Lufthansa expands its Allegris offerings from Munich… with fees to match

The rollout of Lufthansa’s Allegris refresh (comprising of new first-class suites, business class, premium economy and economy seats) continues, with the airline settling on its operations for Summer 2025.

The planned list from 30th March includes;

• San Francisco
• Shanghai
• Chicago O’Hare
• New York-Newark (from April 15)
• San Diego
• Charlotte (continuously to Charlotte from August)
• Bengaluru

Routes which will have the Allegris First Class Suites products installed include:

•  San Francisco
• Chicago
• San Diego
• Shanghai
• Bengaluru.

For those choosing to book Allegris in Business Class, the Classic Seat reservation remains free of charge.

However, if you want one of the different seats which offer additional comfort (including the Business Class Suite, the Extra Space Seat with extra space, the Privacy Seat by the window and the Extra Long Bed with a reclining area of 2.20 meters) you can reserve them in advance via the seat reservation for an additional charge.

Passengers can choose between the Privacy Seat and the Extra Long Bed starting at 100 euros and the Extra Space Seat starting from 130 euros. If you want high walls and privacy, the Business Class Suite has it all, with higher walls, sliding doors, extended personal space and a monitor measuring up to 68 centimetres. You’ll be paying extra for this privilege, with it reservable from 400 euros.

For those travelling in Allegris First Class, the suites in First Class can be reserved in advance free of charge.

Passengers can reserve the Suite Plus for a single use for a surcharge starting from 1900 euros. The Suite Plus also combines maximum comfort for the individual guest with the unique opportunity to travel together with a travel partner in a suite. In this case, First Class guests can book exclusively via the First Class Hotline at special rates.

Meanwhile, if you’re in the back of the aircraft, Allegris Economy Class passengers can reserve a seat with more legroom with lead-in prices of 50 euros.

These are of course, in addition to your airfare ticket. Passengers with Lufthansa elite frequent flyer status, with 80% of the business class seats being free to reserve, depending on the status.

In Quotes

Heiko Reitz, Chief Customer Officer Lufthansa Airlines.

“I am delighted that we are offering our guests Lufthansa Allegris on more and more routes. For flights to the USA alone, customers can choose between five destinations from Munich,” 

“We currently have nine A350-900s with Allegris on board at Lufthansa, six of which already offer our customers the new, highly exclusive First Class. Overall, our new cabin interior is extremely popular with guests – with satisfaction rates in Business Class of well over 90 percent.”

It was always about monetisation.

Whilst it is welcoming to see the Lufthansa Allegris route network expanding with new products reaching the passenger, this author’s fears that it will be monetised to the end of the world were sadly correct (as predicted in 2023 and went live in 2024)

Those of you who thought the airline was going to give out seating out of the goodness of its hearts are sadly mistaken.

Whilst some of these fees can be mitigated (especially if you have a high level of status in the Lufthansa Miles and More programme), elite members in other programmes will be left scrambling – either for the basic seats, or when check-in opens to try and select a better seat.

Whilst airlines are entitled to charge what they like, it does cheapen what is a premium experience – especially at some of the premiums Lufthansa is demanding.

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