New "Light" Flight Class means ZERO bags for star alliance gold members
Oct 10, 2015, 9:24 am
#31
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: TK*G (E+), IHG Plat Ambassador
Posts: 7,884
Other *A airlines with HBO fares charge even for the 1st checked piece, right?
Oct 10, 2015, 11:38 am
#33
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAF, VIE
Programs: A3 *G; AA EXP
Posts: 509
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.
Oct 10, 2015, 12:07 pm
#34
Join Date: Feb 2007
Programs: NZ Koru
Posts: 6,415
http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/seat
At the time Rob Fyfe was the Chair of the *A board, hence how they got away with bending/changing the rules.
NZ also doesn't allow *A Gold passenger to take an extra bag in business class, you get 3x 23kg bags and nothing extra ontop.
Oct 10, 2015, 7:53 pm
#35
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
..With the introduction of the GDS distribution charge (EUR 16), these travel bookings sites will face an uphill battle to sell that ticket cheaper than LH direct. I am quite sure that LH will raise that fee over the next year, effectively cutting travel agencies, who book through a GDS, out of the game.
Therefore, people will increasingly book on lh.com, where there is a clear disclaimer on the Hand Baggage Only fares...
Therefore, people will increasingly book on lh.com, where there is a clear disclaimer on the Hand Baggage Only fares...
When studying the BA/LH Premium Economy fare war from my home location, I found it worrisome that 3rd party booking sites now consistently sell LH fares all-in a lot cheaper than lufthansa.com does. This wasn't the case before.
Same for CX. This is the first year that I used those 3rd party portals a fair bit as I stopped caring about M&M miles and CX is an LCC anyway. Odd evolution for me in contrast to what all the media claims.
Oct 10, 2015, 8:05 pm
#36
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
First and foremost, the fact that there is no checked luggage allowance is not only disclosed in the "fine print" (defined on FT as anything which people don't like and don't think ought to apply to them), but it is apparent on the website which specifically states at the column header..
The fact that elites - who get the 10kg/20kg/1 piece benefit rubbed into their faces in the bi-annual leaflet of LH - get the denial of a made promise served several pages in, in non-highlighted text.
I am quite certain that you could dispute those charges in many non-DE European legislations, especially if booked through third parties, but who'd go for that effort for a few bucks?
The free market and Thor being about equally real when it comes to air travel.
Oct 11, 2015, 4:41 am
#37
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,624
But that's the way they work, isn't it, as a company that doesn't seem very transparent or honest in any way? If the company's sick at the top, it's sick all the way down.
One way to solve the problem would be, if they're going to make baggage chargeable for everyone, elites alike, to make it a flat fee regardless of whether you do it at the airport or previously online or wherever. But that would be too easy and transparent, wouldn't it? What I do not like is the feeling that I've been caught in a trap and have to pay a fine for it. I really hate that and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
One way to solve the problem would be, if they're going to make baggage chargeable for everyone, elites alike, to make it a flat fee regardless of whether you do it at the airport or previously online or wherever. But that would be too easy and transparent, wouldn't it? What I do not like is the feeling that I've been caught in a trap and have to pay a fine for it. I really hate that and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
Oct 11, 2015, 7:34 am
#38
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
But, LH doesn't make baggage chargeable for all. It only makes it chargeable for people who choose to purchase fares which are clearly labeled "hand baggage only." A reasonable person who chooses such a feature ought not to believe that "hand baggage only" means "freebie checked bags."
The Greek Chorus of LH management being somehow poisoned is misplaced on this issue. Perhaps not on others.
The Greek Chorus of LH management being somehow poisoned is misplaced on this issue. Perhaps not on others.
Oct 11, 2015, 9:43 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
You are American would understand best of us how "pro choice" is being viewed as being 'bad' by roughly half of the population....
Oct 11, 2015, 2:37 pm
#41
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But, fails to answer the question of why it's such a horrible thing for a business to offer its consumers a product which some apparently want and others, who do not, need not select.
Presumably if the scheme doesn't catch on, LH will drop it in due course as simply occupying space on its websites.
Presumably if the scheme doesn't catch on, LH will drop it in due course as simply occupying space on its websites.
Oct 11, 2015, 2:51 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Point Place, Wisconsin
Programs: LH HON, BA Gold, EK Gold
Posts: 14,505
At the recent "Kamingespräch" in FRA, LH management clearly mentioned that they wish to attract a new group of customer which they previously could not catch.
The hand baggage only fares are supposed to attract customers who purely buy on price.
(my personal view is that the HBO fares are now at a price level where the previous base fares where. Thus the new fare system is de facto a price increase. Good luck attracting those new customer groups...)
The hand baggage only fares are supposed to attract customers who purely buy on price.
(my personal view is that the HBO fares are now at a price level where the previous base fares where. Thus the new fare system is de facto a price increase. Good luck attracting those new customer groups...)
Oct 12, 2015, 6:41 am
#44
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Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
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At the recent "Kamingespräch" in FRA, LH management clearly mentioned that they wish to attract a new group of customer which they previously could not catch.
The hand baggage only fares are supposed to attract customers who purely buy on price.
The hand baggage only fares are supposed to attract customers who purely buy on price.
If the company's sick at the top, it's sick all the way down.
Last edited by warakorn; Oct 12, 2015 at 7:02 am
Oct 12, 2015, 7:13 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,624
And I've just learned, thanks to a casual comment in a thread on the BA forum which compares easyJet to BA, that easyJet offer excellent prices for a business-type fare which offers free rebooking for a period of 1 month, free baggage, free fast track through security, priority (speedy) boarding and a number of other bells and whistles. The only bell and whistle that's not included is the catering. Now, I don't usually look at easyJet because they don't connect the places I need to go to and I value my miles and elite benefits, etc. etc. But I need to do a RT from AMS to LGW, which obviously is outside LH's market and I managed to get the outbound for €65 and the inbound for €87. That's an excellent deal, much better than anything BA or LH can offer.
The point is, if this is what the LCCs are offering these days there's no way the likes of LH can compete. They should stay a full service carrier, after all, that's what they are good at.
The point is, if this is what the LCCs are offering these days there's no way the likes of LH can compete. They should stay a full service carrier, after all, that's what they are good at.