Seat fee refund if upgrade bid successfully clears?
Mar 6, 2024 | 10:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: DCA - UA Premier Gold 1MM
Posts: 311
Seat fee refund if upgrade bid successfully clears?
I saw this topic discussed in other threads but not sure I could find a definitive answer. Flying Economy on IAD-FRA-BGO on 3/17 and for the long haul segment definitely want to pay for extra legroom. If I do that but then I also bid for an upgrade to business class, would I be able to get seat fee money back if it clears?
Aug 4, 2025 | 12:29 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2025
Posts: 11
Actually it is possible. I've asked the Swiss customer service about this and this is what they told me
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your seat reservation. [size=10pt]Regarding your inquiry, if you wish to reserve an Extra Legroom seat in Economy Class and have been successfully upgraded to Business Class through our Bid Upgrade program, that is indeed possible. In this case, we would like to clarify that the fee paid for the Extra Legroom seat will be refundable.[/size]
Btw the Lufthansa terms and conditions state the same:
Seat reservations alone are not refunded. However, if you have purchased an upgrade to a higher travel class, the seat reservation you previously purchased is refundable.
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your seat reservation. [size=10pt]Regarding your inquiry, if you wish to reserve an Extra Legroom seat in Economy Class and have been successfully upgraded to Business Class through our Bid Upgrade program, that is indeed possible. In this case, we would like to clarify that the fee paid for the Extra Legroom seat will be refundable.[/size]
Btw the Lufthansa terms and conditions state the same:
Seat reservations alone are not refunded. However, if you have purchased an upgrade to a higher travel class, the seat reservation you previously purchased is refundable.
Aug 4, 2025 | 5:57 am
#5
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 8,219
LH has been extremely strict on this to me and my travel partner. Paid for (Economy) seats, got moved to the back of the aircraft while our seats were being given away to others (Unclear why..) and they refused a refund of the seat cost as the fees are for the ability to select seats of a specific type, not for specific seats selected. Even though that, of course, is in practice exactly what they advertise when demanding a payment when selecting a specific seat.
Aug 4, 2025 | 9:18 pm
#6
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,237
LH has been extremely strict on this to me and my travel partner. Paid for (Economy) seats, got moved to the back of the aircraft while our seats were being given away to others (Unclear why..) and they refused a refund of the seat cost as the fees are for the ability to select seats of a specific type, not for specific seats selected. Even though that, of course, is in practice exactly what they advertise when demanding a payment when selecting a specific seat.
Aug 5, 2025 | 2:17 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 13,910
Aug 5, 2025 | 6:48 am
#8
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 8,219
To defend my own actions here a bit; Because one would like to sit close to the front, and have the seat type of choice (e.g. isle). When flying across Europe, on a 4-leg roundtrip, the chances of getting isle seats on all legs is pretty much zero. I'd say the chances of getting isle seats on 2 out of the 4 legs is already rather low.
So one can either spend 15 euro (per leg) extra to book a classic fare, or, risk it with a light/basic fare - and hope that the pre-allocated seats are generally okay, so that at 20 euro per seat selection (for the flights where the airline sticks you in the middle or window) you still end up a little cheaper overall.
So one can either spend 15 euro (per leg) extra to book a classic fare, or, risk it with a light/basic fare - and hope that the pre-allocated seats are generally okay, so that at 20 euro per seat selection (for the flights where the airline sticks you in the middle or window) you still end up a little cheaper overall.
Aug 5, 2025 | 7:23 am
#9
Formerly known as tireman77
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,797
I pay for a seat 100% of the time when it is not included in the fare and I consider that expense when making the purchase. I want a window or aisle as far up as possible and ideally with more legroom.
Mar 20, 2026 | 10:03 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2024
Posts: 494
Yes, in this particular case the seat fee is refundable, but the refund won't happen automatically.
https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/comm...ndtions/refund
