The Allegris cabin has been flying for about a year and a half, and for roughly a year now, it has also featured a First Class. In just a few weeks, the first Swiss Senses long-haul flight to Boston will take off, and Miles&More seems to be using the occasion to make award bookings in the Allegris and Senses First Class possible, as long as you’re a Senator or HON Circle member.
Back in January, we had the chance to test the Allegris First Window and Double Suite thanks to an upgrade. An experience that has so far been out of reach for most travellers. Until now, neither upgrades nor mileage bookings were allowed in the Allegris First. With the introduction of the nearly identical Swiss Senses cabin, that exclusivity seems to be over. At least according to the Miles&More press office:
We can confirm that both mileage upgrades or ‘Cash & Miles’ upgrades from Business Class to First Class, as well as general award flights, are possible in Lufthansa’s Allegris First Class and SWISS’s Senses First Class. The mileage required for upgrades can be found in the fixed Upgrade Award Chart.
Miles&More Press Office
Award flights in First Class
However, as our colleagues at Reisetopia have already noted, Allegris First flights currently don’t seem to be available for mileage bookings. The situation looks different for Swiss Senses First Class. During a test booking via the Senator hotline, availability could actually be found, despite the much smaller route network currently operated by Swiss Senses.
Unfortunately, only Senator and HON Circle members can book Swiss First Class, and therefore also Swiss Senses First Class. That means that, for now, regular Miles&More members still have no access to the Lufthansa Group’s newest First Class product.
Swiss First Class (whether Senses or regular) can only be booked via the hotline! To estimate mileage costs, it’s best to check routes that Lufthansa also serves with a First Class cabin. While surcharges may differ slightly, the mileage amount is the same.
Upgrades to Senses and Allegris First
In addition to award bookings, it has also been announced that upgrades from Business Class to Senses or Allegris First Class will be possible in the future, using miles or “Cash & Miles.” Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to verify this yet, but the standard upgrade rates based on booking class are expected to apply:
From Business Class booking classes P, Z:
- Middle East, Caucasus, North & Central Africa: 55,000 miles
- South Africa, North America, India: 70,000 miles
- Central America, Caribbean, South America: 75,000 miles
- Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Far East: 85,000 miles
- New Zealand: 95,000 miles
From Business Class booking classes C, D, J:
- Middle East, Caucasus, North & Central Africa: 35,000 miles
- South Africa, North America, India: 50,000 miles
- Central America, Caribbean, South America: 55,000 miles
- Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Far East: 65,000 miles
- New Zealand: 75,000 miles
Given that most travellers will already have paid several thousand euros for their Business Class ticket, the value of such upgrades remains rather questionable.
Conclusion
While the announcement initially sounds promising, reality doesn’t quite match up. At least Senator and HON Circle members can now book the Senses First Class using miles. Everyone else will have to hope that their upgrade waitlist clears, which on Swiss often only happens at the gate. As a result, passengers miss out on most of the ground-based First Class experience.
Translated by Ditmar