I've been dreaming about flying first class since I got interested in air travel. In November 2025, I finally managed to plan a business trip to Japan involving first class flights on Lufthansa.

I flew there in the old product in a Boeing 747-8 and back in the brand new Allegris First Class in an Airbus A350-900.

Searching for the cheapest First Class fare

Lufthansa is a member of the Star Alliance, where I use Miles + Bonus from Aegean Airlines of Greece as my main frequent flyer program to earn miles.

While it is possible to book Lufthansa First Class flights through this program, the availability is only on the old layout and not the new Allegris First Class, where there are only 3-4 seats on the plane.

It wouldn't make sense to book just a one-way flight for miles, as one-way First Class fares are not usually more profitable than round-trip flights.

Therefore, I had no choice but to buy the return flight for "cash".

I describe more about finding routes on which the new Allegris First Class flies in this review.

In the end, the choice fell on Tokyo, which is a long enough flight for me to enjoy First Class, plus it was handy to visit Japan for work and to update a few guidebooks on our website.

After a lot of searching and figuring out different combinations, I chose the Cairo - Tokyo return flight, with the idea of trying the old first class on the way there and the new Allegris on the way back.

The ticket from Cairo was by far the cheapest - I paid 5 200 eur. I bought the flights directly on the airline's website lufthansa.com.

The cheapest flights from Prague and surrounding areas would cost around 10 000 eur and I found the cheapest flights direct from European airports from Oslo and Lisbon for prices around 7 000 eur.

Connecting flights from Cairo

I made my own way to Cairo from Prague by using and describing the Sphinx SPX airport in our guidebook and visiting the newly opened GEM - Grand Egyptian Museum.

The first class ticket included connecting flights in business class, as first class is not available on regional planes. Reviews of these flights as well can be found under these links:

• Egyptair old-school Business Class, Boeing 737-800, CAI-MUC
• Lufthansa Business Class, Bombardier CRJ-900, MUC-FRA

Check-in in the private First Class Terminal Lounge

I deliberately chose this combination of flights to give me the longest possible layover time in Frankfurt. It ended up being over 22 hours, so I still managed to get around Frankfurt's beautiful Christmas markets!

But the main reason was of course to visit the world famous First Class Terminal (FCT), probably the best airport lounge in the world, located in a completely separate building from the main terminal.

You can find the full experience, including photos, in my First Class Terminal Frankfurt review.

Boarding by limousine

Passport control takes place directly in the First Class Terminal, from where passengers are taken to the plane by limousine.

If you are the only passenger on the flight, you will be travelling in a new BMW 7 Series.

In my case, there were a total of 3 passengers on the flight to Tokyo, so we were transported in a Volkswagen Multivan.

We exit the car on the tarmac, where we then go inside to the elevator that takes us to the standard boarding bridge.

The First Class cabin in the nose of the 747-8

I like the old Lufthansa first class, judging by the photos and videos, but these days I'd say it's more up to the standards of very good business class.

So I'm very anxious to see what my feelings will be in real life.

If I were flying on a different plane, they'd probably be worse. But the first class cabin on the iconic Boeing 747-8, positioned right in the nose where the plane tapers, just creates an irresistible and very premium feel!

In the Boeing 747-8, there are always three seats on each side by the windows and then two seats in the middle next to each other, ideal for couples, for example.

Comfortable seat, little privacy

I can't say anything negative about the seat itself. It is really spacious and very comfortable.

The seat is 78 cm (30.5') wide and the row spacing is 210 cm (83').

I really appreciate the huge amount of storage space, which is incomparably larger than the new Allegris First Class in the Airbus A350.

I have two spacious compartments between the seat and the windows that can fit all my documents like passport, boarding passes, but also maybe a large printed menu or large headphones.

There is also a large storage space in the footrest, which you can move closer and put your feet on.

I can store my coat, jacket and other small items in the wardrobe at the front of the cabin near the door.

The Boeing 747-8 also has standard overhead bins in which I store my backpack. This is missing on the Airbus A350 in the new Allegris First Class, for example.

I'm already choosing seat 2A in advance. Unlike the new Lufthansa Allegris Business Class, there is no extra charge for selecting a specific seat in First Class.

In retrospect, however, I regret this choice a bit. While seats 2A and 2K are the furthest away from all the others, they are right next to the counter used by the crew for service.

So privacy is not exactly ideal and next time I would probably choose seats 1A or 1K right in the nose of the plane.

The biggest drawback of the seat, however, is the lack of a door, curtain, or anything that completely separates me from the surrounding cabin.

I simply expect this in modern, quality first class these days (and got it on the return trip in an Allegris cabin, for example).

The seat does have a slide-out screen, but it's not quite the same. The privacy is just on par with better modern business classes.

Seat positioning and controls

You can recline the seat yourself and very easily at any time to virtually any position up to a horizontal lie-flat seat.

Operation is simple and intuitive and is controlled by manual buttons in the right armrest.

How did I sleep? Great!

I'm retiring for the night after dinner.

While I can unfold the seat to a horizontal position myself, the bedding, mattress and blanket are stored in compartments in the nose of the aircraft that only the crew have access to.

The bed is 81'' (205 cm) long, so even really tall people can sleep on it.

Together with a width of more than 70 cm, the bed is extremely spacious and comfortable.

The duvet and mattress are great, soft and warm.

I can't help but find the bed as comfortable as the one I have at home and I had a great night's sleep.

The only drawback, perhaps compared to the new Allegris First class, is the aforementioned lack of a door or complete screen separating the seat from the surroundings.

The cabin lights are dimmed during the night, but if the passenger in front of you turns on a reading lamp, the light pretty much blinds the entire cabin.

I have my bed folded back into a seat about 2 hours before landing. In total, I slept roughly less than 7 hours.

Food and drink during the flight

In-flight service is the same in both the old and new Allegris first class, and only differs depending on whether you have a night or day flight.

My flight from Frankfurt to Tokyo leaves shortly after 2pm and arrives the next day at about 10am.

Welcome drink and printed menu

First to arrive is a welcome drink, olives, nuts and a hot wet napkin.

You can choose any drink available on board, I choose the traditional champagne.

Before departure, all passengers receive a printed menu and a very comprehensive wine list.

Any number of drinks at any time during the flight

You can ask for any drink or small snacks like cookies and crackers at any time.

Before the main meal I have my favourite Lufthansa signature cocktail - the Avionic.

The buffet is huge and heavy and is always tipped to you by the crew. However, if you want, you can tip it yourself. The table is located in one of the compartments under the windows.

Starter and caviar service

Even before the main service comes the caviar - Lufthansa's signature first class product. Caviar service is simply a concept on this airline that all regular passengers and flight enthusiasts are familiar with.

The starter is very fresh, colourful, light and delicious! I like the presentation and compared to business class service, there is more food and much more variety.

The main course

For the main course, I choose the fish - monkfish - with Beurre Blanc sauce. This time the presentation for me is a lot worse than the starters, but the dish is tasty and most importantly light. Exactly how I imagine during a long-haul flight.

I'm not hungry and not overfed at the same time.

Dessert

Also because I chose a rather lighter appetizer and main course, I can afford to sin a little on the dessert!

I love the traditional German Kaiserschmarren. Here I get it with plum sauce and a fabulous vanilla ice cream. I don't think I've ever eaten a better caesar cracker.

I'm having herbal tea for dessert to help me sleep better.

For the final dessert, we get pralines, which Lufthansa always has fabulous.

Mid-flight snack

Before going to bed, I get a basket of sweets and salty crackers from the crew, which are available in the galley for the duration of the flight.

But this is a nice touch - I have the snacks on hand right at my seat at all times.

Breakfast

While there is a choice of breakfast on the menu, in reality the crew goes through the breakfast cart and you can pick and choose and combine absolutely any item on the menu.

I opt for a rather healthier breakfast and am perfectly happy. If I'm still hungry, it's no problem to ask the crew for more items from the breakfast menu.

To make it not so healthy, I have a cinnamon snail after breakfast.

Finally, before landing, we get the traditional box of four hazelnut chocolate hearts.

Amenity-kit and other equipment

The seat is equipped with an extremely comfortable cushion and blanket that can be used at any time during the flight. For sleeping, you will then receive another blanket and bedding from the crew.

Of course there are extremely comfortable slippers, which I keep as a souvenir. Then I forget them on the first night in a capsule hotel in Tokyo.

In the compartment by the seat you will find this equipment:

• Noise-cancelling headphones for the IFE (but you can use your own headphones that connect to the monitor via Bluetooth)
• Still water 0.5 litres

• Amenity-kitwhich includes:
  • Toothbrush + small toothpaste
  • a wet wipe
  • earplugs
  • eye mask
  • socks
  • Augustinus Bader cosmetics - deer tallow for lips, hand cream
  • comb
  • spoon for shoes

Shortly after the launch, I will still get the pajama offer - 3 sizes are available: M, L and XL.

I find pyjamas invaluable for long flights in first or business class. It's great to sleep in non-civilian clothes that I can also put on hangers in my locker in first class.

You can freely take bottles of mouthwash, wet wipes or hand creams in the first class-only lavatories.

In-flight service and impeccable crew

The crew was a significant factor in the great experience.

I've heard quite conflicting impressions of Lufthansa's premium class crew from many quarters, but I can't fault them at all.

The flight attendants created a very friendly and civil atmosphere on board while maintaining absolute professionalism. Didn't have to actively ask them for anything at all. The crew always came by themselves when they saw that I wanted, for example, to unfold the bed or, on the contrary, to put down the table.

Great and absolutely flawless work!

Entertainment system

The 4K resolution monitor is large and the controls are either touch directly on the monitor (it is very far from the seat though) or via a manual controller.

The standard old First Class seats have a 17" monitor.

The selection of movies and series is plentiful, and I particularly appreciate the very wide variety of European cinema.

Wi-fi

For First Class passengers, internet is available for free throughout the flight - unlike Business Class.

Before take-off you will always receive a card with a code which you enter when you log in to Fly Net.

You can use the code multiple times on multiple devices.

Internet is always available at flight level and availability may be poor, for example when flying over polar regions.

Conclusion: the old First Class is more like a quality business class

I take away very positive impressions from the flight - especially thanks to the extremely excellent crew.

The service and service on board is, I would say, average, maybe slightly above average by first class standards. Airlines from the Middle East or Southeast Asia simply have service that is a notch better.

The biggest problem in old first class is the seat and especially the privacy. This is often better in more modern business class.

The seats in Lufthansa's old first class are not separated from the aisle by any door or floor to ceiling curtain, but only by a relatively low screen that simply cannot create a sense of complete privacy.

Pluses

• ✅ Elegant cabin design with the iconic living rose at each seat
• ✅ Very comfortable bed and great linen
• ✅ Professional crew and friendly crew at the same time - impeccable service
• ✅ First Class Terminal at Frankfurt Airport
• ✅ Relatively good price compared to other first classes
• ✅ Option to book old Lufthansa First Class also with other frequent flyer miles
• ✅ Caviar service

Cons

• ❌ Lack of privacy compared to other first classes
• ❌ Overall an old product that feels more like high end business class

Similar connecting flights routinely go via Lufthansa's main hubs - Munich (MUC) and Frankfurt (FRA) - whose detailed airport guides can be found here.

Find business class prices at lufthansa.com

Check out our other business or first class reviews.