Lufthansa First Class is one of the more difficult airline products to book using points. Unlike many programs, Lufthansa typically does not release First Class award space to partners like Aeroplan until just a few days before departure.
On a recent trip home from Crete, I managed to secure four Lufthansa First Class seats on the Airbus A380 from Munich to Boston using Aeroplan points, turning a routine return flight into a memorable experience.
How I Booked Lufthansa First Class with Aeroplan
Lufthansa often releases last-minute first-class availability to its partners just days before a flight. Through extensive research and tracking historical seat releases, I noticed that Lufthansa consistently offers between two and four seats on the Munich-Boston route. The added bonus? This route is serviced by the impressive double-decker Airbus A380!
If you’re new to the Aeroplan program, I recommend reading our beginner’s guide to redeeming Aeroplan points before trying to book a complex redemption like this.
I decided to rearrange our travel plans and initially booked four business class seats on the LH424 Munich-Boston route, holding out hope for an upgrade. To my delight, just two days before our flight, four first-class seats became available, allowing us to elevate our family experience. With a flight time of over 8 hours, LH424 provided ample opportunity to enjoy all that Lufthansa has to offer.
Our Travel Journey
Our journey began in Crete, where we traveled from Heraklion to Athens, then to Munich, and finally to Boston before heading to Toronto. The first leg from Heraklion to Athens was operated by Aegean Airlines, followed by Lufthansa from Athens to Munich and then from Munich to Boston. Our final leg was in business class with Air Canada.
Upon arrival in Munich, we were assigned a remote gate. As we descended the stairs to the tarmac, a representative greeted us, holding a sign with our family name. We were quickly whisked away in a private van to an elevator leading to the first-class lounge. This seamless service was a pleasant surprise, especially since our incoming flight was on a different ticket than our departure flight.
Lufthansa First Class Lounge Munich
After spending the previous night at Athens Airport due to a late arrival and early departure, the lounge was a welcome sight. It was peaceful, with only one other guest occupying a sleeping room. We promptly reserved another sleeping room and indulged in some much-needed rest.
The lounge was spacious and luxurious, featuring a restaurant for dining and a buffet. We spent around eight hours enjoying the amenities, including delicious food, snacks, and coffee.
While the food in the lounge restaurant was decent, it wasn’t particularly remarkable. We savored various versions of schnitzel as we enjoyed our last moments in the Lufthansa Munich First Class lounge.
As we departed, the lounge attendant kindly provided us with rubber duckies for the kids. A standout feature was the EU border guard station just outside the lounge, offering clearance services for first-class passengers. This saved us considerable time, as we simply handed our passports to the lounge attendant and collected them from the border guard on our way out.
Boarding, Meeting the Pilot and the First-Class Cabin Experience
After our time in the lounge, we made our way to the connecting gate for our flight to the U.S. We had to clear U.S. security checks, and my wife faced the dreaded additional SSSS screening. For some reason, I was required to accompany her while our children proceeded directly to the boarding area. The security process took longer than expected, but we made it to the plane just in time, though we experienced a considerable delay while waiting for connecting passengers.
Once onboard, we were warmly welcomed by the flight crew. Unfortunately, the seat I had preselected was non-functional, but I was promptly moved to another available first-class seat. The cabin featured only eight seats—four occupied by my family and two by other passengers. While the Lufthansa first-class cabin on the A380 lacked overhead storage, it offered individual lockers for personal items, creating a more open atmosphere.
At our seats awaited amenity kits—one version for adults and unique kits for the children. Although the kids’ kits were appealing, my teenagers found them less useful at their age.
We were offered pre-departure drinks, and the pilot came into the first-class cabin to personally introduce himself, inviting us to ask any questions. This personal touch reassured us about entrusting our journey to him.
Food and Service
After takeoff, we were served nuts and offered size-specific pajamas and slippers. The purser came by to introduce himself personally, adding to the warm atmosphere. The pajamas and slippers were incredibly comfortable; my daughter still wears hers at home!
Shortly after, we enjoyed more drinks and a delightful serving of caviar—a treat I truly savored. The food served during the flight was excellent, with attentive and friendly cabin crew. My wife chose fish, while I opted for beef; both dishes were beautifully presented and thoroughly enjoyed by our entire family.
I took advantage of the bed service and managed to sleep for a good portion of the remaining flight. The spacious washroom intrigued me, especially the urinal—a unique touch for first class!
After some much-needed sleep, we were soon preparing for landing. Unfortunately, my son was disappointed to have missed the burger available on the snack menu while he was asleep.
Is Lufthansa First Class Worth It?
Upon landing in Boston, we enjoyed smooth travel until we reached immigration, where we faced a two-hour wait. This delay caused us to miss our connecting flight. By the time we cleared immigration, there were no Air Canada staff available to assist us. We ended up booking a hotel for the night, and I contacted Aeroplan to arrange a flight for the following morning. Lufthansa eventually covered the cost of the hotel, but it was a bit of a battle.
Overall, this trip was filled with unforgettable experiences, showcasing both the challenges and rewards of using travel points. The flight was exceptional, with spectacular service and excellent food. I can’t wait to experience Lufthansa First Class again in the near future!
If you’re considering a first-class journey with Lufthansa, I highly recommend it.
