Latest news with #Allegris
Travel Daily News
2 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Lufthansa Group: Winter flight schedule published
Lufthansa Group announced more Allegris connections than ever before: from Munich to New York, Chicago, Miami, Shanghai, Cape Town, Bengaluru and Tokyo. Lufthansa Group's passenger airlines, including Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and Discover Airlines, have published their winter flight schedules for 2025/26. The winter flight schedule begins on October 26, 2025. All destinations can be booked now. 'A stable, punctual, and reliable flight schedule for all Lufthansa Group airlines for the winter, especially for the Christmas holidays, is our top priority. Our employees at the airports will ensure that everything runs smoothly. In addition, with the expansion of the Allegris offering at Lufthansa Airlines, we are bringing a significant upgrade in the premium segment to many core markets,' said Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer Lufthansa Group. Winter flight schedule highlights for Lufthansa For the 2025/2026 winter flight schedule, Lufthansa will offer additional long-haul flights whereby passengers can enjoy the new Allegris cabin in all classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class. Starting October 26, the new aircraft, with state-of-the-art cabin interiors, will fly daily from Munich to New York (John F. Kennedy and New Jersey-Newark), Chicago, Miami, Shanghai, Cape Town and Tokyo. In addition, Bengaluru in India will be served three times a week. This is the largest number of Allegris destinations operating simultaneously since its debut. Passengers already booked with these flights can now look forward to the Allegris seat. Ten A350-900s with the new cabin interior are already flying for Lufthansa in the winter schedule. More than half a million passengers in all classes have now enjoyed the new seats with extremely high satisfaction rates of nearly 100 percent. This year, Lufthansa also plans to introduce Allegris in Frankfurt with the Boeing 787-9 and the retrofitting of its existing fleet, starting with the Boeing 747-8. More news from Lufthansa Due to high demand, flights from Frankfurt to Bydgoszcz (Poland) and from Munich to Oradea (Romania) will continue next winter. These connections were added to the flight schedule in summer 2025. The winter season Airbus A380 destinations from Munich have also been confirmed: A380 enthusiasts can look forward to flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bangkok andDelhi with the A380, which is extremely popular with guests and crew alike. Further news from Lufthansa Group Airlines Austrian Airlines will add Amsterdam as a fourth destination from Innsbruck this winter, in addition to its existing connections to Brussels, Warsaw, and Copenhagen. Austrian Airlines is also expanding its service from Vienna to Bangkok: up to two daily connections are now on the flight schedule. From October 26, 2025, Austrian Airlines will now fly to Linate Airport instead of Malpensa for all flights to Milan. This change was made by taking over the corresponding slots from ITA Airways, which, like Austrian Airlines, has been part of the Lufthansa Group since the beginning of the year. Linate Airport is much closer to Milan, significantly reducing the travel time to the city center for passengers. SWISS is expanding its service to the Polish city of Krakow. In addition, the destinations Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Košice (Slovakia), which were served for the first time last winter, will continue to be served from Zurich. The long-haul destination Washington D.C. (USA) will also continue from Zurich this winter. From Geneva, SWISS is focusing on connections to and from the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia – especially for winter sports travelers planning a vacation in Switzerland. Brussels Airlines is continuing to expand its services from Brussels to Africa. Lomé (Togo), Dakar (Senegal), Conakry (Guinea), Monrovia (Liberia), Accra (Ghana), and Freetown (Sierra Leone) will all receive additional weekly connections. Brussels Airlines is thus strengthening its role as the 'Africa expert' within the Lufthansa Group. Eurowings, Germany's largest leisure airline will connect Berlin with Abu Dhabi with three non-stop flights per week beginning in November 2025. After Dubai and Jeddah, this will be the third long-distance route for the German capital within a short space of time. The Berlin service to the booming metropolis of Dubai will also be expanded: Eurowings will fly to Dubai up to eleven times a week (instead of the previous seven times a week). Eurowings is also providing a real winter highlight in Lower Saxony: With the inaugural flight on November 4, there will be three direct flights a week from Hanover to Dubai. The third new destination will be reached from Baden-Württemberg: Eurowings will connect Stuttgart with Jeddah in Saudi Arabia twice a week going forward. The program to Egypt is also being expanded: In the new winter flight schedule 25/26, Eurowings will be flying to Marsa Alam from Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin. Discover Airlines is adding another highlight to its route network: Starting in winter 2025/26, the holiday airline will fly from Frankfurt to the Seychelles for the first time. Flights to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, are also on the schedule – the only direct connection from Munich to the popular Caribbean vacation destination. Discover Airlines is also adding Alta in Norway to its schedule from Frankfurt for the first time. First Class Lounge in Munich The Lufthansa First Class Lounge in Terminal 2 at Munich Airport is now open again. First Class travelers can enjoy the stylish lounge with its modern design and comfortable ambience on around one thousand square meters. A newly designed gastronomic area with an 'à la carte' restaurant, a front cooking buffet and a newly designed bar offer the highest level of exclusivity. The lounge also offers a variety of amenities such as quiet retreats, elegant washrooms, well-equipped work areas with printers and photocopiers as well as extensive entertainment facilities with TV areas and a large selection of newspapers and magazines. From now on, the lounge will be open daily from 05:00 to 22:00. The reopened lounge rounds off the Lufthansa First Class experience at Munich Airport and is part of a major premium offensive. Among others, First Class guests can also look forward to a renovated First Class check-in area in Munich.
NBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Caviar and privacy: Airlines' business-class wars are here
DALLAS — Armed with dollops of caviar and handfuls of Bang & Olufsen headphones, U.S. airlines are duking it out for international business-class dominance. There are even differences between seats in the same cabin. Next week, American Airlines plans to start flying its upgraded business-class 'suites' that feature today's premium-class must-have — a sliding door — and other features like a 'trinket tray' and a wireless charging pad. Within the cabins on its subset of Boeing Dreamliners, which American is calling the 787-9P (the P stands for premium), there will be eight 'Preferred' suites that the airline says will have 42% more 'living area.' They'll be first come, first serve with no upcharge, at least for now. United Airlines is hoping to outdo its rivals by putting doors on its Polaris long-haul business class seats; creating a new option at the front of the cabin called 'Polaris Studio,' which has an ottoman (for a visitor); and installing 27-inch 4K screens. The studios are 25% larger than regular suites, United says. It hasn't yet said how much more it will charge for the studios over the standard suites. Having an even-higher tier of seats within long-haul top-tier classes has been catching on. Virgin Atlantic has the 'Retreat Suite' at the front of Upper Class on its Airbus A330s and Lufthansa is offering a two-person suite in its new Allegris first class that can be converted into a double bed. Etihad has a three-room option called 'The Residence' on Airbus A380s, which can cost $20,000 or more for a one-way ticket between New York and Abu Dhabi, though the airline varies how it uses those jets. 'The experience here is a way to give not only our existing customers a wider range of products to pick from,' Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer, told reporters earlier this month. 'We just didn't have something better, and now we do.' American and United took a page from Delta Air Lines, the most profitable U.S. carrier, which already offers suites with sliding doors in its Delta One cabin. The Atlanta-based carrier, in turn, last year opened a dedicated lounge for the highest-tier customers, a move American and United had already made. Betting on business Business-class tickets are costly for many consumers. A ticket aboard American's new suite, leaving Aug. 8 and returning a week later, is going for $5,747 from Philadelphia to London, compared with $867 in standard coach. Getting more customers to pay up for pricier seats is key for an industry with high costs and thin margins. Delta had a 7.6% pretax margin last year, United had 7.3%, while American's was 2.1%, and the broader S&P 500 ′s was 12.8%, according to FactSet data. Airline executives are banking more than ever that consumers will continue to splurge on better travel experiences despite weaker-than-expected demand for lower-priced tickets like domestic coach this year. 'I think it's growing this much because the experience in economy is so bad,' said Robert Mann, who worked at several airlines and is president of aviation consulting firm R.W. Mann & Co. Airlines have been updating their cabins for years and they have become so elaborate that they have slowed down some aircraft deliveries because of supply chain snarls and bottlenecks in regulators' certification. American is using the new suites in a combined, larger business-class for international travel, and getting rid of its first class, for the most part. By many measures, though, including space and amenities, the service is higher end than many 'first class' cabins of the past. 'Really, business [class] is starting to become so similar it was hard to really differentiate, and we want to make sure we offer as many business-class seats as we can,' said Heather Garboden, American's chief customer officer. The name matters. 'A lot of corporations will not permit the purchase of first class, but they will permit business class,' said Mann. Airline executives have been confident about their push to invest billions in the more luxurious cabins, brushing off signs of a possible economic downturn. 'We're at a really uncertain economic time right now and premium demand has remained solid,' Garboden said. Wealthier people 'tend to do OK even in a recession,' Mann noted. The number of premium seats is rising along with the experience. American said by the end of the decade it will increase its lie-flat seats and premium economy seating by 50%. The airline also recently said it will offer free satellite Wi-Fi to its loyalty program members, following Delta and United. United is also growing its cabin with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners outfitted with eight 'Polaris Studios,' in a 1-2-1 configuration and 56 Polaris business class suites. Currently, the planes only have 48 Polaris seats. It expects to have 30 Dreamliners with the new interior by 2027 but a first flight, between United's San Francisco hub and Singapore, is set for early 2026, the airline said earlier this month. Softer touches The carriers are also trying to raise the bar on the so-called 'soft product' like plush bedding and comforts like noise-cancelling headphones. American announced last month that it won't collect its Bang & Olufsen headphones from Flagship travelers before landing so they can keep watching movies and other entertainment longer. 'Polaris food and beverage offerings are being upgraded at the same time with enhanced meal choices on all new dishware, glassware and fresh white linens,' United's Nocella said. 'We've even added red pepper flakes in addition to salt and pepper so passengers can spice up their meals.' While the top-tier business class is offering higher tech and more high-touch service, the carriers don't have the over-the-top amenities of international airlines. United is planning an amuse bouche of Ossetra caviar for Polaris. Meanwhile, in first class in Emirates , which has larger aircraft with the Airbus A380, travelers have access to showers on board and 'unlimited' caviar service. For some, good service is simpler. 'I could be sitting up front or I can be sitting in the back but if the plane's late, the plane's late,' Mann said.
CNBC
5 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Caviar and privacy: Airlines' business-class wars are here
DALLAS — Armed with dollops of caviar and handfuls of Bang & Olufsen headphones, U.S. airlines are duking it out for international business-class dominance. There are even differences between seats in the same cabin. Next week, American Airlines plans to start flying its upgraded business-class "suites" that feature today's premium-class must-have — a sliding door — and other features like a "trinket tray" and a wireless charging pad. Within the cabins on its subset of Boeing Dreamliners, which American is calling the 787-9P (the P stands for premium), there will be eight "Preferred" suites that the airline says will have 42% more "living area." They'll be first come, first serve with no upcharge, at least for now. United Airlines is hoping to outdo its rivals by putting doors on its Polaris long-haul business class seats; creating a new option at the front of the cabin called "Polaris Studio," which has an ottoman (for a visitor); and installing 27-inch 4K screens. The studios are 25% larger than regular suites, United says. It hasn't yet said how much more it will charge for the studios over the standard suites. Having an even-higher tier of seats within long-haul top-tier classes has been catching on. Virgin Atlantic has the "Retreat Suite" at the front of Upper Class on its Airbus A330s and Lufthansa is offering a two-person suite in its new Allegris first class that can be converted into a double bed. Etihad has a three-room option called "The Residence" on Airbus A380s, which can cost $20,000 or more for a one-way ticket between New York and Abu Dhabi, though the airline varies how it uses those jets. "The experience here is a way to give not only our existing customers a wider range of products to pick from," Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer, told reporters earlier this month. "We just didn't have something better, and now we do." American and United took a page from Delta Air Lines, the most profitable U.S. carrier, which already offers suites with sliding doors in its Delta One cabin. The Atlanta-based carrier, in turn, last year opened a dedicated lounge for the highest-tier customers, a move American and United had already made. Business-class tickets are costly for many consumers. A ticket aboard American's new suite, leaving Aug. 8 and returning a week later, is going for $5,747 from Philadelphia to London, compared with $867 in standard coach. Getting more customers to pay up for pricier seats is key for an industry with high costs and thin margins. Delta had a 7.6% pretax margin last year, United had 7.3%, while American's was 2.1%, and the broader S&P 500's was 12.8%, according to FactSet data. Airline executives are banking more than ever that consumers will continue to splurge on better travel experiences despite weaker-than-expected demand for lower-priced tickets like domestic coach this year. "I think it's growing this much because the experience in economy is so bad," said Robert Mann, who worked at several airlines and is president of aviation consulting firm R.W. Mann & Co. Airlines have been updating their cabins for years and they have become so elaborate that they have slowed down some aircraft deliveries because of supply chain snarls and bottlenecks in regulators' certification. American is using the new suites in a combined, larger business-class for international travel, and getting rid of its first class, for the most part. By many measures, though, including space and amenities, the service is higher end than many "first class" cabins of the past. "Really, business [class] is starting to become so similar it was hard to really differentiate, and we want to make sure we offer as many business-class seats as we can," said Heather Garboden, American's chief customer officer. The name matters. "A lot of corporations will not permit the purchase of first class, but they will permit business class," said Mann. Airline executives have been confident about their push to invest billions in the more luxurious cabins, brushing off signs of a possible economic downturn. "We're at a really uncertain economic time right now and premium demand has remained solid," Garboden said. Wealthier people "tend to do OK even in a recession," Mann noted. The number of premium seats is rising along with the experience. American said by the end of the decade it will increase its lie-flat seats and premium economy seating by 50%. The airline also recently said it will offer free satellite Wi-Fi to its loyalty program members, following Delta and United. United is also growing its cabin with its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners outfitted with eight "Polaris Studios," in a 1-2-1 configuration and 56 Polaris business class suites. Currently, the planes only have 48 Polaris seats. It expects to have 30 Dreamliners with the new interior by 2027 but a first flight, between United's San Francisco hub and Singapore, is set for early 2026, the airline said earlier this month. The carriers are also trying to raise the bar on the so-called "soft product" like plush bedding and comforts like noise-cancelling headphones. American announced last month that it won't collect its Bang & Olufsen headphones from Flagship travelers before landing so they can keep watching movies and other entertainment longer. "Polaris food and beverage offerings are being upgraded at the same time with enhanced meal choices on all new dishware, glassware and fresh white linens," United's Nocella said. "We've even added red pepper flakes in addition to salt and pepper so passengers can spice up their meals." While the top-tier business class is offering higher tech and more high-touch service, the carriers don't have the over-the-top amenities of international airlines. United is planning an amuse bouche of Ossetra caviar for Polaris. Meanwhile, in first class in Emirates , which has larger aircraft with the Airbus A380, travelers have access to showers on board and "unlimited" caviar service. For some, good service is simpler. "I could be sitting up front or I can be sitting in the back but if the plane's late, the plane's late," Mann said.
NDTV
26-04-2025
- NDTV
Best Of Luxury Air Travel: 10 Business Class Suites Worth The Splurge
There is something magical about flying. The thrill of taking off, the endless views from 35,000 feet and the excitement of going somewhere new. But when you are flying in a business class suite, the journey becomes just as memorable as the destination. It is not just about reclining seats anymore- think private doors, lie-flat beds, fine dining and even onboard lounges. Flying business class these days is like checking into a five-star hotel in the sky. If you are ready to travel in style (or just love dreaming about it), here are the top 10 business-class suites that offer luxe flying experience: 1. Qatar Airways Qatar Airways offers sliding doors, double beds (yes, really), and even the option to create a four-person suite for group travel. Stylish and spacious interiors combined with ambient lighting creates a calm enviornment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) 2. Emirates With sleek leather seats, an onboard bar and massive screens, flying Emirates is like stepping into a flying lounge. The cabin feels open and elegant, perfect for long hauls. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emirates (@emirates) 3. Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines blends comfort with class. Their seats are wide, the bedding is plush, and their service is top-tier. It is the kind of calm you want in the sky. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Singapore Airlines (@singaporeair) 4. ANA 'The Room' True to its name, "The Room" is more spacious than some first-class seats. It's minimal, modern and feels more like a cosy studio than an airplane cabin. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The MileLion (@themilelion) 5. Etihad Etihad brings a touch of glam with its business suites. There is loads of space, designer touches and a dine-on-demand menu that makes every meal special. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Etihad Airways (@etihad) 6. Air France Chic, French, and very comfortable. Air France's business class suites come with sliding doors and gorgeous interiors. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Air France (@airfrance) 7. Turkish Airlines Turkish Airlines knows how to make you feel welcome. Their business class is stylish with large screens and cosy seats. The food? Always a winner. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Turkish Airlines (@turkishairlines) 8. British Airways British Airways gives travelers privacy with a sliding door and a much-needed design upgrade. It is a solid pick for flying to and from the UK. View this post on Instagram A post shared by British Airways (@british_airways) 9. Virgin Atlantic Trendy and cool, Virgin Atlantic's business suite is bold and different. There is a social space onboard and mood lighting that feels like a boutique hotel. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jack's Dining Room (@jacksdiningroom) 10. Lufthansa Allegris Lufthansa's new Allegris suites are sleek and modern, with private doors, wireless charging and comfy bedding. A great step up for the German airline. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lufthansa (@lufthansa) So the next time you are travelling, skip the ordinary and treat yourself to some sky-high luxury with these airlines.
USA Today
22-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Look inside: From first class to economy, what to expect from Lufthansa's new cabins
Look inside: From first class to economy, what to expect from Lufthansa's new cabins Show Caption Hide Caption Flying etiquette tips: Simple rules for a stress-free air travel experience Master flying etiquette: Key tips for smooth and respectful air travel. Lufthansa's new cabin concept, Allegris, is now available on flights from Munich to several U.S. cities. Allegris features redesigned seats in all classes, from first class suites to economy. First class suites offer double beds, individual climate control, and increased privacy. MUNICH ― Lufthansa's new cabin concept, which the airline branded Allegris, is officially flying to the U.S. now, with destinations from Munich including Chicago, Newark/New York, San Diego and San Francisco. Allegris flights to Charlotte are planned to begin this summer. On planes with Allegris, the seats from first class to economy are all new. According to the airline, first class Allegris suites are only available on Chicago, San Diego and San Francisco markets currently. USA TODAY had an opportunity to preview an Allegris-equipped A350 in Munich in March. Whether you're traveling in the front of the plane or at the very back, here's what you can expect from Lufthansa's Allegris. Allegris first class First class is where Lufthansa's new Allegris concept is really the most differentiated – and where the airline had the most difficulty getting everything approved. Lufthansa brought many innovations to its Allegris suites, which for now are only flying on a few Airbus A350s. Each plane has three suites, with the two along the windows accommodating one passenger each, and the center suite accommodating up to two passengers. The sofa in the center suite folds out into a divider-free double bed for couples traveling together. Some of the other innovations include seat heating and ventilation, like in a car, and a huge amount of storage. It goes almost without saying that both the seats and the bed seem extremely comfortable. According to airline officials, two of the biggest hurdles with getting the suites approved by regulators were their high walls, which the A350 was not initially designed to accommodate, and touch-screen seat controls that are operated through the same tablet as the inflight entertainment system. Allegris business class Every seat in Lufthansa's new business class has aisle access, and there are five different configurations that airline executives say will allow passengers to choose their preferred layout. Each plane has four single suites and four side-by-side suites, two of each at the front of each business class cabin. The business class suites feature extra storage and a larger footwell. Other seat layouts include single central 'throne' seats for added privacy, seats right against the windows, and standard seats with extra space. The inflight service in business class is also elevated, with a pre-departure beverage service, attentive crews and a hearty menu. The seats are also controlled by tablets and feature heating and ventilation. While Lufthansa's executives say they're excited for customers to be able to pick which seat makes the most sense for them on each trip, it may be confusing for casual leisure travelers to know what the right choice is. USA TODAY's reporter overheard one passenger confused about how his seat storage layout differed on his flight returning from Munich, compared to what was available at his seat on the flight to Munich. Allegris premium economy Lufthansa's new premium economy seats feature headrests with privacy wings and most of the other standard premium economy features: increased legroom, a foot and leg rest, noise canceling headphones and other premium amenities. Premium economy on long-haul airlines is becoming more and more standardized across the industry, but the privacy wings are a new feature that earlier adopters of the class may not have yet rolled out. Allegris economy Lufthansa's new Allegris economy seats include a large, high-definition seatback screen with Bluetooth connectivity. Rows are arranged with 31 inches of pitch. While there's not a huge amount of difference between economy seats on most airlines, Lufthansa passengers will benefit from the latest ergonomics and other small touches to make the seat more comfortable and space efficient. The reporter on this story received access to this event from Lufthansa. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
