Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 Seat Selection Guide (2026)
Lufthansa flies two completely different Boeing 787-9s, and the gap is bigger than on almost any other aircraft in the fleet. Nineteen jets carry the new Allegris cabin — five distinct Business Class seat types, a brand-new Premium Economy and 4K screens throughout. Nine carry the legacy cabin, a perfectly good Collins Super Diamond Business product that is a generation behind everywhere else.
Same aircraft type. Same route network. Wildly different flight. Here's how to tell which one you're on, and exactly which seats to take on each.
✈️ Quick Verdict
Look at the first Economy row number. Row 15 = Allegris (28J / 28W / 231M, 287 seats). Row 11 = legacy (26J / 21W / 247M, 294 seats). Best Allegris seats: 1A / 1K Suites, 8A / 8K Privacy Seats, 11A / 11K in Premium Economy, row 15 in Economy. Best legacy seats: 3A / 3K or 4A / 4K in Business, 9A / 9K in Premium Economy, 11C / 11H and 28A / 28K in Economy.
The Version Lottery
This is the single most important thing to get right before you pick a seat.
| Cue | Allegris | Legacy |
|---|---|---|
| Business seats on the map | 28 | 26 |
| Premium Economy seats | 28 | 21 |
| First Economy row | 15 | 11 |
| Business map shape | Zig-zag — seats alternate between wall and aisle row to row | Uniform — every seat angled the same way |
| Seat selection screen | Named, priced categories (Suite, Extra Space, Privacy Seat, Classic, Extra Long Bed) | One flat Business seat type |
| Total seats | 287 | 294 |
| IFE / power | Safran RAVE 4K, AC + USB-A + USB-C, Bluetooth | Panasonic eX3 HD, AC + USB-A (premium cabins only) |
Which is better? Allegris, comfortably — but not universally. The legacy Super Diamond is a proven reverse-herringbone where every seat is identical, so there's no way to lose. Allegris is better at the top (the four Suites and the Privacy Seats are a clear step up), but the Classic seat at the back of the Allegris cabin has a shorter bed (74.8" vs 78.7" for every legacy seat) and the centre "Extra Space" throne seats have narrow footwells. On Allegris you have to choose well; on the legacy jet you can't really go wrong.
Allegris Premium Economy is the bigger win: 39" pitch, 19" width and a fixed-shell seat that slides forward, versus 38" and a conventional recliner on the legacy jet.
Allegris 787-9 — Business Class (Rows 1–9)
Twenty-eight seats in a staggered 1-2-1, all with direct aisle access. Lufthansa sells five named seat types, and they are genuinely different products — this is not marketing dressing.
| Seat type | Exact seats | Bed length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Class Suite | 1A, 1D, 1G, 1K | 78.7" | Maximum privacy — sliding door, taller shell, 24" screen |
| Privacy Seat | 2A, 2K, 4A, 4K, 6A, 6K, 8A, 8K | 78.7" | Solo travellers who want the wall |
| Extra Space ("throne") | 2E, 4F, 6E | 78.7" | Space around the shoulders; narrower footwell |
| Extra Long Bed | 3G, 5D, 7G | 86" | Tall passengers |
| Classic Seat | 3C, 3D, 3H, 5C, 5G, 5H, 7C, 7D, 7H, 9H | 74.8" | Value — the cheapest to select |
How the stagger works: even rows (2, 4, 6, 8) put you hard against the window with a single solo seat in the centre. Odd rows (3, 5, 7, 9) shift you inboard next to the aisle, with a true centre pair in the middle. Row 1 is the four Suites.
✅ Best Business seats (Allegris)
- 1A / 1K — Suite with sliding door, tallest privacy shell, 24" 4K screen, full-length bed
- 8A / 8K — best non-Suite solo: Privacy Seat against the window with extra counter space and secure storage
- 3G, 5D, 7G — Extra Long Bed, 86" of sleeping surface
- 1D / 1G — the only true centre pair with suite shells; divider drops for conversation
- Rows 4–6 — quietest, away from the forward galley and the rear divider
🚫 Think twice about
- 2E, 4F, 6E (Extra Space) — sold as a premium upgrade, but the footwell is noticeably narrower and the shoulder area pinched. Great for working, less good for sleeping.
- 9H — last seat in the cabin, alone at the rear divider. Shortest bed, most traffic.
- 3C, 5C, 7C, 3H, 5H, 7H — Classic seats inboard by the aisle, no wall to lean on.
Note: the "Business Class Suite Plus" double-bed suite Lufthansa markets on some Allegris aircraft is not fitted to the 787-9. There is no double-bed pair on this jet.
Business specs: 21" width, 180° flat bed, 18" 4K UHD touchscreen (24" in the Suites) with a 10" tablet controller, 110V AC, USB-A and USB-C, Bluetooth audio, wireless charging, temperature-controlled seat.
Allegris 787-9 — Premium Economy (Rows 10–14)
Twenty-eight ZimPrivacy PC-02 seats in 2-3-2 across four rows (there is no row 13). Letters run A–C on the left, D–E–G in the centre, H–K on the right. This is a fixed-shell seat: it slides forward to recline, so nobody reclines into you and you can't recline into anyone.
✅ Best Premium Economy seats
- 11A, then 11K — best window alignment in the cabin, one row back from the bulkhead disruption
- 11A / 11C or 11H / 11K — couples: window pair, no middle seat
- 10D / 10E / 10G — most open floor space, but read the warning below
- Row 12 — quietest, away from the forward lavatory and the Economy divider
🚫 Seats to avoid
- Row 10 (10A, 10C, 10D, 10G, 10H, 10K) — bulkhead sits immediately behind a lavatory: door traffic, noise and odour all flight. No underseat storage, and the tray and screen live in the armrest, shrinking usable width.
- 10D and 10G — bassinet positions.
- 12A / 12K — poor window alignment; you're looking at the wall between two windows.
Premium Economy specs: 39" pitch, 19" width, 7" of slide-forward recline, 15.6" 4K screen, 110V AC, USB-A and USB-C, Bluetooth, four-way winged headrest, adjustable leg and foot rest.
Allegris 787-9 — Economy (Rows 15–42)
231 Recaro CL3710 seats in 3-3-3. Letters run A–B–C, D–E–G, H–J–K. Rows 13 and 17 are skipped. The cabin splits at the row 27 exit doors.
✅ Best Economy seats
- Row 15 — 15A, 15B, 15D, 15E, 15G, 15J, 15K — extra legroom on every seat, first row of Economy, and the C and H positions are deleted entirely so the aisle seats have a clear run
- 16C / 16H — extra legroom carried through from the gap in row 15, plus aisle access
- 34A / 34K — perfect window alignment, mid-cabin, well clear of the lavatories
- 28A / 28K — first row behind the exit doors: extra legroom with proper window alignment
- Rows 18–24, 29–38 — solid and unremarkable; pick a window or aisle and you're fine
🚫 Seats to avoid
- Rows 25 and 26 (all seats) — directly ahead of the mid-cabin lavatory bank. The worst block on the aircraft.
- 27B and 27J — no window at all, solid wall (exit-row legroom, but you're staring at plastic).
- 27D / 27E / 27G — bulkhead exit row: no underseat storage, tray in the armrest, 27D and 27G are bassinet positions.
- 39A / 39K — no window.
- Rows 40, 41, 42 — rear lavatory block; row 42 is the last row (D/E/G only) with lavatories immediately behind.
- 18A / 18K, 33A / 33K — poor window alignment.
- 24B — middle seat approaching the mid-cabin lav bank.
Economy specs: 31" pitch, 17.1" width, 5" recline, 13.3" 4K touchscreen, USB-A and USB-C, Bluetooth pairing, adjustable headrest. There is no AC power in Economy. Armrests are adjustable on all seats except rows 15, 27 and 28A/28K.
Legacy 787-9 — Business Class (Rows 1–7)
Twenty-six Collins Aerospace Super Diamond seats in reverse herringbone 1-2-1. Every seat is identical, every seat has direct aisle access, and every seat goes fully flat. Letters are A on the left, D and G in the centre, K on the right. Row 1 has window seats only.
✅ Best Business seats (legacy)
- 3A / 3K, 4A / 4K — mid-cabin windows, best alignment, away from the galley and rear lavatories
- 1A / 1K — footwells extend under the bulkhead storage module for noticeably more foot room
- 2D / 2G, 3D / 3G, 4D / 4G — centre pairs with a retractable divider
- Rows 3–4 — quietest in a short cabin
🚫 Seats to avoid
- 7A / 7K — last row, immediately adjacent to the lavatory
- 7D / 7G — same lavatory proximity, one position inboard
- 6A / 6K — lavatory traffic plus poor window alignment
- 5A / 5K — poor window alignment
Watch the bins: there are no overhead bins above the forward centre seats (2D/2G) because the flight crew rest compartment sits above them. If you're boarding late with a roll-aboard, take a window.
Business specs: 21" width, 180° flat bed, 17.5" HD touchscreen, Panasonic eX3, 110V AC, USB-A. No Bluetooth, no wireless charging, no privacy doors.
Legacy 787-9 — Premium Economy (Rows 8–10)
Twenty-one Collins MiQ seats in 2-3-2 across three rows. A small, quiet cabin. Letters A–C, D–E–G, H–K.
✅ Best Premium Economy seats
- 9A / 9K — 9K has the best window alignment in the cabin; both clear of the bulkhead compromises
- 9A / 9C or 9H / 9K — couples: window pair, mid-cabin
- 8D / 8E / 8G — bulkhead centre with integrated leg and foot rest, but read the caveat
🚫 Seats to avoid
- Row 8 generally — a shallower bulkhead than most: the wall sits only about 23–25 inches ahead, so the legroom gain is modest. Fixed armrests with the tray and screen inside them, no underseat storage, bassinet at 8E.
- 10K — poor window alignment.
- 10D / 10E / 10G — directly ahead of the Economy bulkhead bassinet position at 11E.
Premium Economy specs: 38" pitch, 18.7" width, 7" recline, 13" HD touchscreen, 110V AC, USB-A, four-way adjustable headrest.
Legacy 787-9 — Economy (Rows 11–42)
247 Recaro CL3710 seats in 3-3-3. Letters A–B–C, D–E–G, H–J–K. Rows 13 and 17 are skipped. The cabin splits at the row 27 exit doors.
✅ Best Economy seats
- 11C / 11H — bulkhead row where the wall only partially covers the seat, so the aisle side gets extra stretch room
- 28A / 28K, 31A / 31K — perfect window alignment, mid-cabin, clear of lavatories
- Rows 18–22 — forward Economy, quiet, no compromises
- Row 11 and row 27 — extra legroom, both with trade-offs (see below)
🚫 Seats to avoid
- Rows 24, 25, 26 — mid-cabin lavatory block. Row 25 loses its entire right-hand triple to the lavs, and row 26 is a three-seat stub (A/B/C) with no window at 26A.
- 23H / 23J / 23K — directly ahead of the mid-cabin lavatories.
- 38A / 38K — no window.
- Rows 39–42 — rear lavatory block; row 40 drops to 2-3-2, rows 41 and 42 are centre-only stubs with lavatories all round.
- 27A / 27K — exit row, but the door structure intrudes into roughly 75–80% of the seat width about 14 inches ahead.
- 27D / 27E / 27G — exit-row bulkhead immediately behind a lavatory; 27E is a bassinet position.
- 11A — bulkhead, but poor window alignment.
- 14K, 16A, 20A, 24A, 30A / 30K — poor window alignment.
Economy specs: 31" pitch, 17.1" width, 4" recline, 9" HD touchscreen, USB-A only — no AC power in Economy. Six-way adjustable headrest.
Quick-Pick Summary
| Traveller | Allegris 787-9 | Legacy 787-9 |
|---|---|---|
| Solo, want privacy | 1A / 1K (Suite), then 8A / 8K | Any A or K window, ideally 3A / 3K |
| Couple in Business | 1D / 1G | 3D / 3G |
| Tall passenger in Business | 3G, 5D or 7G (Extra Long Bed) | Any seat — all beds are 78.7" |
| Best value in Business | Classic seats in rows 3, 5, 7 | No decision to make |
| Premium Economy | 11A / 11K | 9A / 9K |
| Legroom on a budget | Row 15 (any seat) | 11C / 11H |
| Family with an infant | 27D / 27G (Economy) or 10D / 10G (PE) | 27E or 11E (Economy), 8E (PE) |
| Wants to sleep in Economy | 34A / 34K | 31A / 31K |
| Off the plane fastest | Row 15 or 16, aisle | Row 11 or 12, aisle |
| Never sit here | Rows 25, 26, 40–42 | Rows 24–26, 39–42 |
FAQ
How do I know if my flight is Allegris?
Open the seat map and look at where Economy starts. Row 15 means Allegris; row 11 means the legacy cabin. You can also count Business seats — 28 for Allegris, 26 for legacy — or check whether the seat selection screen offers named Business categories like Suite and Privacy Seat.
Is the Allegris Extra Space "throne" seat worth paying for?
For working and lounging, yes — open space on both sides. For sleeping, less so: the footwell is narrower and the shoulder area pinched. If sleep is the priority and you're tall, the Extra Long Bed seats (3G, 5D, 7G) at 86" are the better spend.
Which Allegris Business seat has the shortest bed?
The Classic Seat, at 74.8" — the base-price seat in rows 3, 5, 7 and 9. Suites, Privacy Seats and Extra Space seats are all 78.7"; Extra Long Bed seats are 86".
Is there a double-bed Business seat on the 787-9?
No. Lufthansa fits the double-bed suite to some other Allegris aircraft, but the 787-9 has four standard Suites (1A, 1D, 1G, 1K) and no double-bed pair. The 1D/1G centre pair with the divider lowered is the closest equivalent.
Why do so many Allegris Business seats show as unavailable when I book?
Lufthansa restricts advance selection on some Allegris seat categories, and certain seats are held back until closer to departure or released only to higher fare classes and status tiers. Pick the best seat you can now and re-check at online check-in.
Are bulkhead seats always the best pick for legroom?
Not on this aircraft. The legacy Premium Economy bulkhead (row 8) sits unusually close to the wall — around 23–25 inches — and you lose underseat storage and seat width to the in-armrest tray. On the Allegris side, the Premium Economy bulkhead (row 10) is directly behind a lavatory. Row 15 in Allegris Economy is the genuinely good extra-legroom row.
Does Economy have power outlets?
Not AC. Both configurations give Economy USB only — USB-A and USB-C on Allegris, USB-A only on the legacy jet. Bring a battery pack if you need to run a laptop.
Comparable Guides
- Lufthansa A350-900 Seat Selection Guide
- British Airways 787-9 Seat Selection Guide
- Etihad Airways 787-9 Seat Selection Guide
- Air France A350-900 Seat Selection Guide
Seat maps and row numbers can change with aircraft swaps and retrofits. Always check the live seat map for your specific flight before selecting.