The Lufthansa Group airlines, comprised of Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, have announced general changes to its ticket fare structure until the end of December 2020.
With immediate effect, all fares can be rebooked several times free of charge – including the lowest light fare without checked baggage.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Lufthansa Group Airlines had already made a one-off free of charge rebooking possible in (northern) spring. The new regulation applies worldwide to all new bookings on short, medium and long-haul routes. The Lufthansa Group airlines are thus meeting customers’ needs for flexible travel arrangements to an even greater extent. However, customers may incur additional costs if, for example, the original booking class is no longer available when rebooking to a different date or destination. Any difference will be compensated for by means of additional payment.
The Lufthansa Group network airlines are also responding to the special needs of customers during the coronavirus crisis and continue to offer a return flight promise on all European routes and, together with AXA Partners, a travel insurance policy for protection in the country of travel.
Separately, Lufthansa Group has also revealed that its member airlines have paid out over 2.3 billion euros (approx US$2.7 billion) in refunds to almost 5.4 million customers in the current year, up until 16 August 2020.
Lufthansa has already paid out around 92% of all refunds from the first half-year. The group said the aim remains to payout by the end of August the justified claims received by the end of June.
In recent weeks, the Lufthansa Group has worked hard to increase its reimbursement capacities significantly. In addition, the processes were adapted to the exceptional situation so that reimbursements can be made more quickly.
Meanwhile, Swiss International Air Lines is to offer its customers a new ‘Airtrain’ rail service between Geneva’s Cornavin central station and Zurich Airport in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).
The new Airtrain service is intended to supplement the existing air services between Geneva and Zurich airports, to continue to give the people of Western Switzerland the best possible connections with the intercontinental and European air services that SWISS operates from its Zurich hub. (SWISS has reduced its own Zurich-Geneva flight frequencies in view of the present coronavirus pandemic.)
More details at swiss.com/ch/en/book/partner-offers/airtrain
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