New "Light" Flight Class means ZERO bags for star alliance gold members
Oct 9, 2015, 9:07 am
#16
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
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You may also argue it is somewhat a bit deceiptful by the passenger, if he selects a HBO fare and then still want to check in a bag. He obviously purchased the wrong product then.
Its like you buying an iPhone. The seller is promising you a second iPhone, when you purchase one iPhone.
Would you ask the seller to get an extra iPhone, if you just buy a cheap-version Android phone?
Its like you buying an iPhone. The seller is promising you a second iPhone, when you purchase one iPhone.
Would you ask the seller to get an extra iPhone, if you just buy a cheap-version Android phone?
Oct 9, 2015, 11:58 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Berlin
Programs: IHG SE, Bonvoy Plat, DL Plat, UA PPlat, EK Gold
Posts: 231
I don't think the LH group gets it at all....if I wanted to be "nickel and dimed" I'd fly the discount carriers (where I can ALWAYS find lower fares). There is no mileage upside in flying LH, what's left? It's a shame that they let themselves be pulled into this race to the bottom. Given their cost structure and top down, tone deaf management it's not a game they'll ever win.
Oct 9, 2015, 12:55 pm
#20
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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I don't think the LH group gets it at all....if I wanted to be "nickel and dimed" I'd fly the discount carriers (where I can ALWAYS find lower fares). There is no mileage upside in flying LH, what's left? It's a shame that they let themselves be pulled into this race to the bottom. Given their cost structure and top down, tone deaf management it's not a game they'll ever win.
I simply do not understand why giving consumers a choice is a bad thing, e.g., "because LH Group gives me a choice, I'm going to fly some ULCC."
Oct 9, 2015, 12:59 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AMS/RTM
Posts: 2,827
Anecdotally though it seems to me that the HBO fares have the same price of the previous luggage fares, the net result is that I get less for my money. And in the meantime LH double dips by selling more cargo space.
Oct 9, 2015, 1:59 pm
#22
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Originally Posted by Often1
But, consumers who travel without checked bags can elect these fares and save money.
It is a race to the bottom that LCCs have started and legacy carriers have willingly joined.
"Giving the consumer a choice" would mean lowering base ticket prices, thereby passing savings to pax who choose not to use certain previously included services, while pegging base fare + add-ons to the level where prior inclusive prices were. If this actually happened, I'd be all for it.
Reality obviously is nothing like this. And while I understand the business logic, I really hate being talked to like a fool.
Oct 9, 2015, 2:07 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,941
What some of the above posters forget is that the HBO fares are ridiculously expensive. Example (from wifey's booking today): FRA-HAM-FRA costs EUR 688 in economy light. This is an outright ridiculous pricing - Ryanair service at Lufthansa prices.
So i think it is fair for Star Gold members to expect significant benefits to go along with such fares.
So i think it is fair for Star Gold members to expect significant benefits to go along with such fares.
Oct 9, 2015, 3:52 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Wrocław, Poland
Programs: SK *S, LH *S; Accor ALL Gold
Posts: 231
For what it's worth, all of this only applies to the Lufthansa Group itself.
On LOT, the Economy Simple fare (which is what Economy Light is on LH) still allows for the bags extension specified in your M&M status on top of the zero checked-in bags that applies to the non-status pax. This means FTLs can check-in one bag for free on Eco Simple.
On LOT, the Economy Simple fare (which is what Economy Light is on LH) still allows for the bags extension specified in your M&M status on top of the zero checked-in bags that applies to the non-status pax. This means FTLs can check-in one bag for free on Eco Simple.
Oct 9, 2015, 4:27 pm
#25
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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That, of course, has been the driving force behind all this "giving the customer a choice" crap that has been going on at most airlines in the past decade.
It is a race to the bottom that LCCs have started and legacy carriers have willingly joined.
"Giving the consumer a choice" would mean lowering base ticket prices, thereby passing savings to pax who choose not to use certain previously included services, while pegging base fare + add-ons to the level where prior inclusive prices were. If this actually happened, I'd be all for it.
Reality obviously is nothing like this. And while I understand the business logic, I really hate being talked to like a fool.
It is a race to the bottom that LCCs have started and legacy carriers have willingly joined.
"Giving the consumer a choice" would mean lowering base ticket prices, thereby passing savings to pax who choose not to use certain previously included services, while pegging base fare + add-ons to the level where prior inclusive prices were. If this actually happened, I'd be all for it.
Reality obviously is nothing like this. And while I understand the business logic, I really hate being talked to like a fool.
If the free market moved from LH to FR, LH would either lower prices, increase services or go under.
But, an analyst at LH reviewing this thread would say to himself, "the fools will pay more to fly us, so there is no reason to lower prices or provide free bags, better snacks or hotter hand towels."
Oct 9, 2015, 6:23 pm
#26
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
Oct 10, 2015, 4:44 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: BTS/VIE
Programs: LH MM**, HH Silver
Posts: 2,282
Looked up the prices for VIE-BRU-VIE the other day, and for certain dates the light fare earned 750 miles and cost 530€. I can imagine someone paying this amount of money to be a tad surprised at check-in when asked for extra cash to check bags, even more so if the traveller would be a status holder.
Oct 10, 2015, 5:07 am
#28
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,941
Looked up the prices for VIE-BRU-VIE the other day, and for certain dates the light fare earned 750 miles and cost 530€. I can imagine someone paying this amount of money to be a tad surprised at check-in when asked for extra cash to check bags, even more so if the traveller would be a status holder.
Oct 10, 2015, 5:51 am
#30
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Berlin
Programs: IHG SE, Bonvoy Plat, DL Plat, UA PPlat, EK Gold
Posts: 231
I think they let greed or stupidity (or both) get the best of them on this one.
