New European Economy Fares [HBO/light topics merged]
Nov 27, 2015, 7:52 am
#91
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
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Just wanted to post my personal experience with a Swiss Economy light fare. I had assumed wrongly that even with the stated "no checked luggage", a *G member would get a +1 to their checked baggage allowance.
However, when I checked in today for a Swiss short haul flight on an economy light fare, I still had to pay for a piece of luggage as a *G.
It turns out that european "Economy Light" fares are specifically excluded from the extra baggage allowance usually afforded to *G members on the Star Alliance's Gold member webpage: http://www.staralliance.com/en/gold-status
It states in the Extra Baggage Allowance section: "For travel within Europe on “Light” fares offered by Lufthansa, Austrian & SWISS and “Check&Go” fares offered by Brussels Airlines, the extra baggage allowance will not be offered."
However, when I checked in today for a Swiss short haul flight on an economy light fare, I still had to pay for a piece of luggage as a *G.
It turns out that european "Economy Light" fares are specifically excluded from the extra baggage allowance usually afforded to *G members on the Star Alliance's Gold member webpage: http://www.staralliance.com/en/gold-status
It states in the Extra Baggage Allowance section: "For travel within Europe on “Light” fares offered by Lufthansa, Austrian & SWISS and “Check&Go” fares offered by Brussels Airlines, the extra baggage allowance will not be offered."
I wonder if this is a new change?
Nov 27, 2015, 9:44 am
#92
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: A3 *G
Posts: 10
Interesting. I prepaid for the luggage the night before after seeing the wording on the star alliance website (since it was 19CHF online vs 35CHF at the airport). Since it was a really early morning flight we just arrived to ZRH and dropped off the bag at the regular check in area. Was still half asleep and didn't try looking for the *G/business check in area to try and check in our smaller roller bag carry on - I would have checked in if luggage was free.
Nov 27, 2015, 9:54 am
#93
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: GVA,OPO
Programs: BD the last decent FFP
Posts: 1,856
This is the text in the FAQs of Light Fares
What do status customers (HON Circle Member, Senator, Frequent Traveller) need to consider when choosing a fare?
Tarif Economy Light does not include free advanced seat reservation or any additional baggage (e.g. golf equipment). All other status benefits, such as free lounge access, remain unchanged with this fare.
Tarif Economy Light does not include free advanced seat reservation or any additional baggage (e.g. golf equipment). All other status benefits, such as free lounge access, remain unchanged with this fare.
Nov 27, 2015, 10:38 am
#94
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,448
Light fares on LX are even more tricky, as mentioned before, the "old" light fares had luggage (were only offered Ex/To-GVA) when travelling as *G, the new ones don't. The LX system couldn't even properly price out "classic" fares Ex-ZRH and back to GVA for quite a while. Not sure if it's fixed now.
And to the question if prices got cheaper when LX/LH introduced light fares: No, they didn't. The former class K (for example) became K light, with K classic being 25 CHF more per leg (ie, 50 CHF more per return)
On cheap RT tickets Ex-ZRH, that meant an increase from 99 CHF to 149 CHF, if you still wanted luggage/ASR. On "regular" fares around 200 CHF (most destinations if booked early enough) it means an increase of 25% fare, unless you don't want to travel with CI luggage.
For me, it still smells, and I try to avoid companies which are doing such practices. My travel with LX has been further reduced as a result. F7 has more comfy seats anyway
But based in ZRH I can't avoid LX completely. However, whenever I've a decent alternative, I'm leaving my money there now.
And to the question if prices got cheaper when LX/LH introduced light fares: No, they didn't. The former class K (for example) became K light, with K classic being 25 CHF more per leg (ie, 50 CHF more per return)
On cheap RT tickets Ex-ZRH, that meant an increase from 99 CHF to 149 CHF, if you still wanted luggage/ASR. On "regular" fares around 200 CHF (most destinations if booked early enough) it means an increase of 25% fare, unless you don't want to travel with CI luggage.
For me, it still smells, and I try to avoid companies which are doing such practices. My travel with LX has been further reduced as a result. F7 has more comfy seats anyway
But based in ZRH I can't avoid LX completely. However, whenever I've a decent alternative, I'm leaving my money there now.
Nov 27, 2015, 3:42 pm
#96
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,448
Nonstop YOU!
Dec 1, 2015, 6:52 am
#97
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
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Posts: 29,510
Has priority boarding for status passengers in Economy on European flights been enhanced away with the new European fares? I flew two Economy Classic flights at the weekend and ''Priority Boarding' did not appear above the QR code on mobile BPs as it used to. I wasn't at the gate when boarding started and don't know if there was any announcement about who could board early.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Dec 1, 2015 at 8:53 am
Dec 1, 2015, 7:14 am
#98
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BTS/VIE
Programs: LH MM**, HH Silver
Posts: 2,282
Has priority boarding for status passengers in Economy on European flights been enhanced away with the new European fares? I flew two Economy Classic flights at the weekend and ''Priority Boarding' did not appear above the QR code on mobile BP as it used to. I wasn't at the gate when boarding started and don't know if there was any announcement about who could board early.
Dec 1, 2015, 8:50 am
#101
Senior Moderator, Moderator: Community Buzz and Ambassador: Miles & More (Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, and other partners)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 150km from MAN
Programs: LH SEN** HH Diamond
Posts: 29,510
This is what I'm talking about? Why did they remove it from a mobile BP?
Dec 1, 2015, 8:56 am
#102
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,130
I'm one of the nerds who has a bb and mostly uses paper BP, so I never had/saw the blue bar the cool kids with fruity smartphones had/have. 
Dec 1, 2015, 9:07 am
#103
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,141
