eXperts News 

Find out about the latest Lufthansa Group Airlines news and important operational updates that will impact your work.

Subscribe to eXperts newsletter

Be the first to know about Lufthansa Group exclusive promotions, the latest news and updates, expert tips and industry insights, product announcements, and event invitations. Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the airlines of Lufthansa Group.

Subscribe to our newsletter
News

From A (Abidjan) to Z (Zurich): Our route network in winter 2024/2025

Whether your customers are traveling for business or pleasure, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa, SWISS, Air Dolomiti, Discover Airlines and Edelweiss offer passengers a comprehensive global route network. Via hubs in Brussels, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich and on many direct connections the Lufthansa Group airlines fly passengers to more than 260 destinations in almost 100 countries in winter 2024/2025.

Lufthansa unveils new First Class check-in area in Munich

First Class guests, HON Circle Members, Senators and Star Gold cardholders can now enjoy a reimagined First Class check-in area in Terminal 2 at Munich Airport. Spanning approximately 100 square metres, the secluded area offers four exclusive check-in desks, a dedicated waiting area and direct access to the security checkpoint featuring the latest scanning technology.

#

SWISS extends pre-select option to Business Class meals on short-haul flights

SWISS Business guests on short-haul flights now also have the option of selecting additional main courses in advance. On short-haul flights of over one hour from and to Zurich, passengers may now choose from a total of six cold dishes which are served with cheese and a dessert. On longer flights, there is a total choice of seven hot main courses depending on destination – including one dish from the “SWISS Taste of Switzerland” menu. SWISS passengers can order their preferred dish online, any time from six weeks up to 24 hours before departure.

#

Free-of-charge seat reservation in the Premium Economy and Economy Flex fare

As of 22 October 2024 (date of ticket issue or seat reservation), customers who book the Premium Economy (Fare Family: PREFLEX) or Economy Flex fare (Fare Family: ECOFLEX) on long-haul flights can choose their preferred seat free-of-charge – a Classic Seat is already included in the fare. This applies to all long-haul flights operated by Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and Discover Airlines. Please note that ASR EMDs already issued are non-refundable.

Adjustment to the distribution cost charge effective 1 January 2024

Due to currency fluctuations and to ensure that GDS costs are reflected accurately, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS and Air Dolomiti are adjusting the Distribution Cost Charge (DCC) in EDIFACT.

US DOT regulations for refunds on an involuntary basis

The United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) issued new regulations for involuntary refunds for travel to/from/via the US effective 28 October 2024.

Find more news

What you need to know about refunds within the grace period

Within the so-called grace period, which is valid until the next calendar day (11:59 pm), you can refund Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS tickets as well as Ancillary EMDs without having to request a waiver from your Lufthansa Group Agency Support team.

Welcome to the new Lufthansa Lounge in Newark

A modern concept, a unique atmosphere and retreat, workplace and feel-good oasis in one – this is the new Lufthansa Lounge at Newark Airport. Inspired by Lufthansa Allegris, the design of the new lounge offers everything your customers need to relax, unwind or prepare for their next meeting.

Fin-tastic News Austrian Airlines: takes off with sharkskin

Austrian Airlines will successively equip four of its six Boeing 777-200ER long-haul aircraft with the fuel-saving sharkskin film by March 2025. This will save around one percent of the total fuel consumption per flight. At one percent, the sharkskin’s efficiency potential may not sound like much, but in total it will save thousands of tons of CO2 per year on long-haul flights.

Important information on API data collection

Airlines are obliged to transmit passenger data to authorities on some flights. This is done through the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS). To avoid problems at the airport, please only enter the API data in advance if you have complete, correct, and up-to-date information from your customers. False, incomplete, or incorrect information may result in penalties.

USA and Canada: exception for refunds within the grace period

Please note that for tickets from/to/via the USA and/or Canada as well as related EMDs which were issued seven days or more before the departure of the affected flight...

More detailed and clearer the new SKCHG/INVOL Policy

Thank you for your numerous – and mostly positive – responses to our last update of the “Lufthansa Group Schedule Change/Irregularity Policy for Travel Agents” (SKCHG/INVOL Policy).

New improved waiver handling process with self-service functionality

We are pleased to announce significant improvements to our waiver handling process, making it more convenient and efficient for you. As part of this enhancement, we are introducing a self-service functionality that empowers you to manage waivers seamlessly starting 15 August 2024.

Now clearer: only one ticketing time limit for all flight segments

For new bookings on/after 2 July 2024, only one Ticketing Time Limit (TTL) will be entered in the PNR. This TTL is then applicable to all Lufthansa Group flight segments included in the booking (OS/SN/LH/LX/EN/4Y/VL).

No fee for name corrections effective 1 July 2024

Effective 1 July 2024, there will no longer be a fee for name corrections in Lufthansa Group PNRs (Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS and Air Dolomiti flights issued on OS/SN/LH/LX documents).

Introduction of an Environmental Cost Surcharge as of 26 June 2024

Effective 26 June 2024 (date of ticket issuance), the airlines of the Lufthansa Group will introduce a new surcharge for all flights departing from any country of the European Union1, Great Britain, Norway and Switzerland on/after 1 January 2025.

Note on entering an FNU name element

In principle, the name on a ticket should match the passenger's official document (passport, identity card). If the passenger does not have a first or last name, the name element FNU (First Name Unknown) must be entered as follows in accordance with the IATA AIRIMP Manual.

Eurowings Self-Service options for GDS bookings

Have your customer's travel plans changed? Eurowings offers you various self-service options for processing a GDS booking.

Note on rebooking fee audits

We would like to remind you that a rebooking fee, if appicable according to the fare rules, must be charged for each rebooking transaction. This also applies when a new flight segment is added, regardless of whether the original flight segment has been cancelled.

Adjustment to the distribution cost charge effective 1 January 2024

Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, and Air Dolomiti are adjusting the Distribution Cost Charge (DCC) in EDIFACT to ensure that the GDS costs are reflected accurately. Starting 1 January 2024 (date of ticket issue), the DCC will increase from EUR 19.50 to EUR 24.50 for all Lufthansa Group airlines’ tickets issued via the GDS Sabre. In addition, there will be currency adjustments in several GDSs.

Change of international tickets into domestic german tickets

Starting 1 September 2023, you are permitted to reissue an international Austrian Airlines (257), Brussels Airlines (082), Lufthansa (220), SWISS (724) and Air Dolomiti (101) ticket into a domestic German ticket. The change of a German domestic ticket into an international ticket remains prohibited.

Information on changes to multi-airport city codes

To ensure consistent pricing across all reservation systems, IATA will introduce a new standard for 'Multi-Airport Cities'. A 'Multi-Airport City' is a city with multiple airports and/or intermodal locations (e.g. train stations) that belong to a common City Code. Effective 17 April 2023, some existing airport codes will become stand-alone City Codes – and will therefore receive their own pricing structure.

Note on grace period refunds

Within a grace period you can self-refund Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS tickets – without having to request a waiver from the Lufthansa Group Agency Support. The grace period is applicable through the next calendar day (23:59 hrs).*

Important note about short-term flight cancellations

In case of short-term flight cancellations within 48 hours (in select cases: up to 5 days) before departure, no (immediate) UN will be set in the PNR in all cases. The flight cancellation will be evident via a flight status query on the airline's website or, for example, in Amadeus via the DO transaction, e.g. DO LH170/02JUL. In this case, you can do the rebooking/reissue/refund without having to request a waiver from your Lufthansa Group Agency Support.

Refund of tickets reissued by the airline

On 7 November 2022, the Lufthansa Group airlines enabled the function ‘Refund by travel agencies of tickets reissued by the airline’ worldwide. You can therefore refund Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS tickets which were issued by your travel agency and then reissued by the airline.

Entry of non-binary passenger designation in PNR

Effective 7 December 2022 the PNR entry of the non-binary passenger designation MX as well as the gender code X is now possible with Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa, SWISS, Air Dolomiti, Edelweiss and Eurowings Discover – provided that it is supported by the reservation system used.

Note for forwarding client feedback

For feedback, praise and criticism regarding a past flight with Lufthansa, kindly use the online forms provided on lufthansa.com. This way, all the information required from your customers can be entered directly for a prompt processing of the feedbackand encrypted transmission of the feedback is guaranteed.

Important note on waiver entries for refunds

In some cases, for example, when Lufthansa Group passengers are denied boarding at the airport, the airline will enter an internal refund waiver in the Passenger name record: RM this is your autho for full refund/ignore noshow rules.

Rebooking and refund of old unused tickets

Reminder: Starting 1 June 2022, rebookings and refunds can only be processed according to the fare conditions – and thus automated standard processes will once again apply, saving a lot of manual work. The pandemic-related goodwill rules (TWP 2202 and TWP 2203), including optional issuance of a Travel Credit EMD, expired on 31 May 2022.