German flag carrier Lufthansa is a rare operator of the passenger-carrying Boeing 747-8, with ch-aviation showing that 19 examples presently grace its fleet. These double-decker quadjets are ten years old on average and seat 364 passengers across four travel classes. But which are the best seats? Let's take a look.

First class

First class is comfortably the most exclusive cabin onboard Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8s, with only eight seats present, accounting for just 2.2% of the type's overall capacity. A quick look at aeroLOPA's seat map data shows that these are located in the nose of the aircraft, with the first two rows featuring two seats.

These are located on either side of the aisle, but as the aircraft widens, these two seats have another pair between them, with the third row seating four passengers in a 1-2-1 configuration. For couples traveling together, this middle pair is probably the best option in terms of being able to enjoy a shared luxury experience.

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However, for solo travelers, you really can't beat seats 1A and 1K. Situated at the front of the aircraft, these exclusive spaces are even further forward than the cockpit above them, which can't be said about many airline seats. Furthermore, the curvature of the jet's fuselage means that you can see slightly forward.

Business class

Business class takes up considerably more real estate onboard Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8s, with 80 seats accounting for almost 22% of the jet's total capacity. These are spread across both of the quadjet's passenger decks, with the majority (48 seats) located downstairs between first class and economy class.

Of these seats, the best options can be found in rows 10 and 11. This is because these two rows are situated separately from rows 4 to 9, with the jumbo jet's famous stairs dividing the downstairs business class cabin. As such, the rear pair of rows has a much more exclusive feel, even if, with a 2-2-2 layout, some seats lack direct aisle access. Notably, row 10's view is less obstructed by the plane's wing.

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On the upper deck of Lufthansa's Boeing 747-8s, business class occupies rows 81 to 88 in a four-abreast (2-2) layout. This gives the cabin a more exclusive feel than the six-abreast rows downstairs, with the fact that these seats are on the upper deck making them even more tantalizing for avgeeks and the general public alike. For a quick exit, row 88 is the best option due to its proximity to the stairs.

The best of the rest

As nice as Lufthansa's first and business class cabins are, most passengers won't be traveling in these sections of the aircraft. For those wanting a bit of luxury without splashing out on a flatbed, there are 32 premium economy class seats in four 2-4-2 rows (22-25). The foremost of these offer better bathroom access, but for traveling couples, any of the outer seat pairs will be a welcome spot.

As for the aircraft's 244 economy class seats, these are largely laid out 10-abreast in a 3-4-3 configuration. For a more intimate feel, rows 16-20 are located in a separate section between first class and premium economy, offering decent views of the aircraft's engines and the wing's leading edge. Meanwhile, at the jet's rear, rows 45-47 have pairs of seats on the outside as the fuselage narrows.

Sources: aeroLOPA, ch-aviation

• 

  Lufthansa

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  LH/DLH

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport

  Year Founded:

  1953

  Alliance:

  Star Alliance

  Airline Group:

  Lufthansa Group

  CEO:

  Carsten Spohr

  Country:

  Germany