The Lufthansa company introduces a new tariff for hand luggage. Since the measure comes into force
Lufthansa is introducing a new economy fare starting in May, eliminating free hand luggage on short- and medium-haul flights. The new “Economy Basic” tariff allows passengers to take on board only one small personal item, the rule applying to all airlines within the Lufthansa Group.
Lufthansa introduces a new fare for hand luggage. Archive photo
Starting April 28, travelers can book the new fare, with the first flights starting May 19. The price includes a single personal item, such as a laptop bag or backpack with maximum dimensions of 40 × 30 × 15 centimeters. Those who wish to bring an additional hand or checked baggage will pay at least 15 euros more.
In practice, the new pricing system is part of a wider trend in the European aviation industry, in which airlines increasingly fragment the services included in the basic price of the ticket, writes BusinessInsider, stating that the goal is to increase ancillary revenues, known as “ancillary revenues“, which include baggage fees, seat selection or priority boarding. Large airline groups such as the Lufthansa Group have adopted this strategy to remain competitive against low-cost carriers such as Ryanair or easyJet, which have already built a business model based on very low base fares and additional service fees.
At the same time, the new tariff model also brings a closer approach to the structure already used by other traditional operators such as Air France, which introduced tickets for a long time “light” without cabin baggage included. The difference is that this type of fare is now becoming standard throughout the Lufthansa group, making it a basic option on European flights.
European consumer organization warning
The European consumer organization BEUC warns that such policies can reduce price transparency and make it more difficult to actually compare offers. According to the organization, the removal of hand luggage from the standard fare raises questions about the right of passengers to carry a reasonable amount of luggage on board for free, especially in the context where this service was previously included in the ticket price.
BEUC has repeatedly criticized the practices of low-cost companies and is currently looking into the possibility of legal action to standardize cabin baggage rules at European level. The main argument is that passengers should benefit from a minimum of included services, regardless of the chosen airline.
On the other hand, the airline association A4E (Airlines for Europe), of which Lufthansa is also a member, rejects these criticisms. Industry representatives argue that the current model offers more flexibility, allowing passengers to pay only for the services they actually use. In this view, a cheaper ticket without baggage included is a voluntary choice of the consumer, not a loss of rights.
