Since May 1, 2024, Lufthansa has been setting new standards in air travel, especially for business travelers, with the introduction of the Allegris cabin. After a long phase of announcements and four years of delays, the airline has now begun to gradually integrate the new cabin standards into its fleet. Passengers will soon be asked to pay extra for certain seats.
But as the initial waves of enthusiasm surrounding the Allegris cabin subside, the question arises: does the new onboard product actually deliver the desired improvements, or does it remain another chapter in the history of aviation that began with high expectations and ended in disappointment in reality?
The current status of the Allegris cabin
The new Allegris cabin offers a variety of seat categories in Business Class, each with its own unique features. Passengers have a total of five categories to choose from, including privacy seats and throne seats, which boast generous storage space. However, seat selection will remain free until the end of March 2025, giving passengers a certain amount of flexibility in choosing their seats for the time being. From April 2025, fees will be introduced for reserving certain seats, which can be interpreted as a strategic step to generate additional revenue. The Travel-Dealz portal was the first to report on the upcoming monetization.
In the 2024/25 winter flight schedule, Lufthansa has selected several routes on which the Allegris cabin will be used. These include Munich-Shanghai, Munich-San Francisco and Munich-Cape Town. The airline has announced that passengers will now be informed around six weeks before their flight whether they can travel in the new cabin. This advance information could make travel planning much easier, although short-term changes cannot be ruled out.
Waiting for the new First Class
In addition to the Allegris cabin, there is also news about Lufthansa's First Class. The airline had not published any information about this category for a long time because some aircraft were equipped with temporary economy seats.
However, on October 16, 2024, it was announced that the first A350 with a full cabin and new First Class had been transferred from Toulouse to Munich. This new cabin will have a total of three seats that can be used either individually or for couples. However, details on pricing and the start date of the first flights are still unclear.
Reactions and outlook
Despite the positive developments, there are also critical voices about the new cabin products. Many passengers are wondering whether the changes really offer added value or whether they are just a marketing tool. Lufthansa has always tried to maintain its image as a premium airline in the past, but the switch to paying for seat reservations could strain relations with loyal business travelers. The decision to make some seats chargeable could meet with resistance, especially in times of increased competition in air travel.
In addition, it remains to be seen how passengers will react to the implementation of the new cabin structure after the first flights with the Allegris cabin have been carried out. The relevance of customer feedback will be crucial for Lufthansa to ensure the satisfaction and loyalty of its passengers in the long term.
and 