As flagged by One Mile At A Time, Lufthansa flight attendants are not happy about the new Allegris First Class product…and for very good reason.

Lufthansa Crew Calls Out Allegris First Class For Lacking Any True “Premium” Touch

A representative of Lufthansa’s flight attendants has formally criticized the airline’s new Allegris First Class, especially the peculiar double suite in the center of the cabin (I’ve written about it here). According to cabin crew, it “creates a feeling of confinement and pressure — no trace of a premium experience.”

“Couples rarely have the same sleep patterns or movie preferences. Instead of an exclusive, comfortable atmosphere, it creates a feeling of confinement and pressure – no trace of a premium experience.”

The flight attendant notes that the double suite isn’t practical. It offers only one TV and one tray table for two passengers, and couples often have differing needs. The design also fails operational reality: there’s nowhere to store bedding or service items—crew must stow these in business class overhead bins.

Even more worrying to the crew is the staffing model. Previously, two flight attendants serviced first class; now it’s just one, a significant downgrade when it comes to delivering attentive service. A flight attendant points out that trying to manage both the aisle and galley is virtually impossible while maintaining the quality expected of first class.

“The removal of the flight attendant not only represents a clear decline in service quality, but also once again reveals significant weaknesses in strategic planning and product design. This will massively reduce the time spent with guests – especially in first class. And this is happening at a time when Allegris, a new seating product requiring explanation, is being introduced.”

“It’s not just about jobs, but about the future of a product that aspires to be among the world’s best. This is precisely why the removal of a flight attendant is not only a quantitative problem, but above all a qualitative one.”

While it may seem logical that if two flight attendants were needed for eight first class seats, only one is needed for 3-4 seats, but it’s a little more difficult when a flight attendant has to prepare meals and care for the cabin at the same time.

CONCLUSION

Flight attendants are calling out an experience that looks impressive on paper, but doesn’t support the reality of service delivery. While the Allegris hard product earns praise for its elegance and comfort, failing to plan for storage, layout flaws, and understaffing undermines its promise of luxury. I’ll put it even more bluntly: the center section seat is a colossal failure versus two separate seats with a divider (that could be lowered for couples traveling together).

Lufthansa’s new Allegris First Class offering may look beautiful, but skipping the crew’s feedback risks eroding the premium experience they’re supposed to deliver. As the airline rolls this out to more aircraft, including across the Swiss fleet, attention to operational details and staffing is as critical as seat design.

image: Lufthansa