Updated for September 2024
Finding a First Class deal to Europe is like searching for a pretzel in a sea of sauerkraut – rare and worth every twist of effort. The truth is, First Class to Europe isn’t just elusive, it’s practically becoming a unicorn with a boarding pass.
There are only a handful of airlines offering First Class cabins across the Atlantic. And when it comes to those enticing flash fares you sometimes find in Business Class? Forget about it, unless you stumble upon one of those cheeky British Airways sales or you’ve got the right strategy up your sleeve.
Cue December 2022. We toasted our steins when Lufthansa launched a buy-miles program that effectively lowered the price of First Class tickets to Europe to a cool $1,722 each way. Thanks to a timely discount, for 60 glorious days travelers could soar in luxury for less.
Then came 2023, and it was time to break out the Bavarian dance moves again. Lufthansa came back with not one, but four buy miles promotions, offering bonuses from 20% to 60%. Suddenly, we were talking about miles costing as little as 1.25 cents each. March rolled in, and we dissected how this strategy could unlock connections from nearly every corner of the U.S. to Europe. By November, we were showing our readers how FCF’s Upgrade Strategy could shave the cost down even further, getting First Class tickets for just $1,480 each way.
Und Now the Sale Is Back
This is the third promo of 2024; there was a 30% bonus promo that ran through March 31, the most recent in April and had a 50% bonus. But here we are in September already and the sale is back – with a 50% bonus at 1.31 cents a mile through September 30, which results in First Class tickets from Los Angeles to Frankfurt that normally goes for as much as $11,317+ available for just $3,205, or $1,603 each way.
On a good day, that’s just $7 more than Delta’s Business Class from New York to Frankfurt.
In short? The deals are real, and with the right know-how, First Class to Europe can be more than a daydream. It can be your next reality, lederhosen optional.
You can join Lufthansa’s Miles and More program in less than five minutes and buy miles in another five. And that goes for anyone.
Lufthansa’s Bundle&Go deal lets you purchase award miles in four increments of 3,000, 10,000, 50,000, and 100,000 miles with a juicy 50% bonus coming on top of that right now. If you max out one account with the bonus, you can get 500,000 miles for $3,205, or about 1.31 cents a mile. Members can purchase one bundle per transaction. That’s tremendous value given the ways you can redeem the miles. If you need even more miles, remember FCF’s special strategy to get all the miles you want!
Note that Lufthsansa’s fine print indicates it could take up to five working days for the miles to post. However, when we did it, they were credited almost instantly, except for once when it took about 48 hours.
Unlocking First Class Opportunities
The key to this strategy lies in Lufthansa actually releasing those First Class seats when you go hunting for them online. The tricky part? The deals are out there, but the routes offering them tend to shift like a foggy apparition. One minute, they’re flying out of one city, and the next, they’re gone, popping up somewhere else. Always keep those positioning flights in mind because where you start your journey can make all the difference.
The routes and months listed below had First Class availability at the time of publication, but as with any specter, it’s best to double-check with the airline for the latest info before you jump in and buy miles. That is, unless you're like me — ready to pounce on those sales whenever they appear, confident you’ll find a way to use them sooner or later. After all, when those miles are locked and loaded, you’re always prepared for that First Class opportunity to materialize.
Routes with Up to Four Award Seats
From Chicago to Frankfurt, you can find more than a handful of days with four seats available for outbound travel from January through April, July, and August. On the return, more than a handful of days with four seats are available for travel in December through February, April, July, and August.
From Los Angeles to Frankfurt, you can find a handful of days with four seats available for outbound travel in March, July, and August. On the return, a handful of days with four seats are available for travel in March and August.
From San Francisco to Frankfurt, you can find a handful of days with four seats available for outbound travel in March, July, and August. On the return, a handful of days with four seats are available for travel in February, March, July, and August.
Don't book backwards and you can score!
Routes To/From Frankfurt With Up to Two Award Seats
From Boston to Frankfurt, you can find more than a handful of days with four seats available for outbound travel from November through August. On the return, more than a handful of days with four seats are available for travel from November through September.
From New York to Frankfurt, you can find more than a handful of days with two seats available for travel both outbound and return from January through March.
From Washington, DC, to Frankfurt, you can find more than a handful of days with two seats available for outbound travel in July and August. On the return, more than a handful of days with four seats are available for travel from May through August.
Routes To/From Munich With Up to Two Award Seats
From Boston to Munich, you can find more than a handful of days with two seats available for travel both outbound and return from April through August.
From New York to Munich, you can find more than a handful of days with two seats available for travel both outbound in April and from June through August and on the return from May through August.
From Washington, DC to Munich, you can find more than a handful of days with two seats available for travel both outbound and return from April through September.
FCF’s Visual Treasure Map
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Fly Anywhere in Europe for the Same Price
Lufthansa’s mileage award pricing chart is the same no matter what route you choose between the U.S. and Europe, so feel free to tack on the following destinations provided they are available. Worst case: buy a positioning flight.
Sample Frankfurt Connections: Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Bordeaux, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Dubrovnik, Edinburgh, Florence, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Malta, Milan, Munich, Mykonos, Naples, Nice, Paris, Rome, Santorini, Stockholm, Venice, Vienna, and Zürich.
Sample Munich Connections: Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dubrovnik, Edinburgh, Florence, Lisbon, London, Milan, Mykonos, Naples, Paris, Rome, Santorini, Venice, Vienna, and Zürich.
So, what’s next? Time your mile purchases right, and stay ready to strike when the availability ghost shows up. With FCF’s Upgrade Strategy, you’re not just finding deals—you’re finding your way to the front of the plane, where champagne flows and horizons are endless. And with each click, you’re one step closer to the kind of travel that turns dreams into destinations. Buckle up—it’s time to take off.
See you up front.