Plus, discover where to find the new First Class seats on Emirates and Business Class on Lufthansa
Airline cabins age like everything else, and eventually, the new must replace the old. It’s a slow process, though—like watching a caterpillar transform into a butterfly but with more delays and less poetry. And while airlines love to shout about the upcoming state-of-the-art seats, in fact, an airline’s fleet is like a patchwork quilt of new and old seats until the rollouts are completed.
While an inconsistent product isn’t great for consumers wanting value for their dollar, let’s look at the opportunities from the four distinct perspectives of the “travel lifecycle.”
- Trip Dreaming
- Trip Planning
- Trip Booking
- Trip Optimizing
How Trip Dreamers Can Upgrade
by Knowing New Seat Rollout Status
Let’s say you’re not even sure where or when you’ll travel yet—you’re just craving a BIG trip. If you are like many modern travelers, you view the vacation experience as beginning the moment you step on the plane, especially if you’re eyeing an opulent First Class in-flight experience.
Enter Emirates’ new First Class suites, which are debatably the most luxurious in the world. The airline’s latest new seats are available only on select routes to/from Dubai, such as Chicago.
You can book these suites using the airline’s reward points, which you can get by transferring your Amex points to the airline’s miles. But keep in mind that routes with the new seats are subject to change.
While I’m pleased with any of the airline’s First Class seats, my favorites are on its A380s. You can find more on Emirates’ First Class here.
By being well-informed about these specific routes, Trip Dreamers can strategically design their itineraries to include the most lavish and immersive in-flight options available. For now, connect via Chicago for the best Emirates First Class if you can.
How Trip Planners Can Upgrade
by Knowing New Seat Rollout Status
Let’s say you’re close to being ready to book, but you didn’t start out by designing your trip around the best seats. Half the time, you’re going to make a connection from a smaller airport or the destination airport. And often you have a choice between connecting airport options.
Maybe you live in Boise and plan to fly to Budapest, connecting through a major European hub, for example on Lufthansa. You could take the standard path with Lufthansa, connecting through Frankfurt or Munich.
Or you could book a slightly different route that offers the best seats. How? By knowing that Lufthansa is in the middle of rolling out new seats, and that the new seats are only offered on a few routes (SFO, JFK, ORD).
Heck, you could even consider taking a route that has a slightly longer layover but offers much better seats. Fares are largely the same regardless of the routing, generally speaking.
By strategically selecting connecting flights with better seats, Trip Planners can net free in-class upgrades by knowing where the better seats are and when they become available.
Old Lufthansa Business Class Seats
New Lufthansa Business Class Seats
How Trip Bookers Can Upgrade
by Knowing New Seat Rollout Status
When it comes to booking, the pressure is on to find the best fare and secure a seat. However, most travelers overlook an essential step: identifying the aircraft and cabin details. According to a 2023 study by Skyscanner, nearly 60% of travelers were unaware of the specific aircraft type they were booking, which can lead to big differences in comfort. Airlines like Lufthansa label routes with Allegris-equipped aircraft, allowing travelers to intentionally select flights offering modern seating arrangements. More on this soon.
How TRIP OPTIMIZERS Can Upgrade
by Knowing New Seat Rollout Status
So, you booked your ticket to Budapest three months ago. Good for you—Budapest is lovely. But news flash: Lufthansa might have just rolled out its new Allegris seats on flights from Chicao, New York, or San Francisco, perhaps a decent connection point for you.
Now, here’s where a little vigilance can pay off big. Most airlines let you change your ticket with minimal or no fees. Are you willing to spend a few minutes on the phone or online to potentially trade up to a newer, more comfortable cabin at no extra cost? Or will you keep your current itinerary, haunted by the question, “Could this flight have been better?”
The Takeaway:
Whether you’re dreaming, planning, booking, or optimizing a trip, understanding the airline seat rollout landscape is like holding a backstage pass. You’ll know where the show really happens, ensuring you get the best seat in the house—figuratively and literally. And while the journey might be long, wouldn’t you rather travel like a butterfly than a caterpillar?