Lufthansa First Class is widely considered one of the finest commercial flying experiences on earth. The private suite. The nose-down flatbed. The Dom Pérignon poured before pushback. The Frankfurt First Class Terminal—a separate building where you're escorted by a Porsche or Mercedes to the aircraft.
Cash price for a round-trip US–Europe Lufthansa First? Typically $8,000–$15,000. With the right points strategy, you can book the same seat for $50–$150 in taxes.
Here's exactly how to do it.
Why Lufthansa First Class Is Notoriously Hard to Book on Points
Lufthansa is a Star Alliance member, but the airline fiercely restricts how partner frequent flyer programs can access its first-class awards. For most of the year, Lufthansa only releases first-class award space to its own program (Miles & More)—and even then, only 15 days before departure.
That's the catch. You generally need to book close-in, which requires flexibility.
However, there are three partner programs where award space does open up:
- Air Canada Aeroplan — Best pricing, opens close-in
- ANA Mileage Club — Great pricing, slightly more availability
- United MileagePlus — Historically had access; pricing has become less favorable but still possible
The Three Best Programs to Book Lufthansa First Class
1. Air Canada Aeroplan (Best Overall)
Aeroplan is the #1 recommendation for booking Lufthansa First Class today.
Pricing (one-way):
- North America to Europe: 75,000–80,000 Aeroplan points
- With a stopover: 75,000 points for first leg + 12,500 each way for the return
Cash price equivalent: $4,500–$7,500 one-way
Value per point: ~5–8 cents (typical redemption rate is 1–1.5 cents)
Transfer partners for Aeroplan:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards → Aeroplan (1:1)
- American Express Membership Rewards → Aeroplan (1:1)
- Capital One Miles → Aeroplan (1:1)
- TD, Marriott Bonvoy (at reduced rate)
One round trip for two people (business class level):
- 2 × 75,000 = 150,000 points each way
- Total: ~300,000 Aeroplan points
- Achievable with 3–4 credit card welcome bonuses
2. ANA Mileage Club
ANA is the Japanese carrier, also a Star Alliance member. For years, ANA offered one of the best-priced ways to book Lufthansa First.
Pricing (round trip, not one-way):
- North America–Europe round trip: 150,000–170,000 ANA miles
- Japan/Asia base itineraries can be even better value
Earning ANA miles:
- Amex Membership Rewards → ANA (1:1)
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club → ANA (not a standard transfer, but through partner mileage)
- ANA credit card (US version via IHG partnership is limited; Japanese ANA card holders have better earning)
Caveat: ANA prices round trips, not one-ways. This can be great value but forces you to book outbound + return together.
3. United MileagePlus
United lost Lufthansa First Class access for a while, and pricing has fluctuated. As of recent program updates, United prices Lufthansa First at around 70,000–80,000 miles one-way North America to Europe—similar to Aeroplan.
Earning United miles:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards → United (1:1)
- United co-branded credit cards
- Flying United (obviously)
United tends to pass on fuel surcharges on Lufthansa awards, which can add $300–$600 in fees per ticket—a notable downside vs. Aeroplan.
Step-by-Step: How to Book Lufthansa First Class
Step 1: Check Award Availability on Lufthansa.com
Before transferring any points, verify the seat exists.
Go to lufthansa.com, select "Award flights" in the booking tool, choose First Class, and search your dates. Lufthansa First operates on specific aircraft: 747-8 (best cabin), A340-600, and some A380 routes.
Key routes with Lufthansa First Class service:
- Frankfurt (FRA) ↔ New York (JFK/EWR)
- Frankfurt (FRA) ↔ Los Angeles (LAX)
- Frankfurt (FRA) ↔ Chicago (ORD)
- Frankfurt (FRA) ↔ Miami (MIA)
- Frankfurt (FRA) ↔ San Francisco (SFO)
- Munich (MUC) ↔ New York (JFK)
First-class award space appears most reliably under 15 days before departure. Plan for flexibility—either a floating travel window or a "last-minute luxury" mindset.
Step 2: Cross-Verify with United or Aeroplan
Once you see availability on Lufthansa's site, open the partner program's search tool:
- United.com → "Search award travel" → check same dates
- Aeroplan app / aeroplan.com → "Redeem Miles" → same route
If it shows availability there, the award space is confirmed.
Tools to use:
- Seats.aero — aggregates Lufthansa First availability across programs in real time
- ExpertFlyer — $9.99/month; alerts when award space opens for your specific route
Step 3: Transfer Points Just Before Booking
Once you have confirmed availability and the points program shows the seat, transfer your points. Most transfers process in 24–72 hours (Amex can take 24 hours to Aeroplan; Chase to United is usually instant).
Do not transfer points until you see the seat available in the partner tool.
Step 4: Call to Book (or Book Online)
- Aeroplan: Can often be booked online at aeroplan.com; complex itineraries may require calling 1-800-361-5373
- United: Online via united.com; call 1-800-864-8331 for partner awards if the site errors
- ANA: Usually requires calling ANA's US number (1-800-235-9262) for partner awards
Fees to expect:
- Aeroplan: ~$50–$120 in carrier surcharges (Lufthansa imposes these)
- United: ~$300–$600 (United passes on Lufthansa fuel surcharges)
- ANA: ~$100–$200 for round trip
The Lufthansa First Class Experience: What You're Booking
It helps to know what you're actually getting.
| Feature | Lufthansa First Class |
|---|---|
| Seat | Private suite, fully flat (747-8: 98" bed) |
| Dining | 3-course à la carte, fine china |
| Champagne | Dom Pérignon or Roederer Cristal |
| Pajamas | Rimowa collaboration; Porsche Design on some routes |
| Amenity kit | La Mer skincare (long-haul) |
| Lounge (FRA) | Dedicated First Class Terminal, separate building |
| Ground transfer | Porsche Cayenne or Mercedes S-Class to aircraft |
| Wi-Fi | Available, but speeds vary |
The Frankfurt First Class Terminal is itself a destination. You arrive at a private entrance, check in at a personal counter (no lines), dine at a full restaurant with a seasonal menu, and take a shower before your flight. A ground agent escorts you by car directly to the jet bridge.
Connecting to Frankfurt: The Smart Way
Most US travelers don't live near a Lufthansa First Class departure city. To get to Frankfurt, you have options:
On points:
- Book a domestic connecting flight via United (if using MileagePlus)—United often prices the US domestic connection at a modest add-on
- Aeroplan allows stopovers: build in a night in Frankfurt between a transatlantic connection and your final destination
Cash:
- Spirit/Frontier to JFK/EWR, then overnight at the JFK Lufthansa lounge before your First Class flight
The First Class Terminal is only accessible from Terminal 1 in Frankfurt (not Terminal 2). If connecting, route through FRA Terminal 1.
Planning the Europe Trip After You Land
Getting there in First Class is only half the equation. Once you touch down in Frankfurt, Munich, or Vienna, use Faroway to plan the actual trip.
Faroway is an AI trip planner that builds personalized itineraries—plug in your dates, cities, and interests, and it maps out exactly where to go, what to eat, and how to get between destinations. Whether you're doing a Rhine river cruise, a Bavaria road trip, or a quick overnight in Munich before flying to Rome, Faroway handles the logistics.
It's the tool that turns "I'm landing in Frankfurt in first class" into a seamless 10-day European adventure.
Common Mistakes When Booking Lufthansa First
Searching too far out. Lufthansa First Class award space is almost never available 6–11 months in advance for partner programs. Your sweet spot is 7–14 days before departure.
Waiting for the "perfect" date. Flexibility is everything. If you can fly any day in a 2-week window, your odds of finding first-class availability jump dramatically.
Transferring points to the wrong program. Aeroplan is almost always better than United for Lufthansa awards—lower fees, no fuel surcharges passed on. Don't transfer to United unless Aeroplan is truly unavailable.
Booking via Miles & More. Lufthansa's own program has the most availability, but earning enough Miles & More miles as a non-Lufthansa-frequent flyer is extremely difficult. Stick to transfer programs.
Quick Reference: Lufthansa First Class Award Rates (One-Way)
| Program | Points Required | Fees | Transfer Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada Aeroplan | 75,000–80,000 | ~$50–120 | Chase UR, Amex MR, Capital One |
| ANA Mileage Club | 75,000–90,000 (RT basis) | ~$100–200 | Amex MR |
| United MileagePlus | 70,000–80,000 | ~$300–600 | Chase UR |
| Lufthansa Miles & More | 87,000 | ~$50–120 | Direct only (very hard to earn) |
Ready to Book Your Dream Flight?
Lufthansa First Class is genuinely one of the world's great travel experiences—and with the right points, it's one of the best deals in luxury travel. The key is building a points balance across Chase or Amex, keeping Aeroplan as your booking program, and staying flexible on dates.
Once the First Class seat is confirmed, head to Faroway to plan every day of the trip beyond the plane. Because getting there in style is only the beginning.
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Written by
Faroway Team
The Faroway team is passionate about making travel planning effortless with AI. We combine travel expertise with cutting-edge technology to help you explore the world.
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