Lufthansa Finally Starts Selling Allegris Business Class on 787s — But There’s a Catch

For months, maybe even longer, Lufthansa flyers have been stuck in a strange limbo. The airline’s much-hyped Allegris business class product has been flying on Boeing 787 Dreamliners, but in many cases, passengers couldn’t actually buy most of the seats.

Yes, the plane was in the air. Yes, the cabin was installed. And no, you often couldn’t book it properly.

“Frustrating” doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Now, Lufthansa says it’s finally opening up sales for Allegris business class seats on its Dreamliners. That’s real progress, and it’s something many premium travelers and points enthusiasts have been waiting for.

Still, as usual with this rollout, there are a few important caveats.

What’s Been Happening With Allegris on the Boeing 787?

Lufthansa unveiled Allegris as its next-generation long-haul product more than a year ago, promising major upgrades across business, premium economy, and first class. The centerpiece was a fully redesigned business class with multiple seat types, better privacy, and more customization.

On paper, it looked fantastic. In practice, the rollout has been painfully slow.

While some Airbus A350s and Boeing 787-9s have been delivered with Allegris cabins, certification and technical issues meant Lufthansa couldn’t initially sell many of the seats. Large portions of the business class cabin were blocked, leaving only a handful of bookable seats on each flight.

So even if you found a flight operated by an Allegris-equipped aircraft, chances were high that you’d be stuck in a limited seat pool or shut out entirely.

For travelers trying to use miles or upgrade, it was even worse.

What’s Changing Now, and What’s Still Limited?

Lufthansa has now confirmed that Allegris business class seats on the Boeing 787-9 are officially available for booking. In practical terms, that means most of the previously blocked seats are now open for sale.

Passengers booking eligible 787 flights should now see a much fuller seat map, with access to:

• Standard business class seats
• Extra-space “suite” style seats
• Window seats with enhanced privacy

However, “most” does not mean “all.”

At least 1 seat type, the so-called Business Class Suite Plus (designed for couples), remains unavailable for booking in many cases. Lufthansa is still working through technical and certification issues tied to these premium seats.

There’s also another important wrinkle: Some of the best Allegris seats may come with extra fees. Lufthansa has introduced paid seat selection for certain premium options, even in business class. So yes, you might finally be able to book the seat, but you may have to pay more to pick the best one.

What This Means for Award Travelers

This update matters even more if you’re booking Lufthansa business class with miles.

Historically, when Lufthansa blocks seats, award availability suffers. With more inventory now open, we should start seeing better access through Star Alliance partners like United Airlines and Air Canada.

That said, don’t expect a flood of saver awards overnight.

Lufthansa is known for tightly controlling premium award space, especially on new products. While availability may improve, it will likely be route-dependent and inconsistent at first. Your best bet will remain booking through Lufthansa’s own Miles & More program.

If you’re hunting for award space to book Allegris seats, you should try the following:

• Less competitive routes
• Midweek flights
• Far-out booking windows

Flexibility will still be key.

Final Thoughts

This is genuine progress, and it’s long overdue.

Lufthansa is finally moving Allegris on the 787 from “technically installed but practically useless” to something travelers can actually book and enjoy. That’s good news for cash passengers, elite members, and points collectors alike.

Still, the familiar Lufthansa pattern remains. Some seats are still blocked. Some cost extra. Award space is uncertain. And the rollout remains uneven.

If you’ve been holding off on booking a Lufthansa Dreamliner flight because of Allegris uncertainty, now is the time to start checking again. Just read the seat map carefully, watch for fees, and don’t assume every premium option will be available.

After all this waiting, it’s great to finally see movement. Let’s just hope Lufthansa can finish what it started.