747 8 cabin tour

The holy grail of award tickets: Flying Lufthansa first class on the Boeing 747-8

Editor's Note

There are only four European airlines offering a true first-class product on the transatlantic journey to and from the U.S.

There's Air France and Swiss , as well as British Airways and, yes, Lufthansa. (Other carriers, such as American Airlines and Singapore Airlines, offer first-class service on some transatlantic routes as well.)

While first-class flights can top $10,000 for a round-trip ticket, points and miles can help unlock this once-in-a-lifetime experience for just a few hundred dollars in taxes and fees.

Of the four airlines with a first-class cabin, only two of them are readily accessible using points — British Airways and Lufthansa. The former's first-class product is often referred to as the "world's best business class," thanks to some lackluster seating options (though there are newer versions on some aircraft).

That leaves Lufthansa as the holy grail when it comes to the best possible transatlantic inflight experience you can enjoy with miles.

Personally, I've long been a fan of redeeming points for Lufthansa first class . It's one of the reasons I try to keep a healthy stash of miles in my Star Alliance frequent flyer accounts.

I was recently in Paris for a long weekend with my wife. When we found a last-minute Lufthansa first-class award for the journey back to the U.S., we jumped on it.

The airline recently restarted flying its first class-equipped jets to the U.S. , and the exclusive First Class Terminal also just reopened in Frankfurt, Germany. Having last flown in the pointy end of a Lufthansa jet together in 2018, we figured it was worth the splurge.

And boy, were we right.

As mentioned, Lufthansa first class can be easily accessible using points. We even have a detailed guide to leveraging your miles for a Lufthansa award.

However, there are a few mid-pandemic changes that you need to be aware of.

First, the airline's first-class footprint is currently limited to just one aircraft type in the fleet, the Boeing 747-8. The airline's Airbus A380s, as well as its Airbus A340-600s with first class, are currently grounded due to the pandemic.

According to Cirium timetables, Lufthansa's planning to deploy its Boeing 747-8 on the following U.S. routes from Frankfurt (FRA) in November 2021:

• Chicago O'Hare (ORD).
• Los Angeles (LAX).
• Miami (MIA).
• Newark (EWR).
• New York-JFK.
• San Francisco (SFO).

Once you find a route operated by a first-class-equipped jet, the next step is actually finding award availability. Before the pandemic, and even in the early months of Europe's reopening, finding an award seat wasn't too hard — the airline would reliably release unsold seats within 14 days of departure, barring some one-time exceptions, like on the Chicago-to-Frankfurt route .

However, now that travel is resuming, the airline is doing a better job of selling its first-class cabin, and so award availability trends aren't as predictable. In my experience searching all the U.S. routes through TPG's sister site, ExpertFlyer , Lufthansa is now generally releasing award seats within two to three days of departure.

We booked using 100,000 Aeroplan points for the one-way journey per passenger, transferred instantly from American Express Membership Rewards. Taxes totaled a modest $200.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Ground Experience" tpg-rating="20" tpg-rating-max="20" tail="D-ABYG" age="8" departure="14" departure-2="32" duration="7" duration-2="49" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

We began our journey in Paris with a short flight to Frankfurt. Our first-class experience began once we entered Germany and made our way to the separate First Class Terminal.

As a first-class or a top-tier Hon Circle flyer originating in Frankfurt, you can opt to be dropped off directly at this terminal, where you can clear security then relax in the lounge before going through its customs and immigration checkpoint and being chauffeured to your plane.

I reviewed the ground experience in detail in a previous story , so be sure to check it out for the full rundown.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Cabin and Seat" tpg-rating="17" tpg-rating-max="20" configuration="1" configuration-2="2" configuration-3="1" width="21" bed="84" tray="22" tray-2="17" lavs="2" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

After leaving the terminal, our limousine driver pulled up directly beside the plane – quite a thrill for this aviation enthusiast, who hadn't flown on a double-decker since well before the pandemic.

We were the first two passengers to board through Door 1L, giving us a few minutes of privacy to snap pictures before the five other flyers joined us upfront.

The first thing that caught my eye was the branded welcome area, accented by two red roses.

Once inside, the eight seats were spread across three rows -- in a 1-1 configuration in the first two rows, followed by a single row of 1-2-1.

Lufthansa has a standardized, eight-seat first-class cabin across its entire fleet, though the seat configuration differs on each of the jets. The 747-8 is the only one with a three-row cabin.

The aviation enthusiast in me would have preferred sitting in Row 1 — thanks to the curvature of the nose, sitting there gives you a great forward view out the window. Plus, the two seats are quite close together, making them a good choice for couples flying together.

However, Row 1 was occupied by the time we booked just hours before departure, so we opted for the two center seats in Row 3.

Fortunately, the window seat on the port side, Seat 3A, remained empty for the flight, so I popped over there for better views from the (four!) windows during takeoff and landing.

The bones of the seats are the same across the entire first-class fleet. Though they might resemble a souped-up version of an office chair, they're incredibly comfortable — measuring 21 inches wide with the armrests up. Lowering them adds another 10 inches of width to the seat.

When the seat reclines into a lie-flat bed, it measures a whopping 84 inches long, providing plenty of space to get comfortable.

There's also ample storage. There are two deep compartments along the armrest, as well as an ottoman that opens for storage. It also moves forward and backward at the push of a button and acts as the seat's footrest.

In addition to the in-seat storage, the 747-8 has overhead bins above the window seats for rollaboards. There aren't any bins above the center section of the cabin, providing a very airy feeling.

In fact, instead of overhead bins, Lufthansa installed 17 LED lights above the center seats. When illuminated, the lights accentuate the bar area and add a luxurious touch to the well-designed cabin.

Each first-class passenger is assigned a cubby built into the galley at the rear of the cabin. The cubby has space for a standard-size rollaboard, as well as some hangers for your jackets and clothes.

If Lufthansa could change one aspect of the first-class product, it should be the amount of privacy. Though there's a retractable divider, there aren't any doors or curtains, and you still feel quite exposed once the divider is lifted.

Another possible improvement would be adding individual air nozzles. Without them, the cabin temperature is exclusively up to the purser.

You can control your seat using the four preset positioning buttons, or via the adjustment panel that opens along the armrest.

While the first-class cabin is largely the same across all Lufthansa jets, the one major difference on the 747-8 is the size of the two lavatories compared to the airline's Airbus A380.

While the A380 features oversized restrooms with a bench, urinal and changing area, the lavatories on the 747-8 are much smaller, though they're still appointed with a rose, and have a window and full-size amenities, like Evian facial spray.

While we spent most of our time in the first-class cabin, I made sure to tour the 747 once in flight. I particularly enjoyed walking up and down the stairs on this plane — a thrill that you can only experience on a handful of jets.

In fact, the plane's main welcome area is right next to this stairwell, and thanks to the large stairs (compared to the now-retired 747-400) and the addition of two windows, it feels bright and airy.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Amenities and IFE" tpg-rating="12" tpg-rating-max="15" screen="16.5" movies="177" tv-shows="34" live-tv="Yes" tailcam="Yes" wifi="0.91" wifi-2="29.5" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

You'll feel like royalty with all the goodies you receive in Lufthansa first class.

Waiting at my seat during boarding was a pair of Cumuli slippers, along with an amenity kit.

The slippers were added to the assortment of first-class amenities a few years back, and they're incredibly comfortable. I usually keep my sneakers on during flights because of the custom insoles that I wear, but I always make an exception for these since they're some of the most supportive slippers I've found.

Over the years, Lufthansa has rotated through different brands of amenity kits, including Braun Buffel and Rimowa. This time, it was a Porsche Design bag that included all the usual goodies, along with some cologne and mints.

Once I settled into my seat, a flight attendant brought around Van Laack pajamas. Like the amenity kits, the pajama design has changed throughout the years, with the latest iteration in a solid brown with a white stripe around the collar.

Turndown service is provided when it's time for a nap. The seat will be topped with a comfortable mattress pad, along with a duvet and a plush pillow. There's also a day blanket available on request should you need one.

Each seat features a 17-inch personal entertainment monitor, loaded with roughly 170 movies and more than 30 TV shows.

While the cabin largely feels fresh and modern, the inflight entertainment system is definitely showing its age. The screen quality is woefully outdated, and the anti-glare coating isn't strong enough for day flights.

Other than glancing at the tail camera, I opted to catch up on pre-loaded content on my iPad. Even the inflight map — usually a favorite of mine — could use an update. It just looped through multiple preset screens without any customization options.

To watch the content, you can use the provided Bose QuietComfort 35 noise-canceling headphones. They're firmly attached directly to the audio jack to make sure they don't go home with you.

There's a remote built into the armrest that you can use to control the screen, though the IFE software wasn't responsive to the buttons.

Each seat also features two universal power outlets, along with two USB-A ports. I don't love the placement of the outlets, since I inadvertently kicked out my power adapter a few times.

Perhaps the biggest improvement I noticed throughout the flight was the Wi-Fi speed. During my previous transatlantic flights with Lufthansa, I've often been disappointed that I couldn't keep a stable internet connection throughout the journey.

This experience was the exact opposite — the Wi-Fi worked seamlessly from the moment we crossed 10,000 feet all the way until the final descent. As a first-class passenger, I received a free voucher for full-flight access.

Interestingly, Lufthansa added throttling to its Wi-Fi for those paying for connectivity, which could explain the speed improvements I saw with my unlimited access voucher. After hitting 1GB with the 29 euro ($34) full-flight package, your speeds are reduced to 64Kbps, which helps provide additional bandwidth for other users.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Food and Beverage" tpg-rating="23" tpg-rating-max="25" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" meals="2" champagne="2004 Cuvee Louise" dine-on-demand="Yes" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="0" turndown-service="0" /]

First class isn't just about the spacious seat or the fancy amenities. On Lufthansa, you'll also be served a restaurant-quality meal with top-notch Champagne.

Once I settled in, Nina, the first-class flight attendant, came by my seat to introduce herself and offer a printed menu, along with the signature welcome treat: Champagne and a ramekin of warm macadamia nuts.

The contents of the menu weren't a surprise — I love that Lufthansa publishes its menus online before your flight. This way I can opt to preorder a special meal if nothing on the regular menu fits my food preferences.

Once we hit 10,000 feet, Nina came back around with an amuse-bouche of goat's milk cheese topped with a chilled red pepper.

Afterward, my oversized table was set. Before the pandemic, the airline used to roll around a cart with caviar and all the fixings, though that's been replaced with table-side service. Caviar is no longer served in individual tins, but is pre-plated in the galley.

Along with the caviar, I ordered the spiced salmon with cucumber relish and a side salad with tomatoes and mozzarella as appetizers.

The bread basket came around too, and I naturally selected one of my all-time Lufthansa favorites, a soft pretzel.

Notably, the butter is no longer stamped with "Lufthansa First Class" when departing from Frankfurt. That was a fancy touch that I always noticed on previous flights.

The next course was a cream of asparagus soup, which was a great way to segue into the entree. I've often said that airlines should invest in serving more soup, which reheats well and keep its taste at altitude.

It appears that Lufthansa has answered my call since my first-class menu from 2019 didn't include a soup.

For the entree, my wife and I split the turbot bouillabaisse and the ravioli.

Both were tasty. The fish was flaky and the sauce complemented the natural flavor quite nicely, while the ravioli was cooked perfectly.

Despite being stuffed, we also split two desserts — a chocolate tartlet and strawberries and cream — and enjoyed both immensely.

The entire meal was completed about two hours into the flight, giving us plenty of time to relax and catch up on sleep.

Though there weren't any midflight snacks available, Lufthansa's latest pre-arrival meal concept offers on-demand dining at any time.

You can choose from more than seven light meals whenever you're ready, including a burger, soup, salad and sweet treats. We were going straight to an engagement party when we landed so we skipped the pre-arrival meal.

[flight_stats ticket-class="first" review-stat-section="Service" tpg-rating="19" tpg-rating-max="20" live-tv="0" tailcam="0" headphones="0" comp-alcohol="0" extra-pillows="Yes" turndown-service="Yes" /]

All of our TPG reviews are blind, meaning that airlines and flight attendants don't know when we're going to be on board. This way, we can get a true sense of the service flow without any special treatment.

That said, the service on this flight was particularly attentive and polished. It was as if the crew was catering to an entire cabin of bloggers and reviewers.

Nina, the first-class flight attendant, built a rapport with both the English- and German-speaking passengers and attended to all our needs throughout. Whether it was another water refill or clearing our plates, everything was done proactively and with a smile.

In addition to Nina, the purser also helped out with the service — and it was abundantly clear that both of them were genuinely excited to be working once again.

As we descended, Nina presented my wife and I with some gifts, a first for me when flying with Lufthansa. She gave my wife a Lufthansa-branded hot water bottle because she saw that my wife used two blankets when sleeping.

She then presented me with a Lufthansa-branded stylus and pen, along with a stuffed airplane toy and kids logbook. Why? Because she saw me taking lots of pictures and assumed that I was an aviation enthusiast (yes, she was right).

Bottom line

If you're looking for the best way to get to or from Europe using miles, you can't beat Lufthansa first class.

Your experience will begin at one of the best airport lounges in the world, where you'll then be driven to your plane and escorted to a posh, spacious and comfortable eight-seat cabin.

Once airborne, you'll taste some high-quality dining and top-notch drinks, enjoy complimentary, fast Wi-Fi and relax with a host of premium amenities.

Before long, it'll be over, and you'll be ready to do it all over again. Good thing it just takes signing up for a credit card or two to earn the points necessary to book a Lufthansa first-class award.

Taking an Interior Tour of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental

By david parker brown.

The business class section of the Boeing 747-8 International mock-up has amazing lighting.

The orange exterior of the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental has been getting a lot of well deserved attention. But my mother always told me, “it is what’s inside that counts.” She’s right, so let’s take a close look at the interior of the Boeing 747-8I.

The plane seen at the 747-8I unveiling had no interior and Lufthansa’s first plane isn’t quite ready yet for a viewing. However, Boeing does have a full, two story interior mock up at the Customer Experience Center located in Renton, WA and I was lucky enough to be invited to check it out.

My first impression was, “wow.” I understand that the seating choices and a lot of the fanciness won’t be chosen by every airline, but just the lighting is a huge improvement. The full color spectrum LED lighting in the ceiling and along the walls makes the cabin feel bigger and the new overhead bins (also found on the 787 Dreamliner) actually make the cabin bigger.

Boeing was able to show what “standard” lighting seen today looks like versus the new lighting and it makes a huge difference. Boeing suggests that an airline makes the ceiling lighting the same color as the sky (blues to oranges), but airlines can customize almost any color. The sky colors brings your eyes up and gives a feeling of a higher ceiling and a much more enjoyable environment.

This mini-suite on the upper deck looks pretty comfy.

Unlike the mood lighting seen on airlines like Virgin American ( which is also awesome ), the lighting in the new interior doesn’t cause the whole cabin to change colors. Airlines have the ability to create different lighting in the ceiling and side walls, but still keep the main lighting on the passengers white.

The stairs going up to the upper deck is much more welcoming on the 747-8I than the stairs I have seen on Boeing 747-400s .Showing what could be, the upper deck of the mock up had lounge and private suite seating. Who needs a seat that turns into a bed, when you can have a seat and a bed with a sitting area right outside?

Although the mock-up doesn’t have engines attached to it, I would imagine the real 747-8I will be much quieter inside. Seeing the 747-8F take off , it is obviously much more silent than the Boeing 747-400 and older models.

Boeing will have a consistent feel across all their airlines. Now, the Boeing 737, 777, 787 and 747-8I will have similar custom lighting and more modern interiors. These new interiors will keep passengers happy and help to make airlines more profit. Sounds like a winning combination to me.

More stuff on the Boeing 747-8I’s interior: * Check out the rest of the interior photos * Boeing’s website showing the interior * Video of the 747-8I interior from Flight Blogger * Interior and exterior photos from NYCAviation

David Parker Brown

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & FOUNDER - SEATTLE, WA. David has written, consulted, and presented on multiple topics relating to airlines and travel since 2008. He has been quoted and written for a number of news organizations, including BBC, CNN, NBC News, Bloomberg, and others. He is passionate about sharing the complexities, the benefits, and the fun stuff of the airline business. Email me: [email protected]

i love more 747-8i than other jumbo jet.

Wow!!! I love that mini suite

bigger–747–800

wonderful–747–800

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Traveler photos (24).

In-flight amenities

This aircraft is equipped with Audio/Video on Demand (IMS/Zodiac RAVE) which offers up to 400 CDs, audio books and 21 radio channels. This system is available via personal screens located in the seat backs.

This aircraft is equipped with Audio/Video on Demand (IMS/Zodiac RAVE) which offers up to 100 movies, 200 TV Programs, 15 games and several live TV Channels. The entertainment content is available in up to 25 languages. The system is available via personal screens located in the seat backs.

All classes are equipped with both 110V AC power ports and USB power.

On Board Wifi is available in all classes via FlyNet®. The free FlyNet® portal also offers live TV channels, news and other services. Charges for internet usage apply and can be purchased by credit card or by redeeming Miles & More reward miles via your laptop, tablet or mobile device. For further information please click  here . 

Complimentary beverage and meal service are offered on all long-haul flights.

This 747-800 is the newest aircraft type in the long-haul fleet for Lufthansa. Lufthansa is the launch airline for the 747-800 which is 5.6 meters longer than its predecessor, making it the longest passenger aircraft in the world.

This aircraft accommodates 364 passengers in a four class configuration. First Class features Lufthansa's new First Class suite, now situated on the main deck and limited to 8 passengers; Business Class features Lufthansa's new flat bed business class seat in 2-2-2 configuration on the main deck and 2-2 on the upper deck; Economy class features individual television monitors.

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Boeing’s 747-8 Intercontinental: A Virtual Tour and Review

INSIDE THE BOEING 747-8 INTERCONTINENTAL

Boeing 747-8 stairs to upper deck

Upon entering the aircraft, the differences are quite noticeable.  The main passenger entrance is more spacious and reminiscent of the Dreamliner, and a curved staircase leads to the upper deck.

The Boeing Sky Interior, common to the Dreamliner and newer 737-800s, feels more open and spacious.  Windows are 8% larger than those on the 747-400 and the window surrounds are larger as well.  The LED mood lighting is adjustable just as on the 787s.

The gently sculpted walls and larger overhead bins are welcoming, and the larger windows let more light in, further creating a feeling of well-being once on board.

The 262 seats in the main cabin are made by Recaro, a company well known for high-end automotive seating.  While they don’t look that much different than ordinary economy seats, they are first and foremost significantly slimmer than older-style seats. They are also a bit closer together but still provide the same amount of comfort (if not more so, as the seats are contoured to be in the shape of the passenger’s body).

One of the first things I noticed was the color scheme. Instead of the traditional blue-and-silver colors which have come to dominate its aircraft interiors, Lufthansa opted for a more muted brown-and-grey cabin, which the airline says creates a “living-room feel.”

The only hint of Lufthansa’s corporate colors is evident in the yellow logo on the headrest cover, the blue carpeting, and a splash of yellow on the headrests of the seats in the main cabin.

COMPARING LUFTHANSA’S BOEING 747-8 INTERCONTINENTAL TO THE AIRBUS A380

Boeing 747-8 Cockpit

Undoubtedly, since these are the two biggest passenger aircraft in the skies, comparisons will be made between Lufthansa’s 747-8 and its Airbus A380 fleet.

One major difference between the two is the location of the cockpit.  On the Boeing 747-8, it is on the upper deck, where it has been found since the original 747.  The reason for putting the cockpit there was to allow for a freight-loading door in the nose cone.  On the A380, Airbus opted to put the cockpit on the main level and included a crew lavatory and flight crew rest area, allowing the pilots access to both without having to enter the cabin.

Unlike the airline’s Airbus A380, which is one of the densest in terms of passenger capacity of any A380 operator, Lufthansa elected to provide more space in the 747-8 with a total of 362 seats.  Part of this is due to the new fully lie-flat business seats that fill the upper deck and part of the lower, as well as the eight first-class seats at the nose of the plane.

Boeing 747-8 upper deck

Both aircraft offer eight super luxurious first-class seats and a similar number of business-class seats (98 in the A380, 92 in the 747-8).  There are, however, several major differences:

First class on the A380 is upstairs, as are all business-class seats.  The lower deck of the A380 is exclusively for economy class.  On the 747-8, first class is on the lower deck, as are 36 business-class seats arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration.

In addition, while the 747-8 aircraft can land at any airport currently servicing 747-400 airliners, the Airbus A380’s larger wingspan and greater weight meant that most airports expecting the arrival of an A380 had to upgrade runways and taxiways, and even relocate taxiways and aircraft stands to provide for sufficient wingtip clearance.

We’ll cover other differences as we take a walk through the cabin.

Click here to continue to Page 3 – Lufthansa’s New First-Class and Business-Class Cabin and Seats

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Review: Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Business Class (upper deck) from Frankfurt to San Francisco

Wednesday  newsletters  always feature a  hotel  or  flight  review.

Today: Review of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8  Business Class on the upper deck  (Frankfurt to San Francisco flight)

Flying the Boeing 747 – dubbed the Queen of the Skies – is always an epic experience and Lufthansa is one of the last remaining airlines in the world that still flies this aircraft type, with 27 Boeing 747s in its fleet. The Boeing 747 has been a bestseller with airlines: between the first 747 flight on February 9th 1969 and the end of the 747 production line in 2022, Boeing has built 1,560 B747 aircraft. The Boeing 747-8 is the latest, quieter, more economical, and more environmentally friendly version of the famous aircraft type. The B47-8 features similar engines & cockpit technology as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It is also the world’s longest airplane with a fuselage length of 251 feet (77 m).

But while the Boeing 747 is a marvel of technology (I always feel privileged to fly in a 747, especially when seated on the upper deck), Lufthansa’s Business Class does not match the grandeur of its flagship aircraft. The cabin configuration (2-2-2 on the lower deck and 2-2 on the upper deck), the lack of privacy as well as the mediocre amenities are disappointing and lightyears behind the Business Class product offered by the carrier’s competitors. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, Lufthansa is the only flag carrier in the world that still offers a subpar layout in its Business Class where not all passengers have direct aisle access. The good news is that Lufthansa will soon introduce a new Business Class seat and cabin layout – called Alegris – so that’s something to look forward to (although the launch of the new product just keeps getting postponed ).

Have you ever flown onboard the Boeing 747? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment .

• Trip : Frankfurt (FRA) to San Francisco (SFO)
• Airline : Lufthansa
• Aircraft type : Boeing 747-8
• Aircraft registration number : D-ABYJ (built in 2014 and nicknamed ‘Hannover’)
• On time departure : Yes (10:30 am)
• On time arrival : Yes (12:30 pm)
• Distance : 5680 miles (9140  km )
• Flight time : 11 hours
• Seat : 87A (upper deck)
• Class : Business Class

In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube video):

• Cost of my ticket
• Business Class cabin
• Business Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
• Amenities & bedding
• Entertainment
• Onboard internet
• Other inflight experiences
• My verdict (score)

1. COST OF MY TICKET

I paid this one-way Business Class ticket from Frankfurt to San Francisco with miles via Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program Miles & More (which I have reviewed here ). The total cost of my ticket was 270 euro + 56,000 Miles & More miles.

Lufthansa operates a network of more than 12 lounges at Frankfurt, some of which I have reviewed in my previous trip reports:

• Review: Lufthansa First Class terminal
• Review: Lufthansa Business Class lounge near gate Z50 (terminal 1)
• Review: Lufthansa Business Class lounge near gates C14 & C15 (terminal 1)

Since my connection time is Frankfurt was very short (less than one hour), I did not have the time to visit the lounge during this trip.

3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8 features 8 open First Class suites, 80 Business Class flat-bed seats with 180 degrees recline, 32 Premium Economy recliner seats, and 244 standard Economy Class seats. The 80 Business Class seats are spread over three cabins:

• The largest Business Class cabin is located on the lower deck (behind First Class) and features 6 rows of 36 seats, arranged in a 2-2-2 layout. I have previously published a trip report of my flight experience in this cabin, which you can read here .
• The smallest Business Class cabin is also located on the lower deck – separated from the larger Business Class cabin by a galley – and features only 2 rows of 12 seats, also arranged in a 2-2-2 layout.
• The upper deck features a third Business Class cabin with 8 rows of 32 seats, arranged in a 2-2 layout. Due to the 2-2 layout (contrary to the 2-2-2 layout on the lower deck), this cabin has a more intimate feel and is the best Business Class cabin. It almost feels a bit like flying in a private plane. The window seats here also have more storage space (with extra bins on the side) compared to the lower deck Business Class seats.

All three Business Class cabins have a clean and unremarkable yet very German-esque design, with white cabin walls and grey seat covers creating a neutral color palette. The only subtle colors you’ll see are the wooden panels between paired seats and the colorful pillows that are placed on the seats upon boarding.

All pairs of seats along the windows and in the cabin’s center are angled slightly towards one another. This might be great for couples but not for solo travelers, since the feet compartment is located right next to the one of your neighbor, and it is possible that your legs and feet occasionally touch the ones of your neighbor while resting or sleeping. Overall, all seats lack privacy, and there’s not even a divider or privacy screen between paired seats, which nowadays feels completely dated for a Business Class product.

Click  here for the seat map of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8.

4. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)

The Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 Business Class seat is quite comfortable in the upright position, with a pitch of 162 cm (64 inch) and a width of 52 cm (20,5 inch). A reading light is located next to the head rest. The center arm rest holds the seat controls, a handset for the inflight entertainment, and a fold-out tray table. The other armrest – either along the window or the aisle – can be lowered or raised (this allows for more comfort in the seat’s flatbed position).

Each seat is equipped with its own entertainment screen, whose position can be slightly adjusted according to the passenger’s need. A storage drawer is located below the TV screen, as well as a small footrest (ottoman) that becomes part of the seat when fully reclined. As mentioned above, paired seats share their ottomans, with a small divider in between (although not sufficient to prevent accidental feet cuddling with your neighbor).

At the push of a button, the seat reclines into a full lie flat-bed with a length of 78 inch (198 cm).

What are the  best Business Class seats on Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8?

• As mentioned above, the best seats are located on the upper deck. Due to the 2-2 layout (contrary to the 2-2-2 layout on the lower deck), this cabin has a more intimate feel. In addition, the window seats here also have more storage space (with extra bins on the side).

What are the  worst Business Class seats on Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-8?

• The 2-2-2 Business Class layout does not make the cabin very attractive for solo travelers, since you will always end up sitting next to a stranger. And unfortunately, there is no screen between adjoining seats for added privacy.
• Window seats don’t offer direct aisle access.
• Passengers seated in the first row of all three cabins may be bothered by the noise of the galley and passengers going to or returning from the lavatories.
• I also suggest to avoid the last row of the lower deck Business Class, which is just in front of the Premium Economy bassinet seats.

5. AMENITIES & BEDDING

Lufthansa’s Business Class passengers receive the following amenities on longhaul flights:

• An amenity kit, which is wrapped inside a reusable tote bag. The kit features the essential travel items (e.g. toothpaste, toothbrush, socks and a single breath mint) as well as some L’Occitane toiletries. To reduce waste, eye masks and ear plugs are not provided inside the bag but are available in the lavatories
• A comfortable, multi-colored pillow
• A warm, marine blue blanket
• A padded mattress topper to provide an extra layer of comfort to improve sleep quality
• Noise cancelling headphones (which are pretty effective in blocking out the cabin noise)

During this flight, a lunch was served (right after takeoff) as well as a light dinner (prior to landing)

I choose the following selection from the lunch menu:

• Appetizer: pink roasted saddle of veal with potato salad, roasted cauliflower, broccoli and pepper drops
• Main course: roasted tenderloin of beef in thyme sauce with new potatoes & gree beans
• Cheese: Lenggenwil country cheese, Montagnolo blue cheese, and French soft goat cheese
• Dessert: Berry cake with whipped cream and chopped pistachio

Lunch was ok and acceptable for a transatlantic Business Class flight, although IMHO, Lufthansa needs to have some work done in its catering department to raise the bar of its food offering. It’s bizarre that Germany’s home carrier is so mediocre when it comes to its onboard food, while its daughter company Austrian offers some of the best meals in the sky .

Two hours prior to touchdown, a light dinner was served (on one tray). It comprised smoked salmon filet, served with salsa verde and cucumber sesame topping, sriracha, and mayonnaise.

7. ENTERTAINMENT

Lufthansa’s Boeing 747 inflight entertainment is controlled by a handheld remote, but unfortunately, scrolling with the handset through the selection of movies and TV shows is very slow. The program itself has a dated layout, but nonetheless it offers a large choice with more than 100 films in up to eight different languages. Hollywood blockbusters, new German and European productions and films from Japan, China, India and many other countries cater for all tastes. There are also 200 TV programs available as well as a big choice of entertainment content for families and children. In addition, you can follow the latest news via the live TV channels CNN and Euronews, as well as sports highlights via Sports 24. The audio section features a large selection of CDs, audio books, playlists and podcasts from around the world. Bose noise-cancelling headphones are provided to guarantee the best sound quality. Lufthansa’s B747s are also equipped with a belly and nose cameras, whose broadcasts are directly streamed on the TVs.

8. ONBOARD INTERNET

In 2004, Lufthansa was the first airline to offer inflight internet to its passengers on international flights. What is pretty much the norm these days, was a ground breaking change at the time. On this flight, there were three individual tariffs for using the internet service (called ‘FlyNet’):

9. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES

# CREW : Tthe Lufthansa flight attendants on this flight were professional, efficient and discrete.

# LAVATORY : t here are seven lavatories for the Business Class passengers: Four lavatories are located on the lower deck and three on the upper deck.

# VIEWS : we got some great views of San Francisco and the Bay area during landing.

10. MY VERDICT

• Seat comfort (upright): 8/10
• Seat comfort (bed position): 7/10
• Privacy: 3/10
• Food (quality): 7/10
• Food (quantity): 7/10
• Inflight entertainment : 6
• Service: 8/10
• Cabin design: 7/10
• Overall experience: mediocre – 6/10

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We just flew Frankfurt to Haneda, Tokyo on First Class Lufthansa on a 747-8 and I agree with your assessment. While the service in our case was really outstanding by very experienced and attentive staff members, the seats were tired and offering limited privacy. The bedding is not comparable with other airlines‘ Business class offering, though the Van Laack pijamas are good. The food was quite mediocre and the amenity kit, very poor. We are looking forward to the Allegris configuration. Do you know which routes will have this new configuration first?

I have had the joy of flying the Lufthansa 747-800 service (First and Business classes), and my sense of the overall experience was right up near the top compared to all other airlines’ service offerings. Lufthansa’s 747-800 routes are only a few, and I have flown round trips SFO-FRA, ORD-FRA, and IAH-FRA. Service and physical amenities were quite similar, and I give the overall rating of 8.5 out of 10. The upper deck Business Class cabin is superb. It’s like a private lounge or living room area. Very comfortable and cozy…and unique. True, they don’t have the pod configuration, but I have flown both types of seating, and I heavily prefer the more open seating for two key reasons: if you’re traveling with a partner, you can talk. And, the sense of space is far greater than being fitted into a pod set up (first class is different). So, the cabin does indeed, to me, feature a significant amount and sense of privacy while also providing a lounge tone. In addition to the spatial design of the upper deck cabin, the crews were a big cut above the typical. Very professional and accommodating. Between Europe and the USA, I have not found any other business class service offerings to be at the level of Lufthansa, and with the added thrill of the 747 upper deck seating, it’s hands down the best. Cheers!

I agree, the Lufthansa 747 Business class is a poor product and not worth the money.  The 2-2-2 seating is a relic of days gone by and should have been replaced years ago.

Did you actually use the wifi and test the speed? Every airline advertises high-speed internet, but actually providing it reliably throughout the entire flight is another story.

TY for your review, most helpful. I recall when these were brand new and how stunning it was to fly on them. Now an old Grand Dame of the sky, I look forward to another flight on them and memories of a time long gone when First Class was white gloves (Pan Am) and carts for seat side carving choices for your entree.

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