For our Christmas break, we traveled to Germany to visit the Christmas markets, flying Lufthansa business class from San Francisco (SFO) to Munich (MUC).
This Lufthansa Business Class review covers how we booked the flight using points, the Airbus A380 business class layout, lounge access, and the onboard dining and service. I’m also sharing our overall impressions of flying Lufthansa business class on this long transatlantic route.
How to book Lufthansa Business Class on points
We booked Lufthansa Business Class from San Francisco to Munich, Germany, several months in advance by redeeming points. Now, as we always do, we used our flexible credit card points instead of booking directly with the airline.
Thus, we transferred American Express Membership Rewards to Air Canada’s Aeroplan and booked a Lufthansa flight directly on the Aeroplan website.
Aeroplan is part of Star Alliance, allowing you to use its miles to book partner airlines like Lufthansa. This flexibility is particularly useful when Lufthansa releases award space that may not be available through its own program.
For our trip to Germany on Lufthansa Business Class, we used:
- 70,000 Aeroplan points + ~$50 in taxes (one way, per person)
- Comparable cash price: ~$5,000 one way
Lounge Access at SFO: United Polaris Lounge
We started our trip at the United Polaris Lounge at San Francisco, which we could access because we were flying international business class on a Star Alliance airline.
This was our first visit to the Polaris Lounge, and it set a high bar for pre‑flight dining.
The highlight was the sit‑down restaurant, where you order from a menu and receive full table service. The food felt like a proper restaurant meal rather than standard lounge fare.
Lufthansa Business Class Cabin Overview: Airbus A380
Our flight was operated by the Lufthansa Airbus A380, our first time flying on this iconic wide-body aircraft. The A380 features two full passenger decks, carries approximately 500 passengers, and places first and business class on the upper deck.
Despite its size, the Airbus A380 felt exceptionally smooth and quiet throughout the flight, to be honest, I didn’t even notice how we took off.
Lufthansa Business Class Seat & Layout
Lufthansa’s A380 business class features a 2-2-2 seat layout. While it’s not the most modern setup and offers less privacy than newer 1-2-1 cabins, the seats are fully lie-flat, which is what matters most on long-haul flights.
Each seat is about 20 inches wide with a bed length of roughly 78 inches (198 cm), comfortable for most adults.
Each seat has a personal entertainment screen, well-positioned for use while seated or reclined. The fold-out tray table is attached to the side of the armrest rather than under the screen and is somewhat heavy to handle, but it’s large enough for a full meal or laptop.
Storage is limited to a small side compartment I had by the window and space under the chair.
Lufthansa bussiness class seat selection tips: Middle seats are best for solo travelers since you don’t have to step over anyone. Window seats require climbing over your seatmate when the bed is fully flat.
The bed was comfortable, and we slept well, which is the most important thing on an 11.5-hour overnight flight.
Amenities and bedding at Lufthansa bussiness class
Lufthansa business class offered comfortable bedding, including a pillow and blanket. The mattress pad was a nice touch and something many airlines don’t provide ( I think Japan Airlines was the only one so far).
The amenity kit was fairly standard and included L’Occitane toiletries, socks, and a sleeping mask. Once again, no slippers, so we brought ours from the hotel on the return flight.
On our way to Germany, Lufthansa also provided pajamas, which came as a pleasant surprise, a long-sleeve top that looked comfortable for sleeping.
Lufthansa business class onboard dining
San Francisco to Munich
Dinner service on the outbound flight included options such as crab legs, and the presentation looked solid. However, because the departure was late and we had already eaten a full meal at the Polaris Lounge, we skipped the main service entirely.
Instead, we went straight to sleep, which helped with adjusting to the time change upon arrival.
Service throughout the flight was efficient and professional, with frequent drink offers and chocolates available.
We did have a nice breakfast upon landing, and it looked like this.
Munich to San Francisco
Our return flight departed at 5:00 PM, which allowed us to experience the full onboard dining service. We flew on the same Airbus A380 and even had the same seats as on the outbound flight.
Dinner included traditional roasted goose, which felt very fitting for a German carrier, it might not look like it, but it was very good.
A flight attendant also offered us a red “wine from the First Class“, which I didn’t even know was a thing. But it did taste good, so no complaints.
Service on this flight was exceptional, warm, attentive, and genuinely engaging, with multiple rounds of chocolates offered throughout the flight.
Lounge Experience in Munich
On the return journey, we visited the Lufthansa Lounge in Munich.
Compared to the Polaris Lounge at SFO, this lounge felt noticeably smaller and more basic, with a limited food selection. It was perfectly functional for a short stay but not a place you’d arrive early specifically to enjoy.
Bottom line
Lufthansa business class on the Airbus A380 delivers where it matters most, a smooth and quiet aircraft, reliable lie-flat seats, and consistently friendly service. When booked with points, especially during peak holiday travel, the value can be excellent.
Redeeming 70,000 Aeroplan points instead of paying around $5,000 cash makes Lufthansa business class a very strong option for transatlantic flights.
If you’re traveling during busy seasons and have flexible points, booking Lufthansa business class with Aeroplan miles is absolutely worth considering.
