After grappling with Allegris seat certification issues on its Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s, Lufthansa chose to avoid the same headache with its Airbus A380s, opting for cookie-cutter Thompson Aero Seating Vantage XL seats in business class.

The seats are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, and were easier to install as they are already acclimatized for a range of widebody aircraft, making certification very simple. They’re also becoming quite popular, with some of its customers including names like Virgin Atlantic, EVA Air, LATAM, Philippine Airlines, Shanghai Airlines.

Even though they’ve simplified their seating configuration, Lufthansa has decided to start charging extra for window seats as first noted by Travel-Dealz.

Additional window seat fee applied to flights from September 15, 2026 and beyond

For most business class travelers flying on flights from September 15, 2026 and beyond, window seats will carry an additional charge of €170 per sector. You would think given that you’re already paying such a high premium for business class, that seat selection would be equal opportunity with the exception of the Long Bed options, but that is not the case anymore.

The A380 business class cabin is split into three types, with the fees as follows on flights from September 15, 2026 going forward:

Business LightBusiness Comfort, Comfort Plus and GreenBusiness Flex
Classic Seats€120FreeFree
Privacy Seats (window seats)€170€170Free
Extra Long Bed (longer bed and larger ottoman)€170€170€170

There are a few exceptions. Besides Business Flex customers having the fee waived for window seats, Miles & More HON Circle and Senator members booking a Business Comfort, Comfort Plus and Green fare will also be able to select window seats free of charge due to their status. Even though the Extra Long Bed option isn’t really the talking point here, HON Circle members can choose these free of charge if they book any fare above Business Light.

Business Light customers (regardless of status) would have typically paid €120 to select a seat, or otherwise have one randomly assigned during check in if no selection was made at no additional cost. However, if they want a window seat, it would still come at the higher cost of €170.

lufthansa business class fee a380 seats

So far, three of their eight A380s have undergone retrofitting works, with the remaining five expected to be completed before the end of 2027. Currently, these new cabins are being operated on flights between Munich and Boston, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Mumbai.

Unfortunately, that’s just the growing trend in the industry, as other airlines such as British Airways, Qatar Airways, Air France, Finnair, Etihad and Emirates all have their variations of fees attached to seat assignments in their most premium cabins.

Admittedly, window seats are highly desirable, and Lufthansa realizes this is yet another area that can be monetized, but is it really worth paying €170? For most people, no. Thankfully this isn’t the case across the entire cabin, and let’s hope they don’t get any ideas while they’re at it.

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