The Complete Guide to Lufthansa First Class

Lufthansa First Class is among the world’s leading premium cabin experiences. Since June 1, 2026, Lufthansa hasn’t released any First Class award seats to partner programs such as Aeroplan, so its own Miles & More program is now the only way to book it with miles.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about booking Lufthansa First Class with miles, including the routes, what Miles & More charges, and how to get there from Canada.

Let’s begin with a closer look of the prize on offer…

The Lufthansa First Class Experience

In Lufthansa’s First Class cabin, you’ll get your own suite with a considerable degree of privacy, a 17” in-flight entertainment monitor, a dazzling selection of expensive wines and spirits, a consistently excellent onboard gastronomic experience including caviar, and one of the most comfortable beds in the sky.

In addition, if you are departing or connecting in Frankfurt Airport, you have the opportunity to make use of the standalone Lufthansa First Class Terminal, where you can enjoy a relaxing bath with champagne on ice, a restaurant-quality dine-on-demand menu, and a well-stocked bar.

Furthermore, you’ll be personally driven to your departing flight in either a Porsche or a Mercedes-Benz, casting aside the usual grievances associated with air travel.

The First Class Terminal is part-and-parcel of the overall Lufthansa First Class experience, arguably surpassing even the onboard experience in terms of its sheer opulence. Be sure to leave at least a few hours’ time to enjoy it fully. 

If your journey begins or passes through Zurich, Switzerland on the same day as your flight, you can also visit the world-class Swiss First Lounge, where you’ll get to nap in your very own in-lounge hotel room before digging into world-class food and drink.

Which Routes Offer Lufthansa First Class?

The first step to booking any sort of aspirational travel is to figure out your routing.

Lufthansa First Class is offered on four aircraft types across two hubs. The newest, the Allegris cabin on the A350-900, has only three First Class suites and couldn’t be booked with miles as of February 2026. The other three, the 747-8, the A380, and the A340-600, have the classic First Class cabin.

Frankfurt – Boeing 747-8

The Boeing 747-8 remains the primary aircraft for Lufthansa First Class, operating out of Frankfurt to the following destinations:

• North America: Newark, Washington Dulles, Chicago, Miami, Houston (seasonal), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Mexico City
• South America: São Paulo and Buenos Aires
• Africa: Johannesburg
• Asia: Tokyo Haneda

The Airbus A340-600 also operates a handful of First Class routes from Frankfurt, including New York JFK and Boston. However, the A340-600 is retiring in October 2026, after which these routes will transition to other aircraft.

Munich – Airbus A380 & A350 Allegris

Munich has expanded significantly as a Lufthansa First Class hub, with two aircraft types:

Airbus A380 (eight First Class seats): Bangkok, Delhi, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Summer 2026 additions include Boston, Denver, Mumbai, and Washington Dulles.

Airbus A350-900 Allegris (three First Class suites, not bookable with partner programs): Bangalore, Cape Town, Chicago, Miami, New York JFK, Newark, Shanghai, and Tokyo Haneda.

The trend going forward is that more routes will shift to the Allegris A350, so fewer flights will have the classic First Class cabin.

How Many Points Does Lufthansa First Class Cost?

How many miles does Lufthansa First Class take? Since June 2026, the answer depends on a single program: Lufthansa’s own Miles & More.

Miles & More

Miles & More has no set price for Lufthansa First. An award on Lufthansa costs whatever Miles & More’s website shows at the time, and the miles depend on the route, the cabin, the fare, and how far ahead you book.

The prices are steep. One example from June 2026 was about 179,000 miles plus $1,529 (USD) in taxes and fees from Chicago to Frankfurt. The taxes, fees, and surcharges go on a credit card, since miles can’t pay them.

Earning Miles & More miles from Canada is the hard part. No credit card program transfers points to Miles & More, and Marriott Bonvoy points don’t convert to it either. You’ll earn mostly by flying Lufthansa and Miles & More’s other partner airlines, and through its hotel, car rental, and shopping partners.

Aeroplan and Other Partner Programs

Aeroplan was the program of choice for most Canadians, with Avianca LifeMiles and Asiana Club close behind. Since June 1, 2026, none of them has seen a Lufthansa First Class award seat, and neither has United MileagePlus.

If Lufthansa releases seats to partners again, Aeroplan’s chart prices a one-way flight in First between North America and Europe at 90,000 points up to 4,000 miles, and 120,000 points from 4,001 to 6,000 miles.

Lufthansa First Class Award Availability: 15 Days Before Departure

Airlines know that many people would love to fly First Class, and even more people would relish the opportunity to do so at little cost by redeeming their points. Therefore, they typically implement policies to make it very challenging to actually book First Class seats.

For years, Lufthansa held back First Class award seats from partner programs until about 15 days before departure. In the months before June 2026, partners saw seats only about one to three days out, and since June 1, 2026, they haven’t seen any.

Miles & More members can book Lufthansa First as soon as the schedule opens, up to 361 days before departure, though Lufthansa still limits how many seats it sells for miles.

Remember, flexibility is key. While availability may be tough to come by, if you can pick between flying on different dates and/or different airports, that vastly increases your chance of successfully locating an open award seat (or multiple seats) and putting your name on it.

Logistics of Booking Lufthansa First Class

Let’s wrap up by talking about a few of the finer logistics when it comes to securing your Lufthansa First Class booking.

Lufthansa doesn’t fly First Class to Canada, so you’ll need to position to one of its US gateways, such as New York JFK, Newark, Chicago, or San Francisco.

From there, you’ll book the Lufthansa flight with Miles & More miles or pay cash, and book your flight to the gateway separately.

Lastly, if you’d like to optimize your Lufthansa First Class itinerary, I’d recommend booking a westbound transatlantic flight rather than an eastbound one (i.e., from Europe to North America, rather than from North America to Europe).

That’s because eastbound flights tend to be overnight, which can limit your enjoyment of the overall experience. Even if you’re intent on staying up throughout the whole flight, the fully dark cabin may make that challenging.

On the other hand, westbound flights take place during the daytime, allowing you to easily indulge through the meal services, sip on champagne over the clouds, and get some light rest while maximizing your enjoyment. 

Plus, be sure to leave yourself enough time to experience the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, which opens at 6am. This means that you might opt for a route with as late of a departure time as possible, so that you have ample time to indulge in the First Class Terminal before your flight. 

Conclusion

When I first made the effort to fly Lufthansa First Class, I spent a good chunk of time studying everything about it prior to booking my flight. I can say with certainty that it was 100% worth the effort.

Since June 2026, Lufthansa has kept its First Class award seats for its own Miles & More members, and they come at a steep price in miles and surcharges.

That makes Lufthansa First Class harder to plan than it used to be, but if you can earn Miles & More miles or are willing to pay cash, you too can experience the glory of Lufthansa First Class and the First Class Terminal in Frankfurt for yourself.