Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row: Turn Economy Class Into a Bed

Not long ago, I wrote what became one of our most popular travel articles: The Best Travel Hack Ever: Buy the Middle Seat.

The idea was simple.

Instead of spending thousands of dollars for Business Class, buy an extra Economy seat.

For a couple traveling together, buy all three seats in a row. One person gets the window, one gets the aisle, and nobody sits in the middle.

More room. More comfort. And potentially a lot less money than flying up front.

Apparently, Lufthansa thinks this is a pretty good idea too.

Because Lufthansa has taken the concept one step further.

They will sell you the entire row.

And they'll even give you a mattress.

Welcome to Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row.

What Is Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row?

Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row is now offered on Lufthansa long-haul flights, although only a limited number of Sleeper’s Rows are available on each flight. The upgrade is subject to availability and currently must be purchased at short notice at the airport.

Instead of spending the entire overnight flight sitting upright in an Economy seat, Lufthansa allows one passenger to use an entire row of Economy seats.

Once onboard, Lufthansa provides a Sleeper’s Row kit that includes:

• A mattress topper
• A pillow
• A Business Class-quality blanket
• The ability to stretch out across the row

You even get pre-boarding.

In other words, Lufthansa takes an ordinary row of Economy seats and turns it into something resembling a bed.

Now let's get something straight.

This is not Business Class.

You don't get the big lie-flat seat.

You don't get lounge access.

You don't get the Business Class meals, champagne and premium service.

You are still flying Economy.

But when the lights go down somewhere over the Atlantic and everyone else is trying to sleep sitting upright, you may be lying down.

Suddenly Economy doesn't sound so bad.

How Does Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row Work?

Here's the interesting part.

You generally cannot reserve Sleeper’s Row months ahead of time when you purchase your airline ticket.

Lufthansa currently says Sleeper’s Row is sold directly at a Lufthansa airport counter on eligible long-haul flights and is subject to availability. Advance reservations are not available.

That's because Lufthansa obviously can't sell you three or four seats at a discount if they think they can sell those seats individually to paying passengers.

So this is essentially an inventory-management deal.

If the flight has enough empty Economy seats, Lufthansa can say:

Instead of letting these seats fly empty, why don't we sell the whole row to one passenger?

That's a win for Lufthansa.

And potentially a very big win for you.

Can You Book Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row in Advance?

No.  Lufthansa currently does not allow passengers to reserve Sleeper's Row months in advance.  It is offered subject to availability at Lufthansa airport counter, typically shortly before departure. 

How Much Does Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row Cost?

This is where it gets interesting.

Published traveler reports over the years have placed the additional price in roughly the $179-$299 range per flight segment, although Lufthansa's current Sleeper’s Row webpage does not list a fixed price.

That means you should consider those prices examples rather than guaranteed current pricing. Ask Lufthansa what the cost is for your particular flight.

But let's think about this.

Suppose your Economy ticket to Europe costs $700.

And suppose Lufthansa offers you an entire Sleeper’s Row for another $250.

You have now spent about:

$950

And you may be able to lie down for much of your overnight flight.

Compare that with what a lie-flat Business Class ticket might cost.

Now you understand why I find Sleeper’s Row so interesting.

Three Seats or Four Seats Makes a Big Difference

There is something else travelers should pay attention to.

Lufthansa describes Sleeper’s Row as an entire Economy row, and published descriptions of the product have referred to rows containing three or four seats, depending upon the aircraft configuration.

For me, this would be one of my first questions at the airport:

“Is my Sleeper’s Row three seats or four?”

Why?

Length.

Three Economy seats across are not exactly a California king-size bed.

A taller traveler is probably going to need to bend their knees or sleep somewhat diagonally.

Four seats?

Now we're talking.

Depending upon the aircraft, four seats can give you substantially more room to stretch out.

It still isn't the Ritz-Carlton.

But at 37,000 feet, I'm willing to lower my standards.

What Do Travelers Say About Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row?

Travel forums contain some interesting stories from passengers who have slept across rows of airline seats.

One recurring observation is that the mattress topper matters.

If you've ever tried lying across three regular Economy seats, you already know why.

There are bumps.

There are cracks between seats.

There are seatbelt buckles.

And airplane seats were not designed with the human spine in mind.

One experienced FlyerTalk traveler who had used an entire row noted that having blankets and pillows made a significant difference because the seats themselves weren't particularly comfortable for sleeping. Another traveler described situations where other passengers naturally tried to move into seemingly empty seats, but cabin crews understood that the entire row had been reserved for one passenger.

That's another advantage of officially buying Sleeper’s Row.

The seats aren't just empty.

They're yours.

There is a big difference.

But Here's the Gamble

Suppose you pay $250 for Sleeper’s Row.

You board the airplane.

And after the doors close you discover Economy is half empty.

The guy across the aisle lifts his armrests, stretches across three empty seats and goes to sleep.

He paid:

$0 extra.

You paid:

$250.

That could hurt.

But let's look at the opposite situation.

You pay $250.

The flight fills up.

Every Economy seat is occupied.

Except the other seats in your row.

While virtually everyone else spends eight or ten hours sitting upright, you pull out your pillow, put down the mattress topper and go to bed.

Now that $250 looks like the best money you spent on the entire vacation.

That's the tradeoff.

Sleeper’s Row vs. Buying an Extra Seat Yourself

This is where Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row connects directly with my original Buy the Middle Seat travel hack.

There are advantages to both strategies.

Buy the Extra Seat Yourself

The advantage is certainty.

You can arrange the extra seat when booking, subject to the particular airline's extra-seat policies.

You know before leaving home that the extra space should be yours.

For a couple on a three-across airplane, I still love this strategy.

Window.

Empty middle.

Aisle.

Everyone is happy.

Buy Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row

The advantage could be price.

Instead of paying the full published fare for two or three additional seats, Lufthansa may sell the unused row as a special add-on.

And Lufthansa throws in the mattress topper, pillow and blanket.

The disadvantage?

You can't count on getting it.

Lufthansa says the product is subject to availability and cannot be reserved in advance.

For me, that's the biggest weakness of Sleeper’s Row.

I don't like building a travel plan around the words:

“Maybe.”

Is Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row Better Than Premium Economy?

This is an interesting comparison.

Premium Economy gives you a better seat.

Sleeper’s Row potentially gives you a bed.

During the daytime, I might prefer Premium Economy.

But on an 11-hour overnight flight?

Give me the row.

I would much rather spend six or seven hours lying horizontally across Economy seats than spend six or seven hours trying to sleep in a somewhat larger reclining seat.

Of course, everyone values comfort differently.

But if my primary objective is sleep, Sleeper’s Row gets my attention.

Would I Buy Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row?

For the right price?

Absolutely.

I have flown enough long-haul flights to know that I don't need a seven-course meal at 35,000 feet.

I don't need fancy champagne.

And I certainly don't need someone bringing me pajamas.

What I really want on an overnight flight is pretty simple.

I want to sleep.

If Lufthansa offered me an entire row, a mattress, a pillow and a blanket for a couple hundred dollars instead of charging me thousands more for Business Class, I would take a very serious look at it.

Especially if it were a four-seat row.

The Traveling Professor's Bottom Line

I have always believed travelers should stop automatically thinking:

Economy or Business Class.

There are options in between.

Premium Economy is one.

Buying an empty middle seat is another.

And Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row might be one of the most interesting alternatives of all.

It's not glamorous.

Nobody is going to mistake three Economy seats covered by a mattress pad for Lufthansa First Class.

But if I can get horizontal, sleep for several hours and arrive in Europe reasonably rested without paying thousands of dollars for Business Class?

Tuck me in.

And apparently Lufthansa will even provide the blanket.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row

Can you book Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row in advance?
No. It is currently sold at the airport subject to availability.

How many seats are in Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row?
Depending on aircraft configuration and the product offered, the row may contain multiple Economy seats.

Does Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row include a mattress?
Yes. Lufthansa provides a mattress topper, Business Class-quality blanket and pillow.

Is Lufthansa Sleeper’s Row Business Class?
No. You remain an Economy Class passenger but receive the use of an Economy row for sleeping.

Is Sleeper’s Row better than Premium Economy?
For someone whose priority is sleeping horizontally on an overnight flight, it may be. Premium Economy provides a larger conventional seat instead.