by Lufthansa Flyer | Sep 27, 2014 | Featured, Lufthansa, On Board Experience |
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.
H/T: Oliver2002 & FlyerTalk’s Lufthansa Thread
by Lufthansa Flyer | Sep 25, 2014 | Featured, Lufthansa |
In what is becoming a broken record of sorts, the union representing Lufthansa’s pilots has once again announced that strikes are imminent. They suggested that they would provide advanced warning ahead of any walkouts.
The latest threat comes on the heels of a Lufthansa proposal that was rejected by the union. At the heart of the union’s whining is the fact that they are demanding pilots become eligible to receive retirement benefits as soon as age 55. Lufthansa on the other hand is requesting that pilots wait until age 60 before being able to tap full retirement benefits.
In my opinion Lufthansa’s position seems reasonable. Most reasonable people will agree that 60 is a suitable target for a retirement age. As a matter of fact, if you asked most people today, they would love the idea of retiring at age 60 but many cannot afford to do so thanks to our wonderful economy over the last several years that had gutted many retirement dreams.
I suspect that the union will lose their argument in a court of public opinion as most reasonable people understand that retirement at 55 should not be a right. However it appears that unions don’t care what the public thinks of them when they uproot travel plans and create a myriad of inconveniences for the very same people that they may represent.
But I digress….Can you figure out whose side I’m on? 😉
by Lufthansa Flyer | Sep 23, 2014 | Featured, Lufthansa |
LUFTHANSA is planning to celebrate it’s 60th Anniversary by dressing one of their 747-8i aircraft in a retro-livery set to debut in April 2015.
The livery will be carried by D-ABYS, which will be the 17th 747-8i delivered to Lufthansa. ‘Yankee Sierra’ was chosen as the canvas for the new livery because it’s delivery is scheduled for April, coinciding with the anniversary.
The livery will be the one carried by Lufthansa aircraft from the 1970s through 90s before the introduction of the current livery. For those of you who recall this classic livery, you’ll remember that this livery sported a polished/unpainted aluminum ‘underbelly’. Unfortunately this will not carry forward to the retro livery. However, all other aspects of it will be in place.
To give you an idea of what the aircraft and livery will look like, here is a photo from Lufthansa’s archive showing a classic 747:
Lufthansa’s D-ABYS, scheduled for April 2015 delivery will sport this classic look……
H/T to FlyerTalk’s NewbieRunner and Oliver2002.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Sep 21, 2014 | Cargo, Featured, Frankfurt, Lufthansa |
If you caught my previous post regarding ‘SAVING THE DATE’ for a great 2-3 days in Frankfurt over Thanksgiving Weekend, you’ll recall that I mentioned I was working on confirming the details for a tour of LH’s Cargo Facility. If you missed that post, click on the link to get caught up!
Well that confirmation has arrived and LUFTHANSA CARGO has invited us to their facility for a detailed look at their operation. As a bonus to the tour and based on their current aircraft timetable, we’ll also have the ability to visit the apron and get up close to one of their 777F freighters that have been added to the fleet this year.
The Cargo Tour will be limited to only 20 people due to security logistics and a limit on how many people can be on an active ramp at the same time. On my last visit to Cargo, I had a chance to be in the cargo hold of an MD11-F during loading and I can see why only a few people can be allowed near the aircraft during loading.
The tour will take place Friday, November 28 in the afternoon and will dove tail nicely with the other events that are planned for the weekend. As of now, there will be a tour of Lufthansa’s Technik hangars which may include boarding a 747-8i to see the new Premium Economy seats being introduced in a few weeks. There are other events planned for the weekend as well.
A tour of Cargo is usually difficult to arrange due to the nature of their business, so we’re fortunate that they agreed to host us for a few hours. I expect sign up for this event to be completed quickly once registration for the events open in the coming weeks.
At the risk of self-promotion, you may want to follow me on twitter at @LufthansaFlyer so you’ll know immediately when sign-up is open for the events. You can also get the latest news from VFT’s thread dedicated to the event.
by Lufthansa Flyer | Sep 18, 2014 | Featured, First Class Terminal, Frankfurt, Lufthansa |
This may be perhaps the most rare of all the Lufthansa Ducks since it will only be available for 2 months as the First Class Terminal undergoes a mild renovation through November.
If your travels will involve Lufthansa First Class flights in or out of Frankfurt, be sure to go the First Class Terminal and claim the newest addition to the First Class Duck family.
