Third, in a day and age when air carriers provide generous carry on allowances which allow the average traveler to pack for 5-7 days without need of checked luggage, the outmoded view that "all full service carriers provide free checked luggage" is simply outmoded. BA offers such fares, LH offers such fares, and many others will move in that direction. Why? So that people who want cheaper fares can purchase those and people who feel the need to check a bag can purchase fares which include baggage.
These trend is also a lifesafer for the troubled newly-built BER (Berlin) airport. The papers had been reporting that the baggage reclaim areas are too small to handle all the volume.
Guess what! With the introduction of HBO fares among most carriers, passenger will check in less and less bags, thus, the baggage reclaim area at BER does not have to be remodelled.
Its good news for BER! Congratulations on the foresight of the BER planers and architects! This is something they got right.
The next big thing will be to deny status passengers lounge access on LIGHT fares.
The Star Alliance website is already taking care of that "exception":
1. Guests must enter with an eligible Star Alliance Gold customer and must depart on a Star Alliance airline, though not necessarily on the same flight. Status level benefits vary among frequent flyer programmes.
We can expect LH to change the benefits. The other Star Carriers will follow.