Review of the Middle Suite in Lufthansa’s Allegris FIRST CLASS from New York (JFK) to Munich

After taking you along on my outbound flight in Lufthansa’s Allegris First Class from Munich to New York (JFK) in the window suite, I would now like to share my experience with the Allegris First Class Suite Plus, the new middle suite, which I tried on my return flight from New York to Munich.

I’ll also cover the Lufthansa Lounge at New York JFK with a separate First Class section and the additional amenities of a First Class journey from New York to Munich. You can find information about booking this trip as a miles ticket under the Flex Plus fare in the linked outbound flight review.

Flight Details

These are the flight details:

• Flight: LH 411 New York JFK – Munich MUC
• Seat: 1E
• Aircraft: D-AIXX (delivered in November 2024)
• Scheduled Departure: 17:30
• Scheduled Arrival: 7:00
• Block Time: 7h 30min
• Travel Date: January 20, 2025

Check-in

Check-in in New York went smoothly. Two check-in counters were available for First Class passengers, HON Circle Members, Senators, and Star Alliance Gold Status holders. Two hours before departure, no other passengers were using these counters, so I was able to print my boarding pass immediately and proceed to security.

At New York JFK Terminal 1, there’s no traditional Fast Lane. While there is a separate line for passport control just before security, without TSA Precheck, you must join the regular line for the security check afterwards.

I found the security process at Terminal 1 chaotic and cramped. Hopefully, this will improve when the Lufthansa Group airlines move to the new Terminal 6 in 2026. The entire procedure took about 20 minutes, with short queues at passport control for both the priority and regular lanes, though I’ve seen it much busier.

Lounge in New York

Immediately after the security checkpoint, the Lufthansa Lounge is located on the left side. It consists of three different areas and floors. On the lowest level is the Business Class Lounge, which has the largest space among the three sections. This makes sense given the potentially high number of eligible travellers, including business class passengers on Star Alliance flights and Frequent Travelers.

One level above is the Senator Lounge, which I was already familiar with from a previous visit. This lounge even features a bar and, like the other two levels, offers an impressive view of the tarmac. Although it may not appear so in the picture, the Lufthansa Group operates up to eight daily flights from New York JFK. Additionally, there are nine other Star Alliance partners that direct their guests either to the Lufthansa or Turkish Airlines Lounge near Gate 3. Starting March 2, 2025, ITA will likely be added as well. During peak times, these two lounge areas can get very crowded.

The situation is different in the First Class area on the top floor. Thanks to a 30-minute boarding delay and the friendly Lufthansa staff at John F. Kennedy Airport, who brought my upgraded ticket to the lounge, I had the chance to visit the area again before departure. Like the Senator Lounge, it is accessible via stairs or an elevator. However, access to the First Class section is accompanied and requires a special code in the elevator.

The entire First Class area is set up in a restaurant-style layout and was completely empty and fully set during my visit. Guests can either help themselves at a small buffet offering snacks, pralines, and other finger foods or order warm à la carte dishes. Unfortunately, due to the limited time I had in the lounge, I couldn’t try the à la carte option but did take the opportunity to look at the menu.

Given the late hour, the lounge staff offered me soup, which could be quickly heated. However, considering my experience from the previous day regarding the abundance of food onboard, I politely declined. Instead, I settled for a glass of champagne, a few Neuhaus pralines from the buffet, and a small bottle of water.

The Lufthansa First Class area is divided into two sections, separated by the kitchen. In the front section, there are four tables and a display of various alcoholic beverages, including wine, champagne, whiskey, gin, and other spirits. Guests do not need to serve themselves; drinks are served upon request. This section felt somewhat darker and less inviting, so I quickly decided to settle in the larger rear area.

The “buffet” doesn’t quite compare to those in other First Class lounges. However, I don’t mind this as it helps reduce food waste. Without a direct and current comparison, I suspect that most of the same dishes can also be found in the lower levels of the lounge.

Boarding

Boarding began directly from the lounge in this case. While there is no direct boarding from the lounge to the aircraft, First-Class passengers are picked up from the lounge and escorted to the plane. My hand luggage was even taken from me, allowing me to walk to the gate unburdened. Upon arrival at the gate, I was taken past the line directly onto the aircraft.

At the aircraft door, the friendly young man from the First Class & HON service bid me farewell and wished me a pleasant experience in Allegris. Onboard, the same crew from the outbound flight was already waiting for me with a glass of champagne and the familiar macadamia nuts.

Cabin

The return flight was operated on an Airbus A350-900 with the registration D-AIXX. This aircraft is actually slightly older than the one used on the outbound flight and had been stored in Teruel, Spain, for several months in 2024. While this had no impact on the cabin layout, which was identical to that of the outbound flight, the downtime seemingly affected the onboard technology.

Upon boarding, the electric seat adjustment for seat 1A unfortunately did not work. After consulting with the pilot, I was offered the middle suite, also known as the Suite Plus. Looking forward to experiencing the widest continuous bed in the skies, I gratefully accepted the offer. However, another issue arose during the flight.

The Suite Plus

The Suite Plus (also known as the double suite) has been a hot topic in the frequent flyer community. Due to the cabin width, Lufthansa decided to offer a double suite instead of two narrower single suites. Reserving this seat as a solo traveller can cost up to €2,900. I’ll explain later why I wouldn’t consider it worth the price.

If you’re travelling as a couple, you can save money compared to booking two individual tickets. However, the reservation must be made through a dedicated hotline. I personally see only limited added value here and would likely opt against it if purchasing a cash ticket—but more on that later.

Seat Functions

The Suite Plus does not differ significantly from the window suites when it comes to seat functions. It’s worth mentioning that both seats can be adjusted individually, although the ottoman can only be moved in sync.

However, not every function or feature is available in duplicate. There is only one large lamp, one rose, one wardrobe, and only one monitor—but more on that later. On the positive side, each seat comes with its own tablet, allowing individual seat adjustments similar to the window suites. Each seat also has its own reading lamp and air vent.

Each seat only has an armrest on the outer side. Unfortunately, there is no (foldable) armrest in the middle. Instead, you have to use one of the provided pillows if you want to rest your second arm. You can adjust either your own seat or both seats simultaneously. This means that even when travelling alone, you can comfortably control both seats.

The pre-configured seat positions are the same for both seats and identical to those in the window suites.

Storage & Surfaces

Although the Suite Plus generally offers more storage space, this advantage diminishes when two people are using it. Only the right armrest has a small compartment that includes USB-A and USB-C charging ports as well as a headphone jack. Additionally, there is only one option for hanging headphones or charging devices via a power outlet.

However, the armrest near the door has both a USB-C port and a headphone jack, which can be accessed directly from the outside. This should mitigate the “missing” power outlet in most situations. Still, the lack of a second headphone storage option is more of an issue. There was clearly enough space for a second hook, but it seems to have simply been overlooked.

As mentioned earlier, the ottoman can only be moved as a single unit. However, there are two access flaps, allowing both passengers to reach stored items regardless of whether one person is sleeping. Even though the left opening is smaller than the right one, both can accommodate a standard carry-on suitcase. Nevertheless, with double occupancy, additional space might be required, meaning that extra items would need to be stored in the outer compartment.

A unique feature of the Suite Plus is the small cocktail table that can be folded out from the left armrest. This allows for placing small snacks or drinks, particularly when the suite is occupied by two passengers. On the right side’s surface, there is also a wireless charging pad for charging smartphones wirelessly.

Privacy

The level of privacy is comparable to that of the window suites, though there is a slight difference. The partition wall on the door side of the Suite Plus facing the aisle is 1.90 meters high, just like in the other two suites. However, the wall without a door and facing the right aisle is only 1.80 meters high. While this is sufficient for most situations, I would have preferred consistent wall height to maintain uniform privacy.

The doors, which are only unlocked once the plane is in the air, functioned without any issues. They effectively minimized visibility, limiting any potential view to the two peepholes in the door handles. Thanks to the magnetic strips on both doors and the fabric used, noise is optimally dampened. This ensures not only visual but also acoustic privacy, despite the suite’s spacious design.

Seat Comfort

The seating comfort varies depending on whether the suite is occupied by one or two passengers. With dual occupancy, the adjustable seat width is reduced to 60 cm per seat, providing less room compared to the window suites. Due to this narrower seat width, there is only a three-point seatbelt and no additional sleep belt. The shoulder belt can be detached, similar to the configuration in Business or Premium Economy Class.

Thanks to the mirrored arrangement of the seat belts, a solo traveller can connect the hip belt from the right seat to the buckle of the left seat, creating an almost 120 cm wide seating area.

In dual occupancy, one person must sit on the ottoman during meal service. While this is not a safety issue since the ottoman in the double suite has two belts and sufficient comfort for up to an hour, having a personal table and full seating comfort would be preferable for the second passenger. Fortunately, the table is large enough to dine comfortably with two people.

Each seat in the Suite Plus is equipped with quick-select buttons and a tablet. It is recommended to use the tablet for seat adjustments, as some quick-select buttons may be inaccessible depending on the seat position. Both tablets also control the lighting for the entire suite.

Sleep Comfort

The sleep comfort in the Allegris Suite Plus mirrors the seating experience. Solo travellers benefit from a 1.2-meter-wide bed, making it one of the widest beds available in commercial aviation suites (along with Etihad’s The Residence). However, in dual occupancy, the sleeping surface narrows to 60 cm per seat.

Additionally, the ottoman or foot area on the left seat shrinks to 50 cm due to the wardrobe. While this might be fine for foot space, it underscores why I would avoid booking the middle suite for two passengers. Given the high ticket prices Lufthansa sometimes charges (exceeding €10,000 per ticket per direction), most customers can likely afford to pay the premium for two separate seats and enjoy a significant improvement in space and comfort over the Suite Plus.

I would have liked to test the sleep comfort and large bed area of the Suite Plus. However, during the flight, the right seat in the double suite malfunctioned and could no longer be adjusted. As a result, I had to switch to the window suite 1A for sleeping, where the seat adjustment had since been restored. I slept well there and made effective use of the short rest period, though I could not test the double suite’s sleep comfort, which likely would have been excellent for a solo traveller.

Food & Beverages

Due to time constraints, I had to prioritize differently for meals on this flight compared to the outbound journey. Had I opted for the same extensive meal service as on the Munich-New York flight, there would have been no time left for sleeping.

Dinner

On this flight, I again received two A4-sized menu cards: one for beverages and one for food selections. The meal service began with the familiar macadamia nuts and a welcome glass of champagne.

Next, an amuse-bouche was served, but before I could take a photo, it unfortunately took an involuntary fall when I tried to adjust the table. The cause was a sticking table mechanism, which jerked loose and caused a champagne shower for me. Later, the flight attendant mentioned that this issue had already been documented in the onboard logbook—information that would have been more helpful beforehand.

After this minor mishap, the caviar service followed as expected, along with duck confit as another appetizer. Warm bread options with olive oil were served on the side. I had another glass of champagne and some still water. Unfortunately, even less attention was paid to the caviar presentation compared to the outbound flight. While this didn’t affect the taste, such details are expected in a first-class experience.

There was no soup as a mid-course dish on this flight, which I found appropriate given the flight duration. Instead, one of the five main course options was a stew. I opted for the steak with potato gratin.

The presentation could have been more refined, but the steak was perfectly cooked and tasted delicious. Considering it couldn’t be freshly prepared onboard, there was only a minimal difference compared to a high-quality steak in a restaurant.

The dessert, however, was somewhat underwhelming. It was tasty but not quite up to first-class standards. Even though catering from outstations is often slightly weaker, there was certainly room for improvement here.

To conclude, pralines were served as a bedtime treat before I went to sleep.

Breakfast

Right on time, 1.5 hours before landing, my alarm went off, and breakfast was served. A serving cart was set up, which I found unnecessary given that I was the only passenger. Despite the training from the outbound flight, the sheer variety of offerings was simply too much. However, with a full passenger load, this setup is probably a nice option, allowing guests to customize their breakfast.

Fresh scrambled eggs with bacon were, of course, offered and were definitely the highlight of the breakfast—a unique feature of Lufthansa First Class, to the best of my knowledge. Fresh fruits, muesli, a smoothie, and orange juice were also served.

A selection of bread rolls, bread, and a muffin was provided. These were satisfactory but had room for improvement. Had I shared the suite with another person, there wouldn’t have been enough space to eat breakfast simultaneously without reducing the number of items served.

Overall, I found the food slightly better than on the outbound flight, mainly due to the steak and the breakfast, which impressed me except for the bread and roll options. Some improvements could still be made in the presentation and taste of the other courses. By the end of the flight, I was fully satisfied and didn’t feel the slightest need to eat anything more during my time in the Lufthansa First Class Lounge at the Satellite Terminal.

Beverages

The beverage menu for the return flight to Munich was identical to that of the outbound flight, so the previously mentioned critiques also apply, such as the absence of cocktails and relatively inexpensive beverage options for First Class. The only notable difference was the smoothie served at breakfast, which tasted mediocre and was rather sweet. As a result, I stuck to orange juice and cappuccino.

Service

Due to my short stay in New York of just over 24 hours, I was fortunate to fly back to Munich with the same crew from the outbound flight. Since the same two friendly attendants were responsible for me again, the service became even more personal. However, this circumstance is only partially representative and will not apply to most of your flights.

I was well taken care of throughout the flight and had some interesting conversations with the flight attendants. After the mishap with the table and spilt champagne, the responsible attendant immediately assisted me, providing a blanket to cover the damp seat surface. It would have been helpful if I had been informed about the issue with the table in advance to avoid this incident altogether.

During the meal service, I was asked at least every five minutes whether I wanted a refill or needed anything else. Only the previously mentioned lack of precision in food presentation could be noted here. Overall, it was evident that routines had improved significantly compared to the initial Allegris Business Class flights, and the crew was well acquainted with the available equipment, as demonstrated by the steak’s perfect doneness.

In-Flight Entertainment

The in-flight entertainment system in the Suite Plus, including the menu, is essentially identical to that of the window suites, except that there are two tablets for control. However, the double suite only has a single 45-inch 4K monitor, which passengers must share. As a result, in a double occupancy scenario, you need to coordinate with your companion on which movie to watch or have one person watch on the tablet.

This limitation is inherent to the Suite Plus concept—having two monitors would likely look odd. The shared screen creates a living room-like atmosphere, but this is disrupted by the need for both passengers to wear individual noise-cancelling headphones to hear anything. There isn’t even a dedicated storage or hanging option for the second pair of headphones. A speaker system like the new JAL First Class would make more sense here.

Additionally, there’s the issue that if you want to view the camera in full screen, you must use the touchscreen of the large monitor since it can’t be projected from the tablet. While you could use your smartphone as a remote control, this is cumbersome and frustrating, as you must reconnect the phone after every screen-off cycle. An upgrade similar to an Apple TV remote would be welcome.

Extras

Unfortunately, the flight from New York to Munich did not include one of Lufthansa’s beautiful limited-edition Worldshop amenity kits. Instead, there was a Porsche Design toiletry bag with some amenities, though not as comprehensive as the kit on the outbound flight. At least two Augustinus Bader creams were included, but the outbound kit had three Doctor Babor amenities in total.

Slippers, pyjamas, socks, an eye mask, earplugs, a comb, a shoehorn, and a toothbrush with toothpaste and dental brush were also provided. Overall, it was solid but definitely had room for improvement as a First Class amenity kit. Upon arrival in Munich, there was no HON/First Class assistance. However, the 50-meter walk to the First Class Lounge was fine, and I cleared immigration within seconds. They kindly rebooked me on a later connecting flight so I could enjoy more time in the lounge.

Conclusion

The main parameters—privacy, seat comfort, and service—were excellent, just as in the window suite (disregarding technical issues). The food was also convincing, but my issue with the Suite Plus lies more with the concept itself. While I don’t have an alternative solution to the space problem, I find the double suite too small for double occupancy compared to the window suites. There will likely be some customers (probably lovey-dovey couples) who will enjoy booking the Suite Plus, but personally, I would prefer two individual suites if purchasing a ticket.

There is still potential for improvement in food and beverage quality, presentation, and the amenity kit. The latter and the drink selection would be the easiest to implement and would already have a significant impact.