Lufthansa launches new pricing concept for Europe

[Ho Really]

Lufthansa will introduce three tiers of Economy Class from 1 October 2015: ‘Light’, ‘Classic’ and ‘Flex’, for domestic and European flights.

ECONOMY LIGHT
The new Light fare will be the most economical option for those travelling only with hand luggage and not in need of any ticket flexibility. The Light fare can be booked from only Euro 89 for a return flight. No rebooking or refund is possible with this option. If desired, customers can additionally book a piece of or book a seat at any time between booking and start of the journey.

ECONOMY CLASSIC
The Classic fare includes the opportunity to check-in a piece of luggage of up to 23kg. This option also offers a new, additional opportunity for many passengers to secure their desired seat, free-of-charge, at booking. Finally, the Classic fare is more flexible than the Light fare because it can be rebooked to another flight on the original connection for a fee.

ECONOMY FLEX
The Flex fare is focused principally on passengers that require more flexibility in their travel planning. In addition to the free seat reservation, the Flex fare offers the opportunity to rebook the flight at no extra cost or change the itinerary. If the originally planned booking class is no longer available, it is possible that an extra payment is necessary. In this fare option, frequent fliers will get an additional 50% of Premium Miles credited in the framework of a Miles & More promotion.

BUSINESS CLASS
Besides the three Economy fares, there continues to be a Business Class fare which includes all the usual services and conveniences of this travel class, such as access to the lounge, increased luggage allowance of 2 x 32kg, seat reservation and an open seat next to it, and priority boarding. The novelty is the full flexibility in rebooking and cancellation, with all Business Class fares to be re-bookable without a fee and refundable free-of-charge.

Quoted from Travel Weekly.

Cheers

 

[Mattg]

This seems very similar to the Germanwings concept (their LCC).

Germanwings has three economy tiers - Basic, Smart (with baggage included) and Best (with baggage and flexbility). Though of course Germanwings doesn't have business class. I would say that it's not dissimilar to Air NZ's product offering either.

Can't say I'm a huge fan, but it does seem to be becoming more popular with airlines.

If it reduces LH's sometimes crazy pricing on intra-EU flights, then that could be a good thing perhaps.

 

[vantage03]

LH Group companies have already started using this pricing model; SWISS and (from memory) OS implemented this a couple of months ago.
Over on FT, SWISS has been copping flack over the new fares as status-holders get less benefits and inclusions than they used to.

 

[Mogul]

It worked really well for VA NOT.