Lufthansa and SWISS just killed one of the dumbest penalties in premium award travel. Effective for travel from July 1, 2026, solo passengers can now select the middle First Class Suite Plus — that glorious double-wide private room with maximum privacy — at no extra charge. Previously, it cost solo travelers €1,900 to €2,900 (roughly $2,100–$3,200) on top of the ticket or award. The airlines have quietly dropped the Advanced Seat Reservation fee entirely.[[1]](https://travel-dealz.com/news/first-class-suite-plus/)[[2]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/lufthansa-admits-defeat-allegris-first-class-double-bed-monetization/)
This isn’t some minor tweak. The middle suite on the new Allegris cabin (and SWISS Senses equivalent) is basically a private living room that converts to a massive double bed. Window suites are nice, but the center one delivers unmatched space and isolation — perfect for the solo optimizer who doesn’t want to share air with the masses. Lufthansa realized charging a small country’s GDP for it wasn’t moving the needle. Smart move.
The change hits the Airbus A350-900s flying select routes from Munich, including key US gateways like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Older Lufthansa First on the A340-600, A380, and 777-300ER uses a different configuration with center pairs that already allowed some solo flexibility via partitions, but without the full suite-plus drama. SWISS’s rollout follows similar logic on its long-haul fleet. Book early; these will go fast once word spreads.[[3]](https://onemileatatime.com/guides/best-lufthansa-first-class/)
The Award Math Just Got Better
Here’s where it gets interesting for points travelers. Star Alliance award availability for Lufthansa and SWISS First remains tight. United MileagePlus and Aeroplan can access it, often only 14-30 days out for Lufthansa, while SWISS First is largely locked down unless you’re a high-tier Miles & More member. LifeMiles or other partners sometimes offer better luck without the punitive fuel surcharges of Miles & More redemptions.
Typical one-way US-Europe First award runs 91,000 miles plus taxes through Miles & More for elites, or comparable in other programs. Before this change, grabbing the middle suite often meant paying that €2,000+ fee even on awards — or settling for a window and less privacy. Now you save up to $1,200 per flight in effective value (conservative estimate after currency conversion and what people actually paid). That’s real money back in your points wallet for the next positioning leg or hotel.
Compare that to the competition. Singapore Airlines has long dinged solo travelers with higher effective costs for their best suites on certain routes. Some US carriers quietly experiment with solo premiums in domestic pricing, though not yet in international First. Air France and others generally let you pick any seat on award without extra fees, but their cabins don’t match the space of Lufthansa’s middle Suite Plus. This levels the playing field and then some. Lufthansa just made Star Alliance First significantly more attractive for the solo traveler who actually values privacy over Instagram bragging rights.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
Let’s be honest: most “solo first class” redemptions end up in a window seat next to an empty middle that feels half-wasted. The middle suite fixes that. Full closure, massive width, no awkward neighbor breathing down your neck. It’s the difference between a very good flight and one where you genuinely don’t want to land.
The airlines clearly got feedback that the old surcharge was killing uptake. Charging thousands extra for what is effectively one seat (even if marketed for two) was never going to print money. Dropping it for solos while offering couples a 50% discount on the second fare (via hotline only) shows they’re trying to fill these cabins smarter. Cynical? Sure. Effective? Absolutely.[[1]](https://travel-dealz.com/news/first-class-suite-plus/)
For the points-and-miles crowd flying business as baseline, this is free upside. No more settling. Check seat maps the moment you hold an award or cash booking. If the middle is available, take it before someone else does.
Action item: Start searching United, Aeroplan, or Miles & More for US-Europe First awards on Lufthansa A350 routes from Munich departing after July 1, 2026. Confirm the aircraft has Allegris, select the middle Suite Plus at booking, and enjoy the $1,200+ you just kept in your pocket. The solo first class game just improved dramatically — don’t sleep on it.