Lufthansa Group Adds $18 Fee to Third-Party Bookings in Push For “Transparency"

[eastwest101]

Article from Flyertalk - pretty interesting approach by LH


Global aviation conglomerate Lufthansa Group announced this week that it will soon begin adding a surcharge to bookings not purchased directly through its websites. It’s a move the company says is best for consumer, BBC News reports, but online travel agencies are crying foul.
The nearly $18 fee will be charged to all bookings made through third-party sites from September 1. Lufthansa Group — operating Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines and low-cost carrier Germanwings — claims that the fee will compensate for the airlines’ use of global distribution systems in selling tickets and allow passengers to book a more customized experience for their travel with the group’s airlines

Full details here:

Lufthansa Group Adds $18 Fee to Third-Party Bookings in Push For “Transparency”



Has generated its own thread:

LH & co to charge 16 EUR for GDS bookings - FlyerTalk Forums

Have not seen any mention here on AFF yet. Not strictly relevant here in Australia yet, and its all to be tested in EU courts in the future but will be interesting to see how it plays out and whether other airlines follow suit in the future. I imagine that the owners of Googleflights, Kyak, Webjet, Adioso, Expedia, Skyscanner etc etc will all have something to say about this!

Mods please delete or merge if already raised by someone else.

 

[williamsf1]

Qantas has had something similar for many years... around AUD10 per segment for agents that do not have a GDS agreement... Tho most agents have the agreement so not too many charged

The Competitive Booking Sources (CBS) will offer subscribers access to book all Qantas Domestic, trans Tasman and International public fares, including all Qantas Red e-Deal fares at the same price as sold on qantas.com.
These arrangements provide cost-effective booking sources for Qantas and as a result agencies electing to use a Competitive Booking Source (CBS) will receive full Qantas content and fares distributed will not be subject to a channel surcharge.