Update October 2026: Lufthansa’s biggest change since this review is the rollout of the new Allegris Business Class. I flew the older Business cabin on the Boeing 747-8 several years ago, so this Lufthansa Business Class review still reflects that. My ratings and prices are from that trip; current information is researched. I haven’t flown Allegris.
If you’ve ever flown Lufthansa Economy, you know what to expect—solid, predictable, and about as exciting as a well-made spreadsheet. No chaos, no frills, just precise German engineering in airline form.
So what happens when you take Lufthansa Business Class on a long-haul flight from Frankfurt to San Francisco? Does it transform into a luxurious, first-class-adjacent experience, or is it just a slightly fancier way to cross the Atlantic?
Since I consider myself a highly dedicated travel researcher (and definitely not just someone who hates flying Economy for 11 hours), I took the plunge and upgraded my Boeing 747-8 flight. The result? A Lufthansa Business Class experience that was good—but not quite legendary.
Was it worth the money? Was it the best sleep I’ve ever had on a plane? And most importantly—would I ever willingly go back to the Economy after this?
Check Lufthansa's business class—is it worth it?
Let’s get into it.
Lufthansa Business Class is solid, reliable, and comfortable—but it’s not mind-blowing. If you’re expecting Emirates-level luxury, you’ll be slightly underwhelmed. But if you want a dependable, stress-free way to cross the Atlantic, it’s worth the upgrade.
Just don’t expect to be able to fly Economy again after this. Because once you go Business, there’s no going back.
My overall rating
Upgrading to Lufthansa Business Class cost me USD 3,300 from Frankfurt to San Francisco round-trip. Comparing that to Economy, which cost around USD 800–900 at the time for the same round-trip. That’s not pocket change, but when you break it down, it makes perfect sense (at least in my completely biased and self-justifying way).
Here’s my personal Business Class pricing logic and self-justification:
So, in the name of travel research (and my sanity), I went all in on Lufthansa Business Class. Unfortunately, as is the case with other business classes, you can't really go back to economy without thinking of that nice flat seat and much better food plus that “better person” feeling. You know, like the one I got in my Air France Business Class experience.
Relax in style at the Lufthansa Business Lounge
As value for money goes, I am ranking it 7/10—Lufthansa is basically being punished for having a good Economy Class and not the best seats in Business Class.
If you have a long layover in Frankfurt (which you will, because Frankfurt Airport operates on "walk until your legs give out" principles), the Lufthansa Business Lounge is your oasis.
I can honestly say that I think Frankfurt Airport is the best in the world. Read more about my Frankfurt Airport experience in my Lufthansa Premium Economy review.
My Business Class ticket included lounge access. For your flight, check Lufthansa’s lounge access rules and the lounge listed for your departure airport.
The temperature inside the lounge. It was at almost freezing temperatures. I get that you want to cater to everyone and that some people don't like warmer temperatures inside, but that does not mean you need to deep-freeze your passengers like before cargo flights. So there’s definite room for improvement in this area.
I also happen to have a bad memory from the Air France business lounge, where I caught a cold and was sick for the first 4 days of my Chilean trip. In a word, it sucked!
Would I have paid an extra EUR 69 at the time just to enter this lounge? Yes, but only if I had a very long layover.
Would I return just for the cheese selection? Also yes.
Boarding Business Class is one of life’s small pleasures. You get to stroll past the growing crowd of anxious Economy passengers, knowing full well that you’ll be sipping orange juice before they even find their seats.
I always have mixed feelings about this; you feel superior to other people because you are being sat first, but on the other hand, you are being sat first, which is a downside for me. You have to sit on the plane for 1 hour longer… I mean, come on!
As soon as I sat down, a flight attendant greeted me and handed me a glass of bubbly or juice (I hate Champagne so it’s always juice for me).
Was I about to be treated like royalty for the next 11 hours? Well… kind of. Read on.
For their efficiency, deep freezing in the business lounge, and the cheese platter, I give it 8/10.
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Update for 2026: This review is based on my earlier Lufthansa 747-8 flight. On May 6, 2026, Lufthansa introduced a new long-haul onboard service called FOX across both Allegris and older aircraft, which includes a second meal you can order when you want, a redesigned breakfast menu, nicer tableware, and a cake service...yeah, most of it is food-related. My meals and 8/10 food rating below are from the original flight, not a personal test of FOX.
Lufthansa has hyped up its Business Class food like it’s an experience worth writing home about. I was skeptical.
One major upside is that Lufthansa offers a great selection of mid-flight snacks. If you get hungry, you can ask for something, but there’s no dedicated snack bar like on some other airlines. Anyway, you get a sandwich, a panini, or pretzels. I am not a picky eater, so I consider this a plus.
Overall? 8/10. Good, but not the best Business Class food I’ve had.
I find the selection of in-flight entertainment very good on Lufthansa flights. You have hundreds of good movies that you can save for later and then never watch because you are going to play trivia instead. You know you are going to, don't resist it.
Screen size: 15 inches. Perfectly fine, because from the 50 cm you’re watching it from it would be uncomfortable to have bigger. I must admit that through my many Lufthansa flights, I found their interface lacking in the touch screen sensitivity department, as its reaction time was about as fast as my first touch screen cell phone. Do you remember those? Ha, then you're old like me!
Jokes aside, they had improved a lot by the time of my 747-8 flight. Plus, Lufthansa now has free messaging on long-haul flights for those of you with a Travel ID or Miles & More account. Full internet access is a separate service.
I rate it 10/10. I can't imagine anything better (well, except for the touchscreen speed).
Resting in style (www.lufthansa.com)
The absolute main reason for a Business Class upgrade is seats, always the seats.
A fully lie-flat bed—because a Business Class seat that doesn’t go fully flat is just an expensive recliner. They are about 2 m (6.5 ft) in length, which is plenty of space.
Besides, I like that box (coffin-like feel) end of the seat where you place your legs and can't move them.
I also liked my blanket, which is nice and warm and a lot bigger than the economy blankets. The pillow is also a big improvement over Economy Class.
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The layout is a very real problem, especially if you happen to travel alone and are late in picking a seat. Ending up in the wrong seat would be a major downside for me.
Again, this is just for my specific Boeing 747-8 cabin. You might end up with, say, 1-2-1 on a newer Allegris model.
And—if you're like me—these numbers won't tell you anything without a reference point to other airlines. So, here you go:
Do you want a clear table?! So here it is
I slept for 8 hours straight—which is unheard of for me on a plane. So, while Lufthansa’s Business Class seat isn’t the most luxurious out there, it absolutely does the job when it comes to comfort.
Absolutely choose the seats on the upper deck where there is a 2-2 seat configuration. And mainly because it's a 747 and you have dreamt of being up there since you saw those Steven Seagal or Harrison Ford movies. Unfortunately, I haven’t ever been so lucky as to have that option.
Jokes aside, I would pick the middle pair on the main deck, as you won’t have any trouble with your neighbors blocking you in, and as far from the lavatories as possible. Check the seat map for your specific flight before choosing.
For this price, I was surprised by the seat’s outdated design and size, so I’d give it a 6/10—mainly because I’m comparing it to my other business class experiences.
I always find German service exceptional, punctual, and, contrary to what most people think, quite warm, and sometimes even fun! And this flight was no different.
The crew was very polite. They were efficient in their food service—they served everyone almost at the same time, and whenever I pushed that little service button, they came in a hurry to my rescue. Which, compared to the competition, is a big plus for me.
I easily rate Lufthansa’s service a 10/10.
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I would fly Lufthansa business class again, especially as they’re in the process of rolling out newer cabins, including Allegris. However, your flight may still have the older cabin I reviewed. I expect their seat problems will be rectified in due time. For that older cabin, it is the lesser evil. You are not entirely getting what you paid for just yet, but you just can't go back to Economy Class. And I consider their service and entertainment a huge plus.
I won’t hesitate to upgrade to Business Class in case I spot a discount in one of those e-mails they like to send right before your flight.
Note: This Lufthansa Business Class review covers the legacy Boeing 747-8 cabin with a 2-2-2 layout, not the newer Allegris Business Class, which I have yet to try.
Pro tip: Landing well-rested? Put it to use—here are the things to do in Leipzig after flying to Germany.
Yes, but only if the price is right.
If you absolutely need a Business Class seat, especially during peak travel seasons, just book it—upgrades aren’t guaranteed, and you don’t want to get stuck in the economy hoping for a miracle.
That said, Lufthansa offers three main upgrade options: a fixed-price upgrade, an upgrade bid, or an upgrade using Miles & More miles. These can be a good deal, especially if Business Class isn’t selling out. I like to wait for the upgrade email, but I wouldn’t risk it if I knew it was a very busy flight.
If you're flexible or like a bit of uncertainty in your future, wait and try to upgrade. If not, just book Business Class from the start and save yourself the stress.
Yes, in the long-haul cabin reviewed here. Lufthansa’s short-haul European Business Class is a different product. My older 747-8 cabin had “foot coffins”—those tiny footwells where your feet disappear into a little compartment. If you like stretching out freely, you might not love them. But if, like me, you enjoy the feeling of tucking your feet into a cozy little cupboard, you’ll be just fine! I got an unprecedented 8-hour sleep on my flight to San Francisco.
The standard Allegris Business Class seat is a fully flat bed with direct aisle access (a huge upgrade from the old 2-2-2 layout!). Standard "Classic Seats" are included with your Business Class fare. However, some Allegris seat options—like Extra Space Seats, Business Suites, and other premium seat types—may require an additional fee, depending on the seat and your status.
Here’s what you can pay extra for:
Hooray, Lufthansa's shiny new Allegris Business Class is finally out in the wild on selected Airbus A350-900s going from Munich and Boeing 787-9s from Frankfurt. But don't get too excited just yet. Aircraft assignments change, so always check the aircraft type and seat map before you book. Otherwise, you could end up in the same old-school cabin type I reviewed—which is still comfortable, just not quite as shiny.
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Is Lufthansa Business Class worth it?
Dining in Lufthansa Business Class
Lufthansa 747-8 Business Class seats
Lufthansa Business Class: Quality of service
Final verdict: Should you fly Lufthansa Business Class?
FAQ 1: Is it better to book a Business Class or upgrade?
FAQ 2: Does Lufthansa business class have flatbeds?
FAQ 3: What are the new Lufthansa Allegris Business Class seats?
Hi, I’m Jan. I travel fast and intensely, whether I’m exploring the buzz of Tokyo in 3 days or road-tripping through mountains and beaches on a 3-week Thailand adventure. And no matter where I am, you’ll always find me in a comfortable hotel at night and eating the best food.
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