes with varying prices is confusing. However, I believe it caters to the preferences of frequent flyers who appreciate the ability to choose their ideal seat. With Lufthansa's new cabins, travelers now have more options than ever.
Lufthansa's new jets with these innovative cabins fly from Frankfurt or Munich to various destinations, including Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, Shanghai, Beijing, Cape Town, and Johannesburg. These flights provide a fantastic alternative to routes via Turkey or the Gulf, and with some research, they can even be more affordable than Gulf carriers.
If you're still not convinced about Lufthansa, consider this: they are the only major European airline committed to flying the iconic 747 jumbo. With a fleet of 27 refurbished 747s featuring the latest Lufthansa seats, including business class in the famous 'bubble,' it's an experience not to be missed.
And this is the part most people miss—the opportunity to fly on a legendary aircraft. So, will you be tempted to experience Lufthansa's new first-class suites? Or do you think the multiple seating classes are overkill? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
