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differentiation to the max

It’s usually easy to pick a seat on your flight. Choose the class of service, decide window or aisle (or middle, if applicable, though if you actually choose middle, we have some questions for you), and, if you’re a pro-level traveler, pick a row that isn’t next to the lavatory or galley, and doesn’t have limited recline or a blocked window.

Flying in Allegris business class is a bit more complicated.

There are seven types of business-class seats on the plane, laid out in an alternating 1-2-1 and 1-1-1 configuration:

• Suites in the first row (double suite inside, single suites by the window).
• Extra-space seat.
• Window seat.
• Seat with an extra-long bed measuring more than 7 feet.
• Privacy window seat with baby bassinet.
• Double seat. (In the last row of business class, two neighboring seats with a smaller distance between them can be combined to form a double berth using a retractable center console.)
• Regular seat.

It’s a bit confusing. But it offers a range of experiences and keeps things fresh.

On the inaugural flight, first class remained empty aside from the placeholder seats, and passengers were told they could not congregate there during flight.

The business class cabin was split into two by a lavatory between rows 7 and 8, with a row of suites at the front of each of the two sections.

Three rows of premium economy at the windows — and four in the middle — sit in a 2-3-2 layout.

The seats looked modern and chic and were inset in a shell-type backing that lets the seat recline by sliding forward within the shell, so that the recline does not interfere with the person sitting behind.

There’s only so much that can be innovated in an economy seat, but they were nevertheless comfortable-looking, with adjustable headrests, adequate cushioning, and a reasonable amount of legroom in their staggered 3-3-3 configuration.

They also had a few nifty features including power outlets, bright seatback screens and a personal device holder.

Onboard the first allegris flight

I’ll cut to the chase: The seat is very good. I’ve been fortunate to fly in Lufthansa’s existing first class and business class seats a few times, and these are worlds better. Among the reasons, in my view: personalized climate control for each seat, something innovative and incredibly welcome.

This inaugural flight started with a celebration at the gate, with drinks and snacks along with freebies, music and speeches.

It was fairly typical for an inaugural, but for most of the passengers who were simply trying to get to Vancouver, the hubbub was a bit confusing.

Frequent announcements from the gate agent assured them that they were, indeed, at the right gate, and they were lucky enough to have better seats than they expected for the flight out.

Media — TPG included — were allowed to preboard in order to try and get photos of the cabin without passengers blocking the views.

Of course, this was a bit difficult given that we only had a few minutes, and were all in each other’s way, but we still had the chance to check out each cabin.

I had been assigned to seat 9K, a window seat on the right side of the plane, and one of the “privacy” seats closer to the window.

The seat was wide and comfortable, even by business-class standards. A large side table lay at my right (under which lay the foot compartment for the aisle-adjascent seat behind me), with a sliding cabinet that housed a water bottle, a hard-wired set of headphones and an amenity kit, with plenty of room to store my own headphones or iPad.

Along with the amenity kit, a pillow and blanket were waiting on the seat. There also was a special souvenir for the first Allegris flight: a laptop sleeve/folio containing a notebook and a special edition of Lufthansa’s in-house travel guide to our destination.

The amenity kit, meanwhile, came in a hard case — something that I find always feels a bit more special and premium than the soft-sided versions — and a special edition tote bag for the Allegris flight. The kit held all of the usual items, like a toothbrush with toothpaste, an eye mask and earplugs, moisturizer and covers for the headphones, in case you want an extra bit of cleanliness.

There were also three power ports — a regular universal outlet, along with a USB-A and a USB-C port — and a headphone jack in case you preferred to use your own, rather than the provided ones. The table also contained a wireless charger that you could just put your phone on.

Also on the right, a bit further back, were a few of my favorite features. There was a tablet that you could use to control the seat, lights, climate settings, and the in-flight entertainment screen. At first, this seemed a bit extraneous since the main screen is touch-controlled. But I realized a bit later during the flight that it’s actually in the perfect spot to control things while your seat is in the lie-flat bed position, whether you want to watch a movie before falling asleep, or you decide you’re too hot or cold.

Speaking of, there was an air vent with a switch to control it just past the screen. Hallelujah! Like many European carriers, Lufthansa’s cabins have generally lacked individual air nozzles. As someone who tends to fly hot, I’ve always hated that, and usually have trouble sleeping on flights, even in a lie-flat seat, because it’s too hot and stuffy for me.

But that’s not all. Just like some late-model luxury cars, the seat itself holds a temperature control system, controllable from the in-flight entertainment. Simply move the slider towards heat or cooling, and a fan gently circulates warm or cool air through pores and vents in the seat. Whether you’re sitting up for takeoff or lying down for a rest, this feature is available and quite effective.

Facing forward, one will find the large and bright seatback screen. Along with a selection of movies and shows, you’ll find the seat controls — you can even adjust the cushion firmness — along with the flight map and a few live camera angles from outside the plane. Notably, every seat can view those cameras, regardless of what cabin you’re in.

Finally, there’s the massive tray table, which slides out from in front of you and is long enough to fully reach a seated passenger — or to hold dishware during a meal, with room left over for a laptop or tablet.

The Soft Product

There’s been discussion of an upgraded soft product to go with the new Allegris seats.

It’s not in place yet, but Lufthansa’s service in business class remains excellent. If anything, the quality of the cabins matches the soft product for the first time in recent memory.

A choice of welcome drinks was offered on-board, along with a bag of mixed nuts. I went with the Avionic, a new aperitif cocktail the airline designed with the Ziegler Distillery in Freudenberg. It’s an herbal bitter similar to Aperol mixed with tonic water and served on ice with a slice of lemon.

It was so good that I had a second one after takeoff, during the first drink service.

Timing was a little weird for this meal — the flight departed at 3:45 p.m., so it was late for lunch but early for dinner, and it was scheduled to land in Vancouver at 4:55 p.m. — but nevertheless, a late lunch (or early dinner) would do the trick.

An amuse-bouche of olives and parmesan started the meal off, and I opted for the vegetarian appetizer, which the menu described as a “variation of carrot with quinoa and coriander.”

It was stellar and creative, a dish with carrots prepared five different ways, like pureed, shredded in a salad, or chopped and mixed with quinoa. It was served with fresh bread and a salad.

For my main, I opted for the veal steak with white asparagus and parsley potatoes in a hollandaise sauce. The overly white dish may not have been the most visually appealing — especially without the service tray — but it was nevertheless delicious.

Finally, for dessert, I went with the salted caramel tart and an espresso.

Inaugural celebrations aside, the flight was fairly uneventful. I had several more coffees, worked, and took a 30-minute nap.

About 90 minutes before landing, the flight attendants offered a light dinner. I chose the tortellini, which was a solid choice. The chocolate mouse dessert was delicious as well.

We landed in Vancouver on time, and after the crew and airline employees took a quick photo at the front business class cabin, we headed to customs.

Bottom line

The Allegris cabin is a sharp improvement for Lufthansa, and despite some confusion from the way it differentiates the seats in business class, it seems that it would be difficult — if not impossible — to find a seat that’s bad (although do note that the “regular” business-class seats — the window seats that are adjacent to the aisle — are fairly exposed, as is the case in any cabin with a similar staggered configuration).

With the entire aerospace industry continuing to struggle with supply chain and delivery constraints, the rollout of the new cabin will be slower than ideal.

Nevertheless, Lufthansa may have a chance at earning back that fifth star.