Lufthansa’s new 747 first class suites

Lufthansa’s private jet arm is developing bespoke first class suites for its Boeing 747-8 fleet, intended to cosset passengers above the clouds.

Lufthansa CEO Jens Ritter, speaking with Executive Traveller on the inaugural flight of the airline’s first Airbus A350 fitted with new Allegris seats from tip to tail, said the nose of the jumbo would contain six first class suites, down from the current count of eight.

However, one of these suites would be a spacious ‘double berth’ where two passengers can sit, dine and sleep together.

The Lufthansa 747-8s will include a first class double bed.

Ritter indicated this would most likely be booked by solo flyers, who would then pay a fee to add a second passenger to their itinerary and share their same suite.

As previously reported, the 747-8 first class suites will be a customised version of the Lufthansa Allegris First suites which will feature on the A350s and forthcoming Boeing 777-9 jets, and it’s being developed by Lufthansa Technik’s VIP aircraft team which specialises in the five-star fit-out of private jets.

“The nose section (of the 747-8) is what makes it quite interesting and challenging,” Lufthansa’s Heads of Customer Experience Kai Peters tells Executive Traveller.

“Customers really like the nose section, it’s very private, it's very much a club atmosphere, and that's why we decided on keeping (first class) there.”

Lufthansa's current 747 first class (left) and business class (right).

“But our Allegris first class is a little bit boxy” compared to the curvature of the nose, he admits, resulting in made-to-measure 747 First suites which “will be optimised because of the different shape” of the jumbo jet’s first class cabin.

"We developed a suite concept with Lufthansa Technik (because) you need to find the perfect layout and the perfect way to fit it in there.”

The Allegris First suites convert to a wide fully-flat bed, although during the rest of the flight passengers face an ottoman which can also serve as a companion seat.

Each suite is framed by 1.8m-high walls and includes a personal wardrobe so that travellers can change into and out of their pyjamas, with space under the ottoman for stowing a standard-size cabin bag.

Lufthansa's new 747 first class (left) and business class (right).

The stretched Boeing 747-8I or Intercontinental jumbo is the flagship of Lufthansa’s long-range fleet, with the Star Alliance airline being the 747-8’s launch customer in 2012.

And it looks like the 747 will remain part of the scenery at Lufthansa’s Frankfurt hub for longer than the Airbus A380, which will receive only a relatively minor upgrade comprised of new business class seats.

In comparison, Lufthansa’s 747-8s will get not only these bespoke Allegris suites but a full complement of Allegris business class seats in both the upper deck ‘hump’ – where Ritter said the cabin would contain between 20 and 22 Allegris seats, split by a single aisle – as well as the main deck, followed by Allegris premium economy and economy recliners.

David Flynn travelled to Munich as a guest of Lufthansa.