Lufthansa has updated its International long haul Advance Seat Reservation (ASR) cost structure from a flat rate model to a variable model based on destination. Up until now, passengers could pay €70 in order to reserve an exit row or other seat with more leg room for their flight. This was a flat rate across all of Lufthansa’s Intercontinental routes. With the new program, the rates have been adjust to reflect the distance of the flight which means that in some cases the ‘ASR’ cost went down and in certain cases the ‘ASR’ fee is higher.
The new fee structure takes effect on October 1. Any ASR purchase made on or after October 1 is subject to this adjusted policy regardless of when the ticket was booked.
Additionally, these changes apply only to Lufthansa’s lowest economy booking classes including T, L, K and S fares as far asinternational flights are concerned. Miles & More HON and Senator level members will continue to be offered the extra leg room / exit row seats for free. Lufthansa’s remaining ASR fee schedule remains the same at this point.
The information has not yet been updated on Lufthansa.com but should be reflected in the next day or 2.
Here is a breakdown by region / airport and the new pricing for each grouping:
Mid-East & Northern Africa is reduced to €50:
Abuja (ABV), Accra (ACC), Addis Ababa (ADD), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Bahrain (BAH), Dammam (DMM), Doha (DOH), Dubai (DXB), Tehran (IKA), Jeddah (JED), Kuwait City (KWI), Luanda (LAD), Lagos (LOS), Muscat (MCT), Port Harcourt (PHC), Riyahd (RUH), Malabo (SSG)
Certain North & South America / Asia destinations remain at €70:
Atlanta (ATL), Bangkok (BKK), Bangalore (BLR), Mumbai (BOM), Caracas (CCS), Denver (DEN), Delhi (DEL), Dallas Ft. Worth (DFW), Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD), New York (JFK), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Chennai (MAA), Orlando (MCO), Chicago (ORD), Philadelphia (PHL), Pune (PNQ), Seattle (SEA), Montreal (YUL), Toronto (YYZ), Astana (TSE).
Other North & South America / Asia destinations increase to €90:
Capetown (CPT), Buenos Aires (EZE), Rio de Janiero (GIG), Sao Paulo (GRU), Tokyo Haneda (HND), Tokyo Narita (NRT), Hong Kong (HKG), Johannesburg (JNB), Kansai (KIX), Los Angeles (LAX), Mexico City (MEX), Miami (MIA), Nagoya (NGO), Nanjing (NKT), Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), Seoul Gimpo (SEL), San Francisco (SFO), Shenyang (SHE), Singapore (SIN), Qingdao (TAO), Vancouver (YVR).
If you have a decent grasp on Geography, you’ll notice that the rates were adjust based on the proximity of the destination. The furthest routes recognized an increase while the shortest routes had their ASR fees reduced. At first glance, this new pricing policy seems to equalize the cost structure and I think is an overall improvement.
Hope LH makes money off of this because my company stopped booking them because StarG doesn’t get seats in advance.