My 2026 Lufthansa Business Class Review: Is it Worth It?

> Last updated: August 04, 2026 by Jan Skovajsa
My 2026 Lufthansa Business Class Review: Is it Worth It?
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Update August 2026: Lufthansa's biggest change since this review is the gradual rollout of the new Allegris Business Class. I flew the older Business cabin on the Boeing 747-8 so this review still reflects that, but I've updated this article with all the latest info.

I decided to revisit this Lufthansa Business Class Review in 2026 after flying it in March, and it turns out not much has changed since 2024. Which didn’t surprise me. It’s still 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?

 

plane seats, Lufthansa business class

Check Lufthansa's business class—is it worth it? 

 

Let’s get into it.
 

Is Lufthansa Business Class worth it?

Travelers hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa, photo by Next level of travel


Enjoying the breathtaking views of the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa, on an unforgettable hiking adventure after the Long-Haul Flight

 

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

  • Value for money: 7/10
  • Compared to economy class: 8/10
  • Food: 8/10
  • In-flight entertainment: 10/10
  • Boarding and lounge: 8/10
  • Service: 10/10
  • Seat: 6/10
  • Overall: 70%

 

Value for money

travelers spotting zebras in Addo, South Africa, photo by Next level of travel


Up close with the wildlife at Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa

 

How much did I pay for the upgrade? 

Upgrading to Lufthansa Business Class cost me USD 3300 from Frankfurt to San Francisco round-trip. Comparing that to Economy, which costs around USD 800-900 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:
 

  • Divide by flight time of 11 hours one way (22 hours in total) = USD 150 per hour of comfort. That’s about what you’d pay for a good massage, except instead of getting a massage, you’re not stuck in an Economy seat for half a day.
     
  • Compare it to a hotel stay: A good hotel room for one night is about USD 500. And here, I’m getting a fully reclining bed on a plane. Seems fair.
     
  • Consider the alternative: 11 hours in Economy, next to a snorer and behind a seat-reclining champion? Nope.
     

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 a “better person feel: You know, like the one I got in my Air France Business Class experience.

 

Lufthansa Business Lounge is your oasis

Relax in style at the Lufthansa Business Lounge

 

Was it worth it? Let’s break it down

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.

 

Comparison table of business class and economy prices on Lufthansa


Comparing Lufthansa flight prices: Economy vs. Business Class—choosing between affordability and luxury for your journey

 

Boarding and Lounge

Frankfurt Airport terminal exterior, Germany


The adventure begins here—Frankfurt Airport in Germany is a busy travel hub

 

The Lufthansa Business Lounge (Frankfurt Airport)

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.

As in almost every other business class, you have lounge access within your boarding ticket in their “home” airport.

What did I like about the Frankfurt Business Lounge experience?

  • Comfy seating: actual places to stretch out and not sit on metal chairs like a peasant.
     
  • Decent food selection: warm meals, salads, fresh bread (Germans don’t mess around with bread), and a cheese platter that almost made me want to stay longer.
     
  • Free-flowing drinks: German beer, wine, champagne, and coffee, aka the four essentials of travel survival...even though I am not into that much anyway.
     
  • Showers, which, after a long layover, made me feel like a new person. But you have to be lucky for them to work. The showers in all of the lounges I’ve visited across various airports have only worked about 50% of the time. 
     
  • Location:  I really like how it’s right near the main Lufthansa terminal, and you can check your flight info anytime you want.

 

What did I not like about the lounge?

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 pay an extra EUR 69 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 Lufthansa Business Class—Skipping the chaos

Passengers checking in at Frankfurt Airport, with a self-service kiosk for Lufthansa, Germany


Smooth check-in at Frankfurt Airport—whether at the counter or via a self-service kiosk for a hassle-free start to your journey

 

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.

 

traveler Hiking in the Kazbeg Mountain, Georgia, photo by Next level of travel

Hiking up Kazbeg Mountain—Be ready to trudge through rocks and mud, testing your footing and determination. Check out the best hikes in Georgia

 

Dining in Lufthansa Business Class

A gourmet in-flight meal featuring couscous, vegetables, chicken, cheese, and dessert


Savoring a delicious in-flight meal—because good food makes the journey even better

 

Update for 2026: This review is based on my latest Lufthansa 747-8 flight in March. Since then, in May 2026, Lufthansa introduced a new long-haul onboard service called FOX across both Allegris and older aircraft, which includes more flexible meal timing on daytime flights, á la carte breakfast, an expanded menu, nicer tableware, even a cake service with sheet cake...yeah, most of it is food-related.

Lufthansa has hyped up its Business Class food like it’s an experience worth writing home about. I was skeptical.

Dinner Service

  • Starter: A small salad with smoked salmon—fine, but not a life-changing moment.
     
  • Main course: I chose the beef with mashed potatoes and vegetables. It was good, but not “I need to Instagram this” good.
     
  • Dessert: Chocolate mousse. Surprisingly tasty. I am, for some reason, a big fan of dessert while flying.
     

Mid-flight snacks?

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.

Breakfast before landing

  • Scrambled eggs—tasty for what you can realistically get while flying. 
  • Fresh fruit and yogurt—because airlines love serving yogurt for some reason.
  • More good German bread. And I mean perfect rye bread, not that white piece of...

Overall? 8/10. Good, but not the best Business Class food I’ve had.

 

traveler in the Isle of Mull and view from the plane, Scotland, photo by Next level of travel


From breathtaking aerial views to stunning coastal landscapes—exploring the beauty of the Isle of Mull, Scotland

 

In-flight entertainment

 

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 have improved a lot, especially in this 747-8 version. Plus, Lufthansa now has free messaging on long-haul flights for those of you with a Travel ID or Miles & More account.

I rate it 10/10. I can't imagine anything better (well, except for the touchscreen speed).

 

Seats

Passenger sleeping comfortably in a fully reclined airline seat

Resting in style (www.lufthansa.com)

 

The absolute main reason for a Business Class upgrade is seats, always the seats.

 

What I liked about 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.

 

traveler between two bull statues, Peru’s White City, photo by Next level of travel

Visiting Peru’s White City... Check 10 Top Things to Do in Arequipa

 

What I didn’t like about the seats

  • The 2-2-2 layout is because if you’re in a window seat, you’re climbing over your seatmate every time you need to use the bathroom. (Awkward at 3 a.m.)
  • Note: this isn’t the only Business Class layout. It’s just what I happened to have on my particular flight.
  • The seat width (20 inches) is not as spacious as Qatar or Emirates Business Class.
  • Not the most high-tech setup—Some airlines have sleek, futuristic pods… Lufthansa has a "functional German design."
     

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.

What about the size? Does it matter?

  • Seat width: 20 inches (51 cm)
  • Bed length (fully flat):78 inches (198 cm)
  • Seat configuration: 2-2-2 on the main deck, 2-2 on the upper deck

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:

 

Comparison table showing dimensions and configurations of business class seats in Lufthansa, Air France, and Qatar, table by Next Level of Travel

Do you want a clear table?! So here it is

 

The real test: Was I able to sleep?

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.

What seats should you choose?
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 row, as you won't have any trouble with your neighbors blocking you in, and as far from the lavatories as possible. That means rows 5–8.

 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.

 

Lufthansa Business Class: Quality of service

Lufthansa Boeing 787 flying above the clouds in good weather


Lufthansa Boeing 787 (www.lufthansa.com)

 

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.

 

traveler on the Besseggen Ridge hike, Norway, photo by Next level of travel

Norway Road TripBesseggen Ridge hike views... check out My Detailed 7-Day Norway Itinerary

 

Final verdict: Should you fly Lufthansa Business Class?

I would fly Lufthansa Business Class again, especially as they’re in the process of rolling out newer cabins, including Allegris. However, a lot of flights still use an aircraft just like mine. I expect their seat problems will be rectified in due time. As for now, 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.

 

Would I fly Lufthansa Business Class again?

Yes, but only if the price is right.

 

FAQ 1: Is it better to book a Business Class or upgrade?

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.

 

FAQ 2: Does Lufthansa business class have flatbeds?

Yes, Lufthansa Business Class seats convert into fully flat beds. Lufthansa has “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.

traveler on Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain, Peru, photo by Next level of travel


Conquering the colors of Vinicunca...️ Peru’s breathtaking Rainbow Mountain at a breathtaking (literally!) 5,200 m / 17,000 ft

 

FAQ 3: What are the new Lufthansa Allegris Business Class seats?

The standard Allegris Business Class seat is a fully flatbed 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. 

Here’s what you can pay extra for:

  • More seat choices: Five different seating options, including extra-long 2.20 m (7’2”) beds, private suites with sliding doors, and double seats for couples.
  • More privacy: Some seats have higher walls and all direct aisle access (finally!).
  • New technology: Wireless charging, seat heating and cooling, and better entertainment screens with Bluetooth.

 

FAQ 4: Which Lufthansa aircraft have Allegris?

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.

 

Pro tip: Once you've landed and want to actually see some of Germany, here are the best things to do in Trier after flying to Germany.

 

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission if you make bookings through my links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! 

About me
I’m Jan
I create guides and itineraries for great cities, nature, and everything in between — maximizing experience while minimizing wasted time. I share what works, what doesn’t, and I’m not shy about saying which is which.
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Comments | Thoughts? Give us a shout!

Jace
May 27, 2026
Hi there, any advice for breastfeeding mothers who are taking the business flight?
Honza
June 07, 2026
Hi, I would not worry too much. Everything is better in business for breastfeeding mothers. The flight attendants are super attentive, the food, the bassinet - everything. The only thing that won't improve, no matter the class, is changing the diapers in a cramped airplane toilet. We did it normally on the seat.
Dave F
March 30, 2026
I recently had to fly out of back from Australia via Singapore to Munich with Lufthansa. Having made my outbound trip to Australia with Qatar Airways, I found Lufthansa Business Clas completely underwhelming. As you mention, the service was excellent as was the food. The 2-2-2 seating combination on my A350, was a shock though after my Q suite, and I found myself in the exact scenario you describe with the lady next to me trying to climb over my feet from her window seat. This is really outdated, and I'm glad to see Lufthansa are addressing it. I won't fly with them again through choice until they do.
Honza
March 30, 2026
Hi Dave, thank you for complementing the article and sharing your experience!
Mike
July 29, 2025
Flying in the upper deck next week. Have flown in the lower deck business class and spied the upper deck on that flight. Much quieter and private. Looking forward to it.
Honza
July 29, 2025
Enjoy your flight! I will be happy if you share your experience with the upper deck.
Mrs. Anilla Calveley [email protected]
July 24, 2025
I flew to Tokyo with Lufthansa and was absolutely disgusted with outdated aircraft where you had to climb over someone in Business Class. Also loung at Frankfurt was so small there wasn’t enough seats, floor was dirty and food was a bit dried up, it was breakfast time. I was transferred to Lufthansa by BA because of cancellation and had choice to do same on return which I refused, I am 82 years of age and only 4’10 and did not expect to climb over someone which I couldn’t do had to be moved, for a 14 hour journey it was unacceptable and would never fly long haul again with this aircraft.I have flown around the world in Business Class and this was the worst experience I have ever encountered
Honza
July 25, 2025
Hello, thank you for complementing my review with your opinion. Seems very much candid:)
William Belfast
July 22, 2025
Brilliant information. Will definitely help me with my first business class flight.
Honza
July 23, 2025
Thank you, happy to help!
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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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I started this blog after realizing how tough it can be to find reliable, authentic travel info. You wouldn’t believe how many “travel bloggers” never even visit the places they write about! On Next Level of Travel, you can count on my full honesty and insights drawn from my firsthand experiences. 


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