One of the rarest planes in the sky today—and most beloved by frequent fliers—is the Boeing 747. With its double-decker layout and glamorous Jet Age lore, the 747 is a legendary aircraft lovingly nicknamed the “Queen of the Skies.” Since it debuted in 1969, it has helped modernize international flying for the average traveler, has been used by NASA to transport space shuttles, and was selected as the aircraft model for the president’s Air Force One plane.
But the air travel industry is moving away from bulky double-decker planes. Boeing stopped manufacturing 747s earlier this year, rolling out the last of the jumbo jets from its assembly line on February 1, 2023. So now more than ever, flying in the upper deck of a 747 is on many travelers’ dream itineraries.
One of the few airlines that still flies 747s is Lufthansa. The German airline has eight 747-400 planes in its fleet that it operates out of Frankfurt. This summer, it will fly its 747 planes to a variety of destinations, including Bengaluru, Delhi, Palma, Seoul, Shanghai, Toronto, and Vancouver, according to industry site Simply Flying.
I recently had the chance to fly in business class in the plane’s upper deck on a flight from Frankfurt to New York. Here’s what it’s like to fly in a premium seat on the storied aircraft.
Boarding with stairs to the top of the plane
Business class fliers have their own entrance to the plane separate from economy, which makes for a more seamless boarding process. When I reached the cabin, a friendly Lufthansa flight attendant pointed me toward the staircase to the upper deck.
I definitely relished walking up the stairs and turning the corner to the secluded business area. As I entered the upper deck area, it felt private and calm. The space is about a quarter of the size of the bottom deck, with 22 lie-flat seats laid out in a two-by-two configuration.
I was in seat 84C, an aisle seat in the middle of the cabin just before the emergency exits and crew jump-seats. Even though the window seats don’t have direct access to the aisle, I was envious of my neighbor’s view from a total of three windows and would consider booking away from the aisle next time—especially because it was an afternoon flight and hardly anyone converted their seats into a bed anyway, making it fairly easy to slip into the aisle.
Business class is split among the top deck and the front of the main deck, so if you’re looking to ride up top, be sure to choose your seat carefully during booking.
In-flight experience: smooth and enjoyable
I found my seat and a flight attendant warmly greeted me by name and took my coat to hang in the closet in the galley. He then offered a warm hand towel and glass of Champagne (a Duval Leroy that was so dry and tasty—I couldn’t resist having a few glasses throughout the flight.)
After settling in, I browsed through the entertainment offerings—Lufthansa had a solid selection of new releases and older classics. I settled on The Woman King as our meal was being served, followed by Emily the Criminal. The entertainment screen was large enough to be immersive and the over-ear headphones helped block out any noise from the cabin.
Before long, the flight attendants came by again to take lunch orders. I settled on a maple-cured salmon filet for an appetizer, beef roulade and leek mashed potatoes with red cabbage for a main course, and a chocolate tartlet with berry compote for dessert. The meal service started with a top-up of Champagne and delicious almonds with salt and mixed herbs. Then came the salmon appetizer, which was artfully plated on porcelain tableware, followed by the beef roulade that felt hearty and comforting. At dessert, the flight attendants once again circulated offering espresso, tea, or cognac.
The seats were comfortable, and I felt like I had plenty of elbow room, even in the completely full cabin. Since it was a daytime flight, I didn’t put my seat into full-bed mode, but after the meal service, I did recline and elevate my feet to doze for a couple of hours.
An hour or so before landing at JFK, there was another smaller meal. This time, I opted for the butter chicken with rice and creamy spinach, along with a soft pretzel (my last taste of Germany before New York!). It was delicious and filling—the perfect snack to power me through the rest of my journey home.
We landed in New York right on time. Overall, flying Lufthasna’s 747 in the upper deck was one of the smoothest and most enjoyable flights I’ve experienced.
As far as premium products go, Lufthansa has some exciting launches coming at the end of the year with its new Allegris cabin products. The new cabins include business class seats with personal micro-climates, extra-long beds, and a row of suites with closing doors. First class will have ultra-spacious suites with six-feet-tall doors for total privacy.
The new cabins are slated to start rolling out by the end of 2023. So even if you can’t fly on the Queen of the Skies, Lufthansa will soon have plenty of premium seats that come with pomp and innovation of their own.
