Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

Lufthansa Receives Its First 787-9 Dreamliner, More on Order

Carissa Rawson's image
Carissa Rawson
Carissa Rawson's image

Carissa Rawson

Senior Content Contributor

328 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 51U.S. States Visited: 36

Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business ...
Jump to Section

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Have you flown Lufthansa recently? Its seats (and service), while comfortable, are not up to par with today’s standards — especially in business class. Happily, Lufthansa has just taken delivery of its very first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which means a big upgrade in aircraft, especially when sitting up front. Let’s take a look at what this means for passengers.

Lufthansa’s Fleet

Lufthansa business class
Image Credit: Lufthansa

Currently, Lufthansa operates a fleet of nearly 300 planes. Most of these are from Airbus (and the A380 is expected to be back in service starting summer 2023), though Lufthansa currently operates 27 Boeing 747s and has placed orders for 31 more Dreamliners and 20 777-9s.

In 2017, Lufthansa debuted its newest business class product, which would feature direct aisle access for every passenger. To date, however, the airline hasn’t managed to install this product on any of its aircraft. Unfortunately, this means most passengers are still stuck with Lufthansa’s outdated 2-2-2 product, which forces those in window seats to climb over those seated in the aisle.

Originally, Lufthansa was supposed to take first delivery of the 787-9s in late 2021, though delays have meant it is just now acquiring the aircraft. This newest Dreamliner was originally intended for Hainan Airlines; Lufthansa picked it (and 4 others) up, so we’ll likely see an excellent new business class product, including direct aisle access for every passenger.

However, this is now the second new aircraft configuration Lufthansa has grabbed from other airlines — the other is from Philippine Airlines, whose A350s Lufthansa snagged during bankruptcy.

These planes feature yet another version of business class, meaning Lufthansa will now be operating several distinct business class configurations … so if you’re worried about where you’ll sit, you’ll want to check out your seat map well before departure (SeatGuru is also a great resource).

Booking Lufthansa Business Class

Our step-by-step guide details the best ways to book Lufthansa business class using points using programs such as Air Canada AeroplanANA Mileage ClubAsiana ClubAvianca LifeMilesLufthansa Miles & More, and United MileagePlus.

For a simple, nonstop round-trip flight between the U.S. and Germany in Lufthansa business class, you can expect to pay between 80,000 to 154,000+ miles, though the cost of miles with taxes and fees varies greatly by program.

Hot Tip: Learn more about how to fly Lufthansa from the U.S. to Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC) in our definitive guide to Lufthansa’s direct routes from the U.S.

Final Thoughts

It’s always good news when an airline receives new aircraft. In Lufthansa’s case, this is another step towards a better business class product — even if it’s not quite the one the airline promised.

Carissa Rawson's image

About Carissa Rawson

Carissa served in the U.S. Air Force where she developed her love for travel and new cultures. She started her own blog and eventually joined The Points Guy. Since then, she’s contributed to Business Insider, Forbes, and more.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse
DMCA.com Protection Status