Buying and flying Lufthansa business class could be a very different proposition from next year as the German carrier moves towards what it terms "tailored needs-based airfare bundles".
Today, you just buy a business class ticket – and of the scores of seats in the business class cabin, every passenger is more or less treated equally (aside from what special attention might be extended to those with elite Miles&More HON Status).
But in the future, such as on Lufthansa's Boeing 777X flagship due to take wing in late 2020, you could purchase a baseline business class fare and then pay extra for not only a better seat – one with more space, legroom or privacy – but a series of bundled packages which could include services such as inflight WiFi.
Lufthansa has already begun talking up its move from a one-size-fits-all business class cabin to a more bespoke 'Business Class Plus' offering designed around individual needs and price points, but now we're starting to see more details on exactly how this will play out for the business traveller.
At this week's Capital Markets Day – where the airline also revealed its second-gen Boeing 777X premium economy seat – Lufthansa plotted a simplified set of base fares replacing the current roster of ticket types, with add-ons available in all cabins except for first class.
Those options, the airline says, will be built around "tailored offers and services" such as "Individual food offers" and a "new variety of seat options."
Lufthansa has already indicated that the unique layout of its Boeing 777X business cabin would see an extra charge levied on those seats which convert to a longer lie-flat bed or enjoy extra working and bench space such as the central 'throne' seats.
"For example, having a 220cm bed (as an upsell) is of course a selling argument, especially for (taller) guys like me!" explained Lufthansa exec Harry Hohmeister.
“It's not just one business class anymore. Within the (Boeing 777X) business class cabin, you can upgrade yourself to an even better product than just standard business class," Hohmeister told Executive Traveller earlier this month, although he's quick to declare this approach “it's not unbundling, it's upgrading.”
For example, Hohmeister said Lufthansa won't remove standard business class inclusions such as lounge access – in contrast to Emirates, which is now selling deep-discount business fares which forego lounge access and the chauffeur drive service. He also maintains that the price point for the standard Boeing 777X business class experience will remain comparable to today’s business class fares.
All the same, today's 'static branded fares' will be replaced by what Lufthansa describes as "need-based bundles (and an) upselling structure." The key to this, in turn, is "bundling the right offers and pricing them according to the customers’ willingness to pay."
Lufthansa cites examples of what it describes as Efficiency and Traveller packages – and even a beefed-up Plus version of each – being purchased atop a base fare.
Passengers are being broken down into sociographic sets, each representing a discrete chunk of Lufthansa's market, so that these add-on packages can be designed to suit their perceived needs.
The airline is also changing its own definition of premium travel, from being simply a class of travel to something which is "defined individually by every customer."
“We have to make clear in the market that we are not disrupting the (existing business class) product, but developing it to a better quality standard," Hohmeister told Executive Traveller, "to give the customer the best selection for themselves in terms of individualisation."
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jan 2019
Total posts 7
Very smart approach by Lufthansa! Can see this being adopted across more airlines in the years to come.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 416
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 146
With those throne seats they have, it makes sense. I’m not tall but would love the extra leg space instead of using a foot hole.
09 Mar 2015
Total posts 32
Trying to work out what else could be bundled besides WiFi, as lounge access is remaining. Could they possibly be adding an upgraded meal service, a bit more like first class, where you can pay extra to get a better quality meal and matching wines?
07 Mar 2017
Total posts 63
Sure. The group already offer meals for purchase in economy cabins, as upgraded offerings to their standard meal.
13 Mar 2014
Total posts 27
This reads to me like an erosion of value for customers. Great for the Lufthansa bottom line but phrases like "the price point for the standard Boeing 777X business class experience will remain comparable to today’s business class fares" (i.e. it will cost the same but you get less unless you pay more), "upselling structure" and "according to the customers’ willingness to pay" all speak to improvements for their business but not necessarily value for the customer.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2012
Total posts 382
Absolutely spot on. So everything that you get today at no additional charge in business class, will be available tomorrow with a charge and we'll use marketing speak like "price points" "experience" comparable" "upsell" to try and cover up what we've just taken away from you.
17 Sep 2015
Total posts 371
Dangerous for LH to do this because if we all cotton on we're paying more for less, some savvy travellers may switch to competitors. I'm assuming the others don't all follow suit.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
26 Apr 2019
Total posts 7
JakeDrake - spot on, I reckon.
02 Jan 2019
Total posts 9
It will start out with a few minor tweaks, then some executive will proclaim, “this has been phenomenally popular” after which everything will be up for grabs. So in 24 months’ time, you shall see the LH Group introduce a Business Lite product similar to what EK have done. This move is simply the slight turn of the sauerkraut jar lid.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 477
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 580
The idea is sound, but as others have said if the unbundled price is the same as the all inclusive price today then that is not good for the customer.
UA
09 Mar 2016
Total posts 55
This will not do anything good for business class customers.
Jetstar Airways - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Jan 2017
Total posts 67
I would have to agree with the skeptics. They won’t make the base fare cheaper just make you buy things included today as an add on. And how far does unbundling go. Next you will have to purchase a toilet pass to use the loo. That way if you are happy to hold yourself for 6 hours why pay for a toilet you aren’t going to use. Then each time you press the call button there will be a service charge. Perhaps if you go to the galley to pick up your own prepurchased meal add on you can save even more. Why not just keep the product simple to use. This is all just money making spin. Things will cost extra but nothing will be cheaper.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 477
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
21 Jan 2016
Total posts 193
I agree with your 2 comments. LH is moving to a ' Seat to Suit Fare' business model similar to what NZ has been doing. It is about an aircraft carrying less weight and less wastage of food, drinks and soft cabin products which result is less fuel burn and carbon emissions.
If you are flying 5 hours of more on an over night flight, then it is great to have a lay flat bed and good breakfast in the morning but do you need to have a 4 course meal dinner when you have a meal in the lounge?
To me, a base business class product would be a seat, 2 carry on items, earn mileage, 1 checked luggage item up to 30kgs, lounge access, a light healthy meal or healthy snacks, a main meal, full IFE access and basic range on alcoholic drinks. From that basic package, you can add 'add on' packages to make your flight more comfortable.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer - Chairmans Lounge
01 Sep 2011
Total posts 416
Couldn't have said it better than JakeDrake . Airlines continue to erode their offerings. Its frustrating.
15 Feb 2018
Total posts 43
Can see that LH are commencing the race to the bottom for Business Class.
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 91
Will be interesting how this works with company travel rules. You know you're entitled to a business class flight, but what about the extras?
But isn't this what happens already in some airlines economy products? Air NZ for an example.
18 Sep 2015
Total posts 10
I think I enjoy reading the comments- more than the articles-from such an august group of travel veterans, and I do want to throw out one variant that as far as I know has only ever been implemented by NZ: depending on whether my ticket is company paid or not, I faithfully wait for the upgrade availability with my "home" carrier EK, and either use my points or pay gladly for a J sleeper seat on my 16 hour flight that I commute on.On so many occasions, however, when having to go "in the back", I have always told anyone that will listen my willingness to pay extra for having a seat or two next to me stay empty, always a happy compromise.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1010
In the old days if the hotel was empty they would give you a better room, these days if you don't pay for the upgrade you get the poor persons room even if the hotel is empty. I smell the same thing here, just another way to wedge the money out of your pockets again.
29 Jan 2015
Total posts 41
Yup
23 Feb 2017
Total posts 16
More crap to wade through when booking flights. I'm busy. I want as few clicks as possible. RC
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 319
Sounds to me like they want to Jetstar business class travel
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 190
soon it will be like in a restaurant-you order and than you pay whatever you consume-where are we heading with this crappy approach?LH is the worst business class within Europe anyway
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
13 Mar 2015
Total posts 79
Well.. it's very similar to what is already offered thru LX on the "Throne" seats are about $240 or more depending on the route. Some of the singles side windows (seat facing window) are reserved for HON member.. The you can add more special services and extra things
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Jan 2013
Total posts 10
19 May 2015
Total posts 22
Another attempt at drip pricing.
06 Mar 2018
Total posts 9
AirAsia, king of fragmenting services with a price on everything, arrives at LH.
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