Review: Lufthansa Allegris Airbus A350-900 Business Class (MUC-YUL)
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This Review complements the following Lufthansa Business Class Reviews:
Foreword
After attending the Untold music festival in Romania with friends, we had repositioned ourselves to Munich (MUC) in order to return to Montreal (YUL).
As Romania is a country with little Aeroplan service, we had chosen Munich as our main hub for crossing the Atlantic. To optimize our trip, we opted for a return flight MUC-ZRH-YUL with Aeroplan business class tickets on SWISS (LX), an Aeroplan star alliance partner.
The direct flight MUC-YUL on Lufthansa (LH) was not available on Aeroplan at the time of our initial booking. However, on the morning of our departure (scheduled at 9 a.m. for Zurich), SWISS informed us that our MUC-ZRH flight had been cancelled, and that they were therefore moving us to the direct Munich-Montreal flight with Lufthansa.
We were now to travel on flight LH474, of an 8 hours and 5 minutes duration, with a 4.45 p.m. departure from Munich and a 6.50 p.m. arrival in Montreal.
And as our original tickets were in business class, we were also in business class on this flight.
As I was checking in, I realized that we would be traveling on an A350-900 configured as Allegris.
Lufthansa Allegris
Allegris is the brand name used by Lufthansa to define its new cabin experience. According to the airline’s website: “Lufthansa Allegris is our commitment to putting our passengers even more at the center of our concerns. To achieve this, we want to make travel even more exclusive in all classes. We have therefore completely redesigned our seats, cabins and services.
One of the features of this new configuration is the wide variety of seat types available, especially in business class. The idea is to get closer to the concept of “personalized seating”.
At maturity, we will find :
- First Class Suite Plus
- First Class
- Business Class Suite
- Business Class
- Premium Economy
- Economy
Lufthansa A350-900 Allegris Business Class – Cabin
Our aircraft has three cabins:
- Business
- Premium Economy
- Economy
Although space for First Class was available on the aircraft, and in the end there will only be row 1 in First Class, the four First Class seats (1-2-1 configuration) had not yet been installed on our aircraft. In the interim, Lufthansa had put in empty “economy” seats.
As mentioned, on this flight from Munich to Montreal, we were traveling in business class.
Lufthansa’s business class in its A350-900 Allegris is made up of two almost identically configured 20-seat cabins, each with a total of 40 seats.
Our flight was fully booked and all 40 seats were occupied. See Aerolopan for a detailed plan. By the way, I invite you to take a look at the picture of the cabin, as its atypical configuration makes it rather difficult to describe.
Thus, each of the two cabins extends over six rows, although there are only five rows in the center.
The first cabin has rows 2 to 7, while the second has rows 8 to 12.
Rows 2 and 8 are Business Class Suite-style, i.e. with additional overhead panels, more space (legroom, storage, etc.), a door to isolate the seat from the aisle, and greater privacy.
These are definitely the seats to try and to get in this business class.
Row 7 (only two seats, as the center is partly occupied by the gallery), which “ends” the first of the two cabins, also offers slightly more space and privacy thanks to its configuration.
Rows 3, 5, 9 and 11 offer a “throne” seat in the center of the aircraft (seat E), with alternating aisle access. Seats 3E and 9E are accessed via the left aisle (between A and E), while seats 5E and 11E are accessed via the right aisle (between E and H).
Honestly, if you’re a solo traveler, this is more or less important. However, if you’re traveling as a couple and want to be opposite your traveling companion who’s seated in A, C, H or K (i.e. with a window), it can be a bit of a headache.
Rows 4, 6 and 10 offer seats (C or H) with very little window access (only one window), whereas almost all other window seats in business class offer two windows. In these rows (4, 6 and 10), when seated on the window side, you really get the impression of being “squeezed” between two rows.
Finally, as the seats in both cabins are angled to “optimize space” in the cabin, you can feel it. In other words, it feels a little crowded. This is because, in all rows other than 2 and 8, the passenger in the front or rear row is ultimately very close to you.
This type of configuration is highly atypical and, in my opinion, makes the choice of seat even more complex.
While I understand that the aim here is to offer different types of seating configurations to suit different needs, I find the whole thing rather complex. This is because, at the time of ticket purchase or check-in, several seats may already be selected by other travellers, making it rather difficult to choose according to “personal preferences” based on the remaining seats.
That said, with this type of configuration, all passengers have direct access to the aisle.
Four of us were traveling together on this flight.
For my part, I had seat 9A (window) while my wife occupied seat 9E (center throne). As for our friends, one occupied seat 11A (similar to mine) while his wife occupied seat 8G.
Unfortunately on this flight, the separation between seats 8D and 8G didn’t work, so she spent her flight next to another passenger (who didn’t want to change seats, preferring to keep her Business Class Suite seat).
So the four of us were “separated”.
If you’re traveling alone, you’re spoilt for choice between seats A, C, H and K. The best are those in rows 2 and 8.
Remember, however, that the seats in rows 4, 6, 10 and 12 have only one window.
You can also opt for E throne seats in rows 3, 5, 9 and 11.
If you’re traveling in pairs, the best rows are also 2 and 8, to enjoy the magnificent intimacy of the Business Class Suite.
Alternatively, in the center you can choose between rows 4, 6, 10 and 12, as you’ll be able to communicate easily with your traveling companion.
Lufthansa A350-900 Allegris Business Class – Seat
Let’s move on to the A350-900 Lufthansa seat itself.
The seat is equipped with an adjustable headrest, a shoulder belt and can be transformed into a completely flat bed of around two meters, guaranteeing optimum comfort during the flight.
As there are different seat configurations, as mentioned above, this more detailed description applies to the seat I occupied, seat 9A (window).
This seat features a storage compartment-drawer that closes with an accordion flap.
It also includes headphones, water bottle and travel kit.
At the base of this compartment are a power socket, a USB socket and a USB-C socket.
And close to the floor there’s a second, narrower compartment designed specifically to accommodate a laptop.
On the flat surface in front of the compartment drawer, Lufthansa has integrated a magnetic wireless charger designed to recharge devices that accept this charging mode (e.g. recent cell phones). You either like it or you don’t, because to recharge, the cell phone has to be placed there, making it difficult to use at the same time, which is not the case when recharging with our cable.
On the side and outside the compartment, there’s a removable electronic tablet that serves as a remote control for all seat options (seat configuration, seat lighting, etc.) as well as screen management (full navigation).
Some will particularly appreciate the ability to adjust the seat temperature!
Bluetooth device pairing is also available. This means you can pair your personal wireless headphones on-screen, rather than using those supplied by Lufthansa, a feature my wife particularly liked.
The seat also features a number of lighting options, from full seat lighting to a small reading light.
The retractable table used for eating or working is very long. It’s the first time I’ve seen one this long. My friend, who spent a good part of the flight working on it, particularly appreciated this extra space.
Travel kits are available at every seat in business class. The hard case replicates a mini carry-on suitcase. In fact, it’s a Design by travel experience – Lufthansa aluminium collection product. For those interested, this product is on sale for 49 euros on the official Lusthansa merchandise website.
The kit contains: a reusable shopping bag, socks, sleep mask, ear plugs, L’Occitane toiletries (lip balm and hand cream).
The screen is a comfortable 18 inches in size, with good resolution (4K).
Although it was mainly a daytime flight, some of the four of us took the opportunity to take a nap, and therefore reclined the seat in the 180-degree flat-bed position.
Because of its configuration, the seats are relatively long and there’s plenty of room for your feet. So you don’t feel cramped. What’s more, thanks to the blanket and pillow supplied, you’ll be just as comfortable taking a nap as sleeping for hours on end.
Lufthansa A350-900 Allegris Business Class – Service
During the boarding time, cold drinks are available, including water and champagne.
Shortly after takeoff, the service is performed and, as is often the case with Lufthansa, the bag of warm macadamia nuts is offered.
Here’s the menu available on this flight to Montreal, along with several photos of the dishes we ate.
Finally, in keeping with tradition, Lufthansa also presented us with a box of DreiMeister pralines and truffles.
Overall, the meal was very decent for business class, without being memorable. I have nothing negative to say about the food, it’s just that nothing was a “wow”. For those more familiar with Air Canada business class, it’s very similar.
On this flight, it is possible to connect to the Internet via the available Wi-Fi network. To access it free of charge, simply take advantage of the Boingo access offered with World Elite Mastercard cards.
There are two rather small toilets in business class. They are, however, also designed for “grooming”. In other words, the seat is covered in leather so that you can sit comfortably, for example, to use the magnifying mirror. Once again, L’Occitane products are available.
90 minutes before landing, a second service is offered. I like the fact that some business classes offer real espressos on their flights. This is the case with Lufthansa Allegris.
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Bottom Line
My overall impression is mixed. That said, overall I enjoyed my flight, and so did the other three members of our quartet.
Among its strengths, we note that the product is recent, both in terms of its functions (removable tablet remote control, Bluetooth headphone pairing, variable seat temperature, wireless cell phone charger, etc.) and its design (materials, shapes, colors, etc.).
A certain sense of intimacy and tranquility envelops the business cabin, given the somewhat disparate seating arrangement. As everything is curved, the impression of linear rows is lost.
On Lufthansa’s A350-900 Allegris, the “hard product” experience in rows 2 and 8 exceeds that of all other business class rows. On the soft product side, however, the offer is exactly the same as for the entire business cabin.
The Business Class Suite is a bold idea. In fact, it seems to have been inspired by the concept of economy class privilege, i.e. this last class is neither economy nor business class, but a compromise between the two.
Ditto for this new row integrated into the business class. It’s not exactly first or business class. So why was it integrated into the business cabin? Because when you’re in an “ordinary” business seat, you’re disappointed not to be in the “suite” row. In a way, the regular business product is diluted.
On paper, the idea of offering a certain diversity of seats to better meet everyone’s different needs may seem interesting. But in reality, this diversity makes for an uneven experience, depending on which seat you end up on.
And by offering too many choices, we complicate the decision-making process: which seat to choose?
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