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After years of development and significant regulatory hurdles, the benefits of flying 
Lufthansa Allegris Business Class have finally become a tangible reality for long-haul travelers. For passengers on key transpacific and transatlantic corridors, Allegris provides a departure from the restrictive one-size-fits-all model, offering a level of personalization and technical sophistication intended to recapture Lufthansa’s status as a top-tier global airline.
The road to this rollout was famously rocky, with recent milestones finally unlocking the majority of seat inventory on the Boeing 787-9 fleet after months of certification limbo. As Lufthansa aggressively deploys these cabins on flagship routes, now is the perfect time to dive into the specific advantages, from individual climate control to the innovative suite concept. This article will explore the technical nuances of the seven-seat configuration, compare the product to its European rivals, and clarify whether the new unbundled pricing model truly serves passengers or the airline’s bottom line.
The Choice For The Modern Traveler
Lufthansa Allegris is the first business class product to be designed entirely around the unbundled preference of the modern traveler, ensuring every passenger has direct aisle access and a seat tailored to their specific ergonomic needs. By moving away from the outdated 2-2-2 layout, the airline has introduced a cabin where choice is the primary luxury, offering everything from high-walled privacy suites to extra-long beds. This modular approach allows the carrier to compete with the industry’s best while providing a 1-2-1 or 1-1-1 configuration that guarantees no one is climbing over a neighbor.
To support this variety, Lufthansa has invested more than 2.5 billion euros in hardware alone, featuring technical highlights previously unheard of in the industry. For example, the front-row business class suites offer chest-high walls and sliding doors, creating a first class lite experience that includes a personal minibar and a 27-inch 4K monitor. For those prioritizing rest over storage, the extra-long bed option offers a 2.2-meter sleeping surface, significantly longer than the standard 2 meters found on most European competitors.
From a historical perspective, this represents a massive pivot for a carrier that was once criticized for its lack of innovation in premium cabins. By integrating shoulder sink-in technology, a feature that allows side-sleepers to comfortably submerge their shoulders into the seat cushion, Lufthansa is utilizing mattress-grade engineering to solve common in-flight sleep issues. This data-driven approach to comfort, combined with the world’s first seat heating and cooling system, signifies a shift from merely providing a seat to providing a managed personal environment at 35,000 feet.
Choice Of Seat Type?
The true value of an Allegris booking is highly dependent on which of the 7 distinct seat types a passenger actually secures. Unlike traditional business class cabins, where every seat is functionally identical, the Allegris cabin is an ecosystem of varying square footage and technical features. This means that business class on Lufthansa has effectively become a tiered experience where your physical comfort is dictated by your seat selection strategy and your willingness to navigate a complex deck plan.
The variety of seat types includes front-row suites, privacy seats, extra-long beds, extra-space seats, double seats, privacy seats with baby, and classic seats. For instance, a solo traveler on a 12-hour flight will find the extra space seat invaluable for productivity, whereas a couple would find that same seat isolating. Additionally, the aircraft alters what’s on offer, with the Airbus A350-900 featuring a slightly wider fuselage than the Boeing 787-9, giving the center suites in the front row a more palatial feel compared to the tighter constraints of the Dreamliner.
In addition, elite status within the Miles & More ecosystem can make a huge difference when it comes to booking a ticket on Lufthansa. The airline has aggressively monetized seat selection, often charging significant advanced seat reservation fees for high-demand suites and extra-long beds. For a traveler without Senator or HON Circle status, the benefit of Allegris can quickly become a financial calculation. This creates a scenario where the best version of the product is reserved for those who either pay a premium or have invested heavily in the airline’s loyalty program.
Lufthansa Receives 1st Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner With New Allegris Cabin
Lufthansa Allegris will be debuting on a brand new aircraft type in Lufthansa’s fleet, with a caveat.
Mixed Opinions
Lufthansa leadership has consistently framed the Allegris rollout as a necessary evolution into luxury personalization. Jens Ritter, CEO of Lufthansa Airlines, has publicly stated that the goal of the 2.5 billion euro investment is to move away from a standardized product and toward a system where every passenger can curate their own flight. Lufthansa is no longer selling just a seat, but a specific set of attributes, be it extra length, extra privacy, or extra work surface, designed to maximize the revenue potential of every square inch of the cabin.
Industry experts and reviewers have offered a more cautious perspective on this complexity. David Slotnick of The Points Guy noted that while the hardware is a massive leap forward, the unbundling of the business class cabin risks confusing the occasional traveler who expects a uniform experience. Similarly, influential reviewer Nonstop Dan has pointed out that the suite is a world-class product. Still, the need to pay a surcharge of up to $ 350 can leave a sour taste for passengers who have already spent thousands on a premium ticket.
As reported by Aviation Week, Allegris is testing the waters for a new choice-based model that could set a new industry standard. Analysts suggest that if Lufthansa can successfully manage the technical challenge of selling seven different seat types across a global fleet, other legacy carriers may follow suit. The move to finally sell these seats on the 787 fleet in early 2026 is seen as the definitive end of Lufthansa’s interim period, signaling that the airline is fully committed to a future where business class is no longer a single-tier experience.
European Challengers
When evaluating the benefits of Allegris, one must look toward its primary European competitors, specifically 
Air France and the new-look ITA Airways. While Lufthansa has gambled on technical variety and choice, Air France has doubled down on French art de vivre with its new Stelia Opera suites. These suites, found on their newest A350-900 aircraft, offer a more uniform and high-fashion experience than Allegris, featuring sliding doors and a 1-2-1 configuration across the entire cabin. However, unlike Lufthansa’s mattress-grade shoulder sink-in tech, Air France relies on traditional soft-product padding, which some long-haul sleepers find less supportive.
The comparison with ITA Airways and its business class product is particularly relevant as the Italian carrier completes its integration into the Lufthansa Group. ITA’s Airbus A330neo and A350-900 products feature a stunning blue-leather aesthetic and a boutique service model that many travelers find more personal than the efficient, German-led Allegris experience. The downside for ITA remains its smaller fleet and less consistent network. The connecting flights and ground infrastructure at ITA hubs still lag behind the massive Frankfurt and Munich hubs for Lufthansa. ITA offers a high-style Super Diamond seat that is comfortable but lacks the individualized climate control that gives Allegris the technical edge.
|
Feature |
Lufthansa Allegris |
Air France |
ITA Airways |
|
Seat Customization |
High (7 seat types) |
Low (Uniform) |
Medium (Fleet variance) |
|
Privacy |
Door (Suites only) |
Door (All seats) |
Partial Door (A330neo) |
|
Tech Highlight |
Seat Heating/Cooling |
17.3-inch 4K Screen |
Italian Gourmet Catering |
|
The Catch |
Heavy seat selection fees |
Narrower footwells |
Limited hub connectivity |
Lufthansa’s Allegris is undeniably the most technically advanced, allowing a passenger to buy the specific ergonomic features they need. Air France remains the winner for those who want a consistent, private, and stylish cabin without having to navigate a seat-selection fee map. Meanwhile, ITA is the enthusiast’s choice, offering a more soulful and less corporate flight experience, though it lacks the sheer industrial reliability and technological gadgetry that Lufthansa provides.
Lufthansa Allegris Vs Air France La Première: New First Class Cabins Compared
German precision vs French opulence at 35,000 feet?
Inconsistencies?
The Allegris cabin is marketed as a revolution in personalized choice, but critics frequently point out that the most desirable benefits, such as the high-walled privacy of the front-row suites or the extra-long beds, are often locked behind a seat-selection fee. For a traveler without elite status, these surcharges can reach 350 dollars per segment, meaning that a passenger paying a standard premium fare might still find themselves in a classic seat that lacks the headline-grabbing features they expected.
Another significant risk for travelers is the so-called Lufthansa lottery, which describes the high likelihood of last-minute equipment swaps. Because the rollout across the massive wide-body fleet is a multi-year endeavor, a flight originally scheduled with the Allegris-equipped 787-9 or A350-900 can be swapped for an older aircraft featuring the legacy 2-2-2 configuration. This is a common occurrence during maintenance cycles or operational disruptions, often leaving passengers who specifically booked for the new hardware in cabins that feel dated and lack direct aisle access.
Finally, the sheer complexity of managing 7 different seat types has drawn criticism regarding the learning curve for both passengers and crew. Reviewers have noted that while the technical gadgets are impressive, the seat-control software can be unintuitive, and the high-density layout of certain sections can feel claustrophobic compared to more open cabin designs.
The Lufthansa Comeback?
Lufthansa Allegris is a high-reward but high-maintenance product that finally brings the German flag carrier into the modern era of premium aviation. The benefits of the shoulder sink-in technology and individualized climate control are game-changers for long-haul wellness, but they require a proactive booking strategy to be enjoyed. For the first time in over a decade, Lufthansa has a hard product that can genuinely compete with the likes of 
Qatar Airways or 
Singapore Airlines, provided the passenger is willing to navigate the tiered pricing and technical variety of the cabin.
To maximize the benefits of Allegris, the Airbus A350-900 fleet remains the best choice for its superior cabin width. While the seat-selection fees are a significant charge, they represent the new reality of unbundled luxury, where the most frequent flyers and highest-paying passengers are rewarded with a truly bespoke environment. For the occasional traveler, the classic seat still provides a significant upgrade over the legacy fleet, but the real magic of Allegris lies in the specialized options that redefine personal space at 35,000 feet.
Looking ahead, the success of Allegris will likely determine the future of the entire Lufthansa Group, including potential cabin refreshes for SWISS and Austrian Airlines. As more of the Boeing 787-9 fleet enters service with full seat certification throughout 2026, the Lufthansa lottery will gradually diminish, offering a more reliable and consistent experience across the North Atlantic and to Asian markets.
