Lufthansa May Offer Moscow Vaccine Flights

Lufthansa May Offer Moscow Vaccine Flights

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While the Lufthansa First Class Terminal in Frankfurt may be closed right now due to lack of demand, IntelliNews is reporting that Lufthansa may set up a “First Class Corona Lounge” in Moscow…

We’ve heard of the concept of vaccine tourism, but that might just be taken to a new extreme with this concept. Long story short, Lufthansa is allegedly in talks with Russia’s foreign ministry about the concept of arranging special flights to & from Moscow so that people can get the Sputnik V vaccine, given the slow rollout of vaccines in Germany:

  • Lufthansa and Russia’s foreign ministry could partner to offer regular service between Frankfurt Airport and Moscow Domodedovo Airport; service could also eventually be added from Vienna Airport and Zurich Airport
  • For around €1,000, Lufthansa would sell packages that include two roundtrip flights between Frankfurt and Moscow, plus vaccines; the Sputnick V vaccine is one of the cheapest globally
  • Passengers wouldn’t even enter Russia, but rather a special transit lounge would be set up, where passengers would spend a couple of hours getting vaccinated and being observed, before returning to Germany
  • Russia’s foreign ministry needs to be onboard with the concept, though, since special transit visas would need to be arranged; this also isn’t a traditional transit visa, in the sense that you’re coming from and going to the same place (typically international transit refers to situations where you’re traveling between two countries via a third country)

Only time will tell if anything comes of these negotiations, though it sure is a unique concept.

Lufthansa could offer direct turnaround Moscow vaccine flights

Bottom line

There’s no denying that vaccine tourism will become widespread over the coming weeks and months, especially among those who are wealthy and in countries where vaccine distribution isn’t going well.

While we’ve seen the introduction of vaccine tourism, this is on a totally different level. The proposal is that Lufthansa would sell packages that include two same-day roundtrip flights to Moscow a few weeks apart to get vaccinated, and people wouldn’t even leave the airport.

I’ll be curious to see if something like this actually happens, and if so, what kind of a public reaction we see to this, given what a sensitive topic vaccine prioritization seems to be.

What do you make of Lufthansa’s Moscow vaccine flight concept?

(Tip of the hat to @noguidebooks)

Conversations (46)
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  1. kaboom Guest

    it seems like every living russian is here in Zanzibar so the doses aren't needed in the motherland.

  2. Klaus Guest

    @Ben:
    Your pattern to bash Lufthansa is inappropriate here. You should correct this article as it is clearly false. Lufthansa is not offering vaccine flights to Moscow. They are flying to Moscow, but so are Emirates, Air Arabia, Pegasus, Egypt Air, S7, Air France...

  3. Andy Diamond

    @Ryan. The figures from the official FOPH (BAG) statistics and the confirmation of discrimination from a Tages-Anzeiger interview with the State of Zurich Minister of Health, published today (behind the pay wall). So I do have to believe that it is factually correct.

    As a Swiss citizen, I'm not surprised.

  4. Mikhail Guest

    It is almost impossible, since vaccination Sputnik V should take place in two stages with a difference of two weeks.
    Passengers will have to buy tickets to Russia twice for vaccinations.

  5. gfrew Member

    Klaus is correct.
    https://www.tagesschau.de/faktenfinder/corona-impfen-russland-101.html
    (in German)

    Oh well, guess I need to think about just booking a trip there and getting the vaccine on the Red Square as mentioned in the Article. But I need to research this more.

  6. Phillip Diamond

    To me this sounds like something designed to appeal to Russians living abroad. Given that many countries have had to limit movement between the EU and Russia due to Russia’s high case number, LH/LX/OS have been used extensively for transiting between Russia and many destinations and LH probably has the statistics to back such a move.

  7. Klaus Guest

    According to german Website Tagesschau.de this is Fake News.

  8. Tom Member

    @Lucky - I realize this is off-topic, but has LH followed through with the German government, to clarify whether points-to-miles transfers from Amex, Marriott, etc. are legal?

  9. gfrew Member

    I would buy this in a heartbeat. I have a rare muscle illness affecting my entire body but since I am young I have no priority at all here in Germany and I would therefore most likely only receive the vaccination early 2022.

  10. Claus Guest

    Will Russia openly sell vaccines to wealthy foreigners, while they still have a huge vaccination gap in their own population? Does Lufthansa want to be associated with an ethically questionable money-jumps-the-line scheme? I doubt it.

  11. Ryan Member

    @Andy, sorry but what? where in the Appenzell Innerrhoden Alabama did you get this information from. The comment section of 20min.ch? There is no discrimination.

    Nidwalden is 35x as small as canton Zürich when it comes to inhabitants. It is impossible to 100% evenly distribute the vaccine, there are many other factors involved.

  12. Samo Guest

    To those who suggested flying the vaccine to Germany instead: That wouldn't work because Russia still haven't applied for the emergency use authorisation of Sputnik V in the EU. Without such authorisation you just can't inject it into people in Germany, hence the need to fly them to Russia.

  13. Karl Guest

    As a German, I hope Germany can be free again and leave the EU soon.
    Als Deutscher hoffe ich, dass Deutschland wieder frei wird und bald die EU verlässt.

  14. Alex Member

    Correction, misspelt my own name - it’s meant to be Alex. Not alez.

  15. Alez Member

    I’m a non-Russian citizen who just finished getting vaccinated with Sputnik V two days ago (got my second injection). I’ve already spent the last few weeks trying to figure out how to make it possible for other foreigners to come here and get it (I already live here so it wasn’t a problem for me) but I guess Lufthansa’s about fo beat me to the punch! In any case, this is a great idea. Lots...

    I’m a non-Russian citizen who just finished getting vaccinated with Sputnik V two days ago (got my second injection). I’ve already spent the last few weeks trying to figure out how to make it possible for other foreigners to come here and get it (I already live here so it wasn’t a problem for me) but I guess Lufthansa’s about fo beat me to the punch! In any case, this is a great idea. Lots of people in Europe are eager to get vaccinated but can’t because of shortages, while there’s a huge surplus of Sputnik here in Moscow.

  16. Andy Diamond

    Here in Switzerland it’s now official that the government discriminates against urban states (cantons). Zurich received only 8.5 doses per 100 inhabitants (lasting for 4.25 full vaccinations), while rural states such as Nidwalden get 14 (lasting for 7). The official explanation is their more vulnerable population - fact is rural states already invite middle aged people ...

    Back to the topic: Many people in Zurich would consider flying to Russia, given the discrimination in our...

    Here in Switzerland it’s now official that the government discriminates against urban states (cantons). Zurich received only 8.5 doses per 100 inhabitants (lasting for 4.25 full vaccinations), while rural states such as Nidwalden get 14 (lasting for 7). The official explanation is their more vulnerable population - fact is rural states already invite middle aged people ...

    Back to the topic: Many people in Zurich would consider flying to Russia, given the discrimination in our own country. Changing residence to a rural state is the other option and, arguably, the government’s intention.

  17. taz Guest

    just fly lufthansa into DTW rent a car and come down to Toledo to get your Covid19 vaccine. I had my first dose today of the moderna vaccine second dose in a month. Made the appointment a week ago. my family that lives in Florida that are really high risk are still waiting to be called. I saw it on the net a week ago called the number and could have received the vaccine on wednesday but had other plans.

  18. ChrisC Guest

    @Flyer - because doing this is not the same as transit.

    Transit it A-B-C. With this you are flying A-B-A departing from and returning to the same airport without entering the country for a period of time.

    I know of people who have been denied boarding by BA to flights to Moscow doing a back to back tier points run because they weren’t actually transiting.

    Russian immigration does not regard a back to back flight as meeting the transit rules.

  19. Christian Guest

    @Patrick D

    My point exactly. Doing more business than absolutely necessary with a country that's utterly ruthless and without notable principles doesn't really seem like the best plan for Germany.

  20. Patrick D Member

    @Christian

    Russia is Germany's chief supplier of oil and natural gas. If they turn off the tap, Germany pulls a Texas.

  21. Christian Guest

    @Creditcrunch +1

    Considering how fervently Russia is trying to bring back the Bad Old Days, I'm surprised that the German national carrier is seriously considering this. Handing money and prestige to a country that wants to supplant your nation's position at best and destroy it at worst would tend to suggest a more cautious arrangement with Moscow.

  22. NK3 Guest

    @glenn t
    Russia being involved in this is not surprising. If true, I am more surprised and disappointed in Lufthansa.

  23. glenn t Diamond

    Russia has operated in a moral and ethical vacuum forever so it's not surprising in the least they would prioritise an inflow of Euros over the wellbeing of their citizens.

  24. Joni Boulware Guest

    People have flying and driving themselves all over the place to get vaccines since they came out.
    It is how the at least partially free market works. No matter how much equity effort goes into a distribution plan, the most flexible, most connected, and those who are willing to research and work on their computer for hours and days on end to find an open appointment will get the vaccine before those who don't.

  25. Bob Guest

    Wow - so, so many levels of stupdity and ethically questionable behavior in this "plan" I can't imagine it actually happening.

    LOL at the idea of flying the vaccines to Germany instead of the Germans to vaccines. Of course that would be simpler, but then Lufthansa wouldn't get to bilk desperate rich people for money.

    We're doomed as a species.

  26. Uli Guest

    Many Germans do not even want to be vaccinated with AstraZeneca. No way that there will be enough people paying lots of money for Russian vaccine.

  27. panda Gold

    Sounds like a Curb Your Enthusiasm episode.

  28. Gary Hal Hohenstein Guest

    I think this is a great idea especially considering the lousy job Germany and the EU have done so far. I would definitely go for this . Hopefully we get some follow up on this plan.

  29. Uwe New Member

    Really?
    1st of April is still far away...

    What a joke...or just another stupid idea...

  30. Ben Dover Guest

    The E.U. needs to get its act together on the vaccine front.

  31. Patrick D Member

    So, let me get this straight.

    You get on a Lufthansa flight, which is technically sovereign German ground, even if it's technically private property. You then get off the plane into a nebulous "not Russia" non-sovereign zone that is still Russian soil so they can do whatever they like with you and detain you as long as they like if they wish...and then you let a Russian citizen inject you with something they *promise* is...

    So, let me get this straight.

    You get on a Lufthansa flight, which is technically sovereign German ground, even if it's technically private property. You then get off the plane into a nebulous "not Russia" non-sovereign zone that is still Russian soil so they can do whatever they like with you and detain you as long as they like if they wish...and then you let a Russian citizen inject you with something they *promise* is their reportedly not-very-well-tested COVID vaccine...

    ...just a *few* issues I could foresee, off the top of my head. >.>

  32. Creditcrunch Diamond

    And with many Germans turning their noses up about receiving the Oxford AZ vaccine and with 1.4million AZ doses sitting unused in the country this is a bizarre turn of events!

  33. Icarus Guest

    @nk3 and the U.K. almost 30 percent 19 million so far

  34. S Diamond

    The EU has been a joke in vaccination, this would be hideously embarrassing for them.

  35. Icarus Guest

    Vaccines are supposed to be for everyone and without charge.

  36. Ben Member

    This would be an epic embarrassment for the EU. You could definitely imagine Russia putting this PR win above the health of its own citizens.

  37. Desperate Amerikanish Guest

    Sign me the F up. I’m sitting in German lockdown in Rosenheim with no vaccine opportunity around. I was thinking of heading back to my boynton beach Walgreens or the my local pharmacy in briny breezes, but if I can hop over to ussr , sign me up DLH! I need the jab. I’m overweight and 40. Tausand Dank.

  38. P Guest

    Umm, instead of a person going from Frankfurt to Moscow to get vaccinated, wouldn't it be simpler to have the vaccine come to Frankfurt from Moscow? Or even a batch of vaccines along with a nurse to deliver them could fly from Moscow to Frankfurt, vaccinate several people, and fly back after a few hours. And that would likely be cheaper than all these people flying to Moscow.

  39. Dick Bupkiss Guest

    I wonder how the Russian people feel about this plan.

  40. Joey Diamond

    What if you get an allergic reaction after getting the vaccine shot and hospitalization is needed?

  41. NK3 Guest

    Agree with @Mark. Per Bloomberg, Russia has given 1.5 doses per 100 people, Germany has given 6.7. To date, Germany has not given this vaccine even emergency use authorization. This is ethically questionable, and I would be disappointed if Lufthansa went down this road.

  42. Ben Guest

    This is what you get by living in the EU!

  43. Flyer Guest

    @Lucky, Why would transit visas be needed? Is that a COVID-specific thing? Normally, Russia allows visa free transit.

  44. Simon Guest

    Is not valid anymore, gov. change the rules last Monday only for citizen.

  45. Mark Diamond

    I'd think Russia would focus on their own population first, it's not link they've nearly finished they've actually given fewer vaccines than Germany at this point (per capita, source: NYT)

  46. Max Guest

    Shut up and take my money! There couldn't be a better way to show the middle finger to Murksel.

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kaboom Guest

it seems like every living russian is here in Zanzibar so the doses aren't needed in the motherland.

0
Klaus Guest

@Ben: Your pattern to bash Lufthansa is inappropriate here. You should correct this article as it is clearly false. Lufthansa is not offering vaccine flights to Moscow. They are flying to Moscow, but so are Emirates, Air Arabia, Pegasus, Egypt Air, S7, Air France...

0
Andy Diamond

@Ryan. The figures from the official FOPH (BAG) statistics and the confirmation of discrimination from a Tages-Anzeiger interview with the State of Zurich Minister of Health, published today (behind the pay wall). So I do have to believe that it is factually correct. As a Swiss citizen, I'm not surprised.

0
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