I’m not sure what’s worse — that Lufthansa is getting rid of carry-on bags on its cheapest fares, that the airline is marketing this as a positive, or just how damn complex Lufthansa’s fare structure will be.
Continue reading: Lufthansa Adds Punitive Economy Basic Fares: Carry-On Bag Not Included!
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@ Andrew -- My mistake, I was stupidly thinking of British Airways' hand luggage only fares, which do include a full size carry-on. The post has been updated!
And Lufthansa are being punitive about it toward their SEN/HON elite status members too.
When will they also cut out Lufthansa lounge access on some of these fares? This seems to be the trend Lufthansa is going in.
Where is LH-fanboy oliver2002 on these changes?
"What’s really the difference between EasyJet and one of the network carriers in Europe, in terms of passenger experience?"
The difference is that EasyJet will probably get you to your destination nonstop while the network carriers will route you through their hubs.
AF-KL and other SkyTeam Elite status members gets a free checked bag on AF-KL flights even on hand-baggage only fares. The same cannot be said about Lufthansa Group airline flights for Star Golds.
I'm actually positive about these changes as they should make it even easier to board last without worrying whether there's enough space for my hand luggage. I'm not worried about fares as the low cost airlines keep them pretty restrained - I have seen business class on Lufthansa going for less than a Jet2 ticket plus checked in luggage. The only outrageous thing from my perspective is that they're keeping the cheap business class fares completely inflexible instead of allowing date changes for a penalty
Just as they removed free drinks and snacks in economy, I am so happy that Lufthansa is again listening to customer feedback and therefore adding non refundable, non changeable tickets with no carry on luggage. If only they could offer outdoor stairs entry then remove rear seats instead offering standing while tied to a pole, I would be even better catered to.
I'm fine with whatever they do. If I'm flying within Europe my strategy is to take a non stop if available, even if it's Easyjet or Ryanair (which I will do later this year). If the route has a non stop with a major carrier, I'll just buy EuroBusiness and get the lounge and extra checked weight and bags. I checked a few Frankfort to somewhere in Europe routes on LH. They did not show the new, more restrictive fares. But, unless they are crazy low, I'm fine with business.
Isn't this introduction of fare strange since the EU is already on schedule to mandate a free carry on bag:
"The European Parliament has voted to prohibit additional fees for hand luggage on flights within the EU, likely starting around 2025–2026. Passengers will be entitled to bring one personal item and a cabin bagfor free, aiming for standardized, transparent pricing.
Key Details of the Proposed EU Rule
What is Free: A personal item (backpack/handbag) and a cabin bag up to 7kg."
"What’s really the difference between EasyJet and one of the network carriers in Europe, in terms of passenger experience?"
The difference is you pay a lot less for EasyJet, and your carry-on bag won't be weighed, either.
I would have never imagined a "first world" airline becoming worse than AV. Even AV reintroduced a free carry-on with basic economy just recently.
You missed the even bigger story -- almost all fares, including business class ones, become use-it-or-lose-it (i.e. non-changeable).
A worst change could not be imagined.
One day I’ll read about an airline introducing a fare that doesn’t even include a personal item. The “ just you “ fare or something like it.
absolutely, when I book LX, I actively try to get Business on the sole ex-ZRH leg as they go around the gate area weighing bags. Note: I am not talking about targeting the ones which bring their entire household as carry-on.
What’s more, BA allows a carry-on of 23 kg (!) while most airlines restrict it to 7-10kg.
Literally, as long as you can lift it and put it in the overhead bin you’re good.
Also how misleading is “economy comfort”. The only difference between it and the lower tier is a checked bag allowance. How is that about comfort!? It’s very misleading as you might assume you get a better seat or more legroom, or you know, something to make the journey more comfortable.
I think one positive is it should help with the hand luggage storage issue. So often people struggling to find space for their hand luggage on full flights which causes frustrations and delays
This is dumb.
Just fly Ryanair for a fraction of the cost. Direct. Never on strike. Bags are cheap. Exit rows are cheap.
Its like AC.
Their "flex" tickets are not flexible and their "comfort " tickets not comfortable.
That's why I never mind paying for a bag separately (which includes priority boarding) on an LCC and I did paid for PB on LHR-MAD last week with Iberia to ensure my bag had space.
That's why I never mind paying for a bag separately (which includes priority boarding) on an LCC and I did paid for PB on LHR-MAD last week with Iberia to ensure my bag had space.
Honestly I don't mind this, as currently it is just a pain to find overhead space on LH/LX flights. Only drawback is of course that my ticket will get more expensive.
Also regharding the chart shown, it looks to me that they removed seat selection from Economy Green, I'm pretty sure that was available before.
Y classic/comfort no longer having seat selection is the far, far bigger issue. Particularly since you pay twice if connecting flight on same ticket.
There is no difference except on LCC tickets are cheaper, bags are cheaper, exit rows are cheaper
Fun fact, BA J and Ryanair have the same seat pitch.
The low cost airlines have very low frequencies in many/most of their routes. They're not worth travelling on the wrong day or losing a night's sleep to catch a 06:00 departure.
European parliament passed a law that requires airlines to have full size carry on with 7kg. It is a matter of time when eu nations start implementing this rule so I wonder what lh is thinking now... They think they can just puss off customers for a while until the new law is implemented??? I find it so shortsighted
Many of the major German hubs (deliberately) don't have LCCs as competitors. LH can do what it wants, customers don't have a choice.
The council of europe rejected the 7kg bag though and EU commission hasn’t approved it. It’s far from a guarantied outcome
But the bags and seats on Easyjet are now very expensive - I reckon to add EUR80 to the headline fare (EUR4 gets added just for clicking on the calendar!)
So while the headline often looks cheaper on Easyjet, the price I am going to pay is often more.
So it often depends on the airports - at some, the legacy carriers are significantly less likely to have one stand in the cold and rain.
Very similar to WizzAir then. I flew Wizz recently, and it's not that bad, if you are willing to pay up. That will give me another option outside of Lufthansa.
The Council of Europe? No, that is a different body than the European Council. You may mean the European Council.
The European Council is composed of the EU states’ government/state heads, and they tend to be major corporate kiss-ups when it comes to their own national flag carriers and the interests of such airlines.
The European Council keeps batting for the airlines. In this regard too, the European Council have been batting in opposition to the European Parliament.
Got a tweeker CEO in there now. Moved Swiss offices in Zurich to Frankfurt. Tweeking the prices and categories, lots of different airline companies.
Its alot to pull off, lets see if he does it.
Maybe the ULCC will now differentiate themselves by requiring your outerwear (jacket, etc) be small enough to fit into the free space of your personal item... lol
Comfort fare brand on AC comes with a preferred seat selection as an added benefit over flex, which is standard seat selection. @Nikojas's point is the fare gave no distinctive difference to the seating and service and only gave a bag allowance.
If it was done honestly, where they reduced the cost of the fare to reflect the services you receive, I'd be okay with it. The issue here, seemingly, is they take the current lowest fare, reduce the service and value, and keep the same price.
It's their way of offering ulcc level of service while maintaining legacy carrier yields. The customer does not win.
Economy Comfort also has a seat selection as differentiaor. But I agree that these fare names are silly.
The EU is not "on schedule" to mandate anything. It was approved by the Parliament (body representing citizens, thus always very customer-focused) but not by the Council (body representing member states and through them various corporate/lobying interests).