Lufthansa 747-8 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8i delivers the classic jumbo-jet experience with seating on two decks. For seat selection the headline decision in Business is upper deck vs main deck: the upper deck is a 2-2 cabin where every seat has direct aisle access and the famous side stowage bins, and it's quieter and more private than the 2-2-2 main deck. There's also a genuine version lottery now in play — Lufthansa has started retrofitting these jets with its new Allegris cabins, so the layout you get depends on the specific aircraft.
This guide covers the current 364-seat layout (8F + 80J + 32W + 244Y) that still flies on most of the 19-strong fleet, with exact row numbers, and explains how the Allegris version differs.
1. Quick Verdict
- Best Business experience: the upper deck (2-2, rows 81–88) — quieter, more private, side stowage bins, and every seat has aisle access. The best of these are rows 82–87.
- Best main-deck Business (2-2-2): rows 5–8 or 10–11. Avoid row 4 (bassinet bulkhead + galley) and row 9 (mid-cabin lavatory bank).
- Best First Class: the nose cabin (rows 1–3). 1A/1K and 2A/2K are single window suites — the most private seats on the jet. 3D/3G is the centre pair for couples.
- Best Premium Economy: the bulkhead at rows 21–22 for extra space (watch for bassinets), otherwise rows 23–25.
- Best Economy: row 27 is a full extra-legroom row; the bulkhead seats 16C/16H also have extra legroom. For windows, aim for 28/30/32/41/43 (A or K).
- Avoid: Economy rows 19–20 (lavatory bank; 20A/20K have no window), row 49 (last row, aft galley), and the very rear taper rows 45–49.
2. Versions at a Glance — the Allegris Lottery
Lufthansa has begun retrofitting its 19 Boeing 747-8s with Allegris cabins in two phases, so three things can vary: the Business seat on the main deck, the upper-deck Business seat, and First Class.
| Current layout (most of the fleet) | Allegris Phase 1 (retrofit started Nov 2025) | Allegris Phase 2 (2027–28) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total seats | 364 | 348 | TBC |
| First Class | 8 open suites, nose, 1-2-1 | Unchanged — same 8 nose suites | New Allegris First: 3 enclosed suites, 2 individual suites, 1 Suite Plus |
| Business — main deck | 48, 2-2-2 | New Allegris Business (48) | Allegris Business |
| Business — upper deck | 32, 2-2 | Unchanged — stays 2-2 (32) | Allegris (likely 1-1 due to the narrow upper deck) |
| Premium Economy | 32 | 40 | 40 |
| Economy | 244 | 220 | 220 |
The practical takeaway for 2026: most flights are still the current layout. If you draw a Phase 1 Allegris aircraft, the main-deck Business is the new Allegris product, but the upper deck and First are unchanged — so the upper deck remains the most "747" seat either way. Always check the actual seat map before paying.
3. How to Identify Your Version
| Indicator | Note |
|---|---|
| Aircraft shown as 747-8 / 748 / 74H | You're on the 747-8 |
| Business split across two decks (main + upper) | Standard on all 747-8 layouts |
| Main-deck Business shown as 2-2-2 | Current layout |
| Main-deck Business shown with individual Allegris suites | Phase 1 Allegris aircraft |
| Premium Economy of 32 vs 40 seats | 32 = current, 40 = Allegris |
4. Seat Map Summary (current 364-seat layout)
| Cabin | Rows | Layout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Class | 1–3 | 1-2-1 | Nose section, main deck. Rows 1–2 are single window suites |
| Business (main deck) | 4–11 | 2-2-2 | Window seats (A/K) lack direct aisle access |
| Business (upper deck) | 81–88 | 2-2 | Quietest, most private; every seat has aisle access |
| Premium Economy | 21–25 | 2-4-2 | Bulkhead at rows 21–22 |
| Economy (forward) | 16, 18–20 | 3-4-3 | Small cabin; 16 has extra legroom, 19–20 are at a lav bank |
| Economy (main) | 27–49 | 3-4-3 | Row 27 extra legroom; rear tapers (no A/K from row 45) |
The 747 uses the seat-letter scheme A·B·C / D·E·F·G / H·J·K (the letter I is skipped).
5. First Class (rows 1–3, 1-2-1)
Lufthansa First on the 747-8 is an 8-seat open-suite cabin in the nose — typically the quietest part of the aircraft. Because the nose tapers, the layout isn't a uniform 1-2-1: rows 1 and 2 have only the single window suites (1A/1K, 2A/2K), and row 3 has all four (3A, 3D, 3G, 3K).
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best for solo travellers | 1A, 1K, 2A, 2K | Single window suites — the most private seats on the aircraft |
| Best for couples | 3D, 3G | The only centre pair — easiest to talk |
| Note | Row 3 D/G | Closest to the First galley/lav boundary, so marginally more service activity |
6. Business Class — Upper Deck (rows 81–88, 2-2)
The upper deck is the headline Business cabin: a narrow 2-2 layout (seats A,C on the left, H,K on the right) where every seat has direct aisle access and the window seats get the 747's signature curved-wall side stowage bins. It's quieter and more private than the main deck and is the best choice for most travellers paying for Business.
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall Business | Rows 82–87 (any) | Mid-cabin, away from the front galley and rear lav — the calmest seats on the jet |
| Most "747" feel + storage | Window seats A/K, rows 82–87 | Curved-wall side bins and the classic upper-deck experience |
| Solo with aisle access | Aisle seats C/H | Direct aisle access (true of all upper-deck seats) |
Seats to be aware of — upper deck
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| 81H, 81K | Front of the upper deck, by the galley/stairs — more traffic |
| 88H, 88K | Rear of the upper deck, beside the lavatory |
(81A/81C and 88A/88C are fine — only the H/K side at the two ends is affected.)
7. Business Class — Main Deck (rows 4–11, 2-2-2)
Main-deck Business is 2-2-2 (A,C | D,G | H,K). The key practical point: window seats A and K do not have direct aisle access, so in bed mode you may need to step over a neighbour.
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best seats | Rows 5–8 and 10–11 | Away from the front bulkhead and the mid-cabin lavatories |
| Best for solo travellers | Aisle seats C/D/G/H | Direct aisle access; window seats trap you behind a neighbour |
| Best for couples | Centre pair D/G | Easiest to talk (trade-off: aisle-side exposure) |
Seats to avoid — main deck
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| Row 4 (4A, 4H, 4K) | Front bulkhead — bassinet mounts and the forward galley/lav |
| Row 9 (9C, 9D, 9G, 9H) | Right at a mid-cabin lavatory bank — noise, light and queues; 9A/9K also catch the traffic |
| Window seats A/K (solo) | No direct aisle access |
8. Premium Economy (rows 21–25, 2-4-2)
A compact cabin in A,C | D,E,F,G | H,K. The bulkhead is staggered: row 21 has the window-side seats (21A/21C and 21H/21K) and row 22 has the four centre seats (22D–22G), all with extra space in front.
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best space feel | Bulkhead 21A/21C/21H/21K | Extra room in front (watch for bassinets at the bulkhead) |
| Best for couples | 23–25, A/C or H/K pairs | Two together without a stranger |
| Quietest | Rows 23–24 | Away from the cabin boundaries |
Avoid: the last PE row (25) if you dislike sitting against the Economy boundary, and any bulkhead bassinet position if you're noise-sensitive.
9. Economy (3-4-3)
Economy splits into a small forward cabin (rows 16, 18–20) and the main cabin (rows 27–49), all in A,B,C | D,E,F,G | H,J,K.
Best Economy seats
| Category | Seats | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best legroom | Row 27 (full row) | Extra-legroom row right behind the Premium Economy bulkhead |
| Extra legroom (bulkhead) | 16C, 16H | Forward mini-cabin bulkhead (tray in armrest, no underseat storage) |
| Best windows | 28A/K, 30A/K, 32A/K, 41A/K, 43A/K | Good window alignment, away from galleys |
Economy seats to avoid
| Seats | Reason |
|---|---|
| Rows 19–20 | At a forward lavatory bank — noise and traffic. 20A and 20K have no window. |
| Row 49 (49D–G) | Last row, centre block, against the aft galley/lavatories |
| Row 48 (48D–G) | Second-to-last centre block, aft-galley adjacent |
| Rows 45–47 | The fuselage tapers here — no A or K window seats, so windows are limited |
| 32E, 32F | Centre seats flagged for minor trade-offs |
10. Known Quirks & Practical Tips
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Upper deck sells out fast | It's the most desirable Business cabin (2-2, private, aisle access for all) — book early |
| Main-deck window seats in J | A/K have no direct aisle access — aisle seats (C/D/G/H) are safer for solo travellers |
| First Class nose taper | Rows 1–2 are single window suites only; the centre pair is in row 3 |
| Economy no-window seats | 20A and 20K have no window |
| Rear Economy taper | From row 45 the cabin narrows: no A/K windows in 45–47, and rows 48–49 are a centre-only block |
| Allegris retrofit underway | The first jet entered the retrofit line in November 2025; check your seat map for 2-2-2 (current) vs Allegris Business on the main deck |
11. Best Seats Summary Table
| Cabin | Best | Why | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 1A/1K, 2A/2K | Single window suites, most private | 3D/3G if you want maximum quiet |
| Business (upper) | Rows 82–87 | Quietest, private, side bins, aisle access | 81H/K, 88H/K |
| Business (main) | Rows 5–8, 10–11 | Away from galley/lav; aisle seats for solo | Row 4, row 9, A/K for solo |
| Premium Economy | Bulkhead 21A/C/H/K | Extra space | Last row 25; bassinet bulkhead |
| Economy | Row 27, plus 16C/16H | Extra legroom | Rows 19–20, 48–49 |
12. FAQs
Upper deck or main deck in Business Class?
Upper deck, if you can. It's 2-2, quieter, more private, has the side stowage bins, and every seat has direct aisle access. On the main deck (2-2-2) the window seats trap you behind a neighbour, so solo travellers there should pick aisle seats.
What are the best upper-deck Business seats?
Rows 82–87 — they sit between the front galley (row 81) and the rear lavatory (row 88). Window seats A/K give you the side bins and the classic upper-deck feel.
Does the Lufthansa 747-8 have First Class?
Yes — an 8-seat open-suite cabin in the nose (rows 1–3). Rows 1 and 2 are single window suites; row 3 adds the centre pair. A future Allegris retrofit (2027–28) will replace it with enclosed suites.
Which seats should I avoid in Economy?
Rows 19–20 (forward lavatory bank; 20A/20K have no window) and the rear: row 49 (centre, by the aft galley), and the tapered rows 45–47 where the window seats disappear.
Will I get the new Allegris cabin?
Possibly. Lufthansa began retrofitting the fleet in late 2025. On a Phase 1 Allegris jet the main-deck Business is the new product, but the upper deck stays 2-2 and First stays in the nose. Most flights in 2026 are still the current layout — check the seat map when booking.