First Class is not going away on Lufthansa. In fact, Lufthansa still plans to offer first class on 50% of its longhaul fleet on a longterm basis.
First Class used to be a staple on every Lufthansa longhaul flight. But over the last few years, Lufthansa has removed first class from its 747-400s, A330s, and select A340s. New A350s deliveries do not have first class and future 787-9 and 777-9 deliveries also will not have first class. Even more dismaying for first class, Lufthansa will use these new aircraft to replace some of the four-engine A340s and A380s that do have first class.
But as grim as the future of first class looks, Lufthansa has no plans to eliminate it.
Lufthansa Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr told employees last autumn:
First class is developing better than we’d imagined three or four years back. We’re looking at routes where it makes sense, where we have the customers who want it.
“Developing better than we’d imagine” does not actually indicate whether first class is developing in a good or bad direction…just better than imagined.
But in an interview with airlineratings.com, Sphor added:
In general, we want to keep the share of first class-equipped aircraft in Lufthansa’s long-haul fleet at the current 50 percent.
He also hinted that a new, more private first class product would be introduced in 2021 on later 777X deliveries. For those of us who love first class, that’s a relief.
Lufthansa 777X First Class
I’m just speculating here, but I imagine a more private, more luxurious four-seat first class on the 777X similar to what Air France offers. Maybe Lufthansa will have doors instead of curtains and other unique touches, but my bet is the magic number is four. Lufthansa may want to keep the share of first class-equipped aircraft at 50%, but that doesn’t mean it will continue to offer eight seats on each flight.
CONCLUSION
Gone are the days of 16-seat first class cabins on Lufthansa. Times have changed. But Lufthansa is not ditching first class. Instead, it hopes to make it a more valuable commodity by making it a scarcer commodity.
> Read More: Lufthansa A340-600 First Class Frankfurt To San Francisco Review
> Read More: Lufthansa First Class: 2019 Vs. 2009
So still do Mileage awards in F whilst you can if they cabin is only getting smaller..
You’re ignoring the elephant in the room here. Drastically reducing the number of first class seats will make award space incredibly difficult to find rather than just very difficult. Previously you’ve spoken about how changes will affect your ability to get award space for yourself and your clients. Your silence on the subject seems incongruous.