Lufthansa First Class Review: An Old Cabin with Delightful Mementos

For people who collect points and miles, the German airline Lufthansa’s first class is a highly sought-after way to fly across the Atlantic. While it doesn’t have the newest or most exciting first class product, Lufthansa offers travelers a memorable and consistent experience.

From tarmac transfers to caviar service, here’s what it was like for me to fly first class in March 2024 on Lufthansa from Europe to the U.S on an Airbus A380.

Members of Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program, Miles & More, enjoy expanded and earlier access to award availability, compared to other mileage programs. However, it can be difficult to earn a lot of Lufthansa miles, since the program doesn’t partner with any of the major transferable points currencies, such as American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

However, Lufthansa is a member of Star Alliance, so it’s possible to book a first class seat through one of its alliance partners, such as United, Air Canada and Avianca, that does partner with a transferable currency. For this redemption, I transferred 84,400 Capital One miles to Avianca LifeMiles and paid an additional $193.90 in taxes and fees. (Note: In 2024, Avianca and United raised the number of miles required to book Lufthansa first class; Air Canada’s Aeroplan program is currently one of the best ways to book Lufthansa first class with miles.)

Although there was a direct flight from Frankfurt to Boston, I opted to fly east from Frankfurt to Munich in economy, before flying back west to the United States in first class. It gave me (slightly) more time in first class, plus a chance to check out another Lufthansa lounge.

One of the best perks of flying Lufthansa first class from Frankfurt Airport is access to Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal, a multi-story facility spanning more than 19,000 square feet.

Here, you’ll skip the hustle and bustle of the airport check-in, security checkpoint and gates; instead, you’ll be greeted by a personal assistant who can check you in, guide you through the private security screening and show you around the terminal — essentially, a giant lounge.

It’s an exclusive space, with access restricted primarily to Lufthansa’s top-tier elites and first class passengers on Lufthansa and Swiss. Although my flight to Munich was in economy, I still had access because my onward flight to Boston was in first class.

There’s plenty to do here: You can nap in a private room with a daybed, enjoy buffet-style and a la carte dining, and take a shower featuring luxurious Balmain bath products.

You’ll also find a cigar lounge and a well-stocked bar, along with various seating and work areas.

One downside of the terminal (at least for avid plane spotters) is its location.

While there is a lot of natural light streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you are nowhere near the runways, so don’t expect any airplane views here.

After taking a shower, I also requested one of Lufthansa’s famous rubber ducks — a popular memento for aviation enthusiasts — who dined with me for my breakfast of salmon eggs benedict.

The rubber ducks are a bit of an “if you know, you know” situation and can only be found at this terminal or Lufthansa’s other first class lounges. Some travelers even plan their flights around special events, such as the Olympics or the World Cup, in order to snag a limited edition rubber duck.

When it was time to go to the gate for my flight to Munich, a personal assistant brought me and two other passengers on the same flight downstairs to our tarmac transfer.

Although I was hoping for a Porsche (a 20-year partnership that’s ending later this year), it was still exciting to be driven to my plane in a Volkswagen minivan for the one-hour hop to Munich.

Although some might think it’s silly to backtrack to Munich before heading back to the U.S., it did give me an opportunity to experience Munich’s first class lounge, where I picked up a second rubber duck (yes, I’ve fully bought into the hype).

The first class lounge in Munich airport’s terminal 2 satellite measures more than 10,000 square feet, and offers amenities such as nap rooms, showers and elevated dining. The space was bright and airy with plenty of seating options.

I didn’t have much time here before my flight to Boston, so I enjoyed some grilled octopus and champagne before heading off to the gate. (Lufthansa also offers tarmac transfers in Munich, but I didn’t qualify for one since my gate was only a short walk away.)

Once at the gate, I was surprised at how chaotic the boarding experience was, compared to how streamlined everything else was leading up to that moment.

Travelers were crammed around a small boarding area, and it wasn’t clear where first class passengers were supposed to board. Once I figured it out, I had to push past other confused people to get to my boarding line.

My flight from Munich to Boston was operated by an Airbus A380, with two rows of first class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration on the upper deck.

Seven out of eight seats were occupied, and I had snagged seat 2K for myself. As a solo traveler, I was happy to have three windows to myself; however, if you’re traveling with a partner, you may want to opt for a pair of side-by-side middle seats.

What immediately struck me was how large the seat was, and the fact that it looked more like a La-Z-Boy recliner than what I was used to in economy. Lufthansa’s first class seat on the A380 measures 30.5” wide — 13 inches wider than an economy seat — with 83” of pitch. When laid flat, the bed measures 6 feet and 9 inches.

My next thought — once I realized there were no overhead bins — was where do I put my carry on? The flight attendant, one of two dedicated to first class, showed me to a row of storage lockers directly behind the cabin, where I could store larger belongings. The lack of bins made the entire cabin feel extremely bright, spacious and airy.

For smaller items, there was plenty of storage space in the ottoman at my seat, as well as a small storage pocket built into the ledge alongside the wall of the plane.

Although I loved my first class seat, it’s important to note one of the major cons about Lufthansa’s first class product: the outdated cabin.

While other airlines have sliding doors in first class, Lufthansa only has privacy dividers. They do a fairly good job, but you still can’t help feeling a bit exposed. Personally, this didn’t bother me as much, since the seat across the aisle from mine was unoccupied.

The in-flight entertainment screens are also showing their age. The image quality was not crisp, the system was laggy and the screen was quite small, especially given how far you are from the screen while seated. While it got the job done, I expected more from a first class cabin.

The one bright spot: Each seat came with a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones.

To be fair, Lufthansa is in the process of rolling out a new product as part of its Allegris initiative. The major overhaul will introduce floor-to-ceiling walls and sliding doors to first class.

The launch has been plagued by delays, but the refreshed first class suites finally debuted Nov. 9, 2024.

There were a lot of snacks, drinks and food on this flight, starting with a pre-flight glass of champagne and bowl of macadamia nuts.

Shortly after takeoff, we were served a bite-sized starter along with some bread. Then, the star of the show arrived: caviar service.

Lufthansa describes it as “an integral part of the First Class experience,” and I would have to agree.

I also downed the shrimp confit and quail breast appetizers, as well as the side salad. (The flight attendant could tell I was having difficulty deciding on appetizers and asked if I wanted to try them all. Who was I to say no?)

For my main, I ordered the walnut-crusted beef filet, which was tasty and cooked quite nicely. The desserts — a chocolate mousse and an almond and plum cake — were also delicious.

Like many other airlines, there is no formal second meal service in first class. Instead, Lufthansa offers a dine-on-demand system, where you can order from a menu of light meals at any time.

I asked the flight attendant if I could dine at the latest possible time, as I was stuffed from my meal and wanted to get as much sleep as I could. She obliged and asked me if I had a first choice, offering to set it aside for me.

I went with the mini teriyaki burger sliders with beetroot chips. While it looked good, the taste was lacking, which was a bit of a letdown after an excellent flight.

As one might expect, Lufthansa first class passengers are offered a wide variety of amenities for the flight. On the ottoman at my seat, there was an amenity kit and a pair of very comfortable slippers (which I sometimes still use at home). While the amenity kit was stocked with all the essentials, the pouch itself seemed generic and not very premium, which surprised me.

Prior to takeoff, a flight attendant offered me a pair of Van Laack pajamas in my size. I was also given a Wi-Fi card granting me unlimited complimentary internet access during the flight, which worked well despite cutting out a few times.

The front of the cabin featured two gigantic lavatories for first class passengers, complete with a bench and changing area. They were also stocked with Augustinus Bader products, as well as Evian facial spray.

One unexpected surprise: a urinal in the lavatory!

The two dedicated flight attendants for the first class cabin were fantastic, friendly and personable. They were also very attentive — even to the point where I had to stop looking around the cabin so much, since they always took that as a sign that I needed something.

While I was boarding, one of the flight attendants offered to take photos of me sitting in first class. Clearly my attempts to keep my excitement in check did not work.

When it was time to rest, the flight attendants made my bed and brought out a duvet, which was perfect for sleeping. Ultimately, they helped make my first experience flying in a first class cabin one to remember.

After stepping off the plane, there was even an employee holding a sign welcoming first class passengers to Boston. However, that seemed to be the extent of his role there, which made me chuckle at how over-the-top the whole experience was.

Lufthansa has a great first class product, starting from the passenger services on the ground and all the way to the in-flight experience. If you’ve never flown first class before and can snag award availability, I would highly recommend it.

The First Class Terminal in Frankfurt was a delight to explore, and my two rubber ducks will always be a reminder of my experience.

However, some may find certain aspects of the experience lacking, such as the outdated cabin when compared Emirates Airlines’ first class on the Boeing 777, which has fully enclosed private suites. I’m looking forward to trying out the new Allegris first class on a future trip to Europe.