Model low-cost competition – Lufthansa launches new pricing model – Süddeutsche.de

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• In the Lufthansa will be from October in economy class three rates – Light, Classic and Flex
• They differ about as to whether an item of luggage fly along or a transfer is possible.
• low-cost airlines make the Lufthansa competition, such systems have a long time.

Caspar Busse , Frankfurt

At the reception on the ground floor, the staff wear dark blue uniforms Lufthansa. It looks as if could be checked in the same for the next flight. But here is not a departure gate, here is the Lufthansa Airport Center, the headquarters of Europe’s largest airline. In the huge glass complex in the immediate vicinity of Frankfurt Airport more than 2,000 Lufthansa employees have their jobs.

Kristina Becker sits on the second floor in an open plan office, behind a waist-high yellow wall, which they hastily from colleagues shields. It has two screens in front of him, on which flicker incessantly numbers. Beckers function name is “Officer Revenue Management”, she is responsible for the pricing of Lufthansa flights from Belgium to North America. They observed the competition: Provides someone a compounds significantly cheaper on, get off at the tariffs? Then it adjusts the price. “We must adapt ourselves to the changes in the market in order to remain competitive,” says Becker, who studied business management and air traffic management. “Sometimes we change individual prices even several times a day.”

In the future, there are three different options

There are plenty of airfare alone around three million in the Lufthansa system. On the route from Brussels to Boston, for example, for the Becker is responsible, among other things, there are 26 booking classes. The cheapest way Return, which is displayed on screen Beckers this afternoon costs, net 385 euros, the most expensive 8930 euros, even without taxes and other fees. It so happens that in the same planes sit passengers whose ticket prices apart hundreds of euros, although they fly the same route at the same time. But the rates of course vary considerably – depending on the length of the advance booking period, after departure, after the minimum stay, according to economy, business or first class, to change and cancellation option

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In the future, the choice is even greater. Because Lufthansa wants to start in the coming week, the largest collective conversion for decades, as Jens Bischof says. The 49-year-old shipping clerk is responsible for ticket distribution, product development and marketing of the airline and a member of the Board Passage. “In our new concept of customer only pays for what he takes in claim,” says Bishop of Süddeutsche Zeitung . “One third of all passengers in Europe and Germany traveling with hand luggage only. Why should these customers continue to pay the standard rate?”

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One and a half years has been working on the concept. Prototype: Again, the low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Easyjet or Aer Lingus, Lufthansa has decreased in recent years in Europe a lot of business and have such systems long ago. In future, passengers will have to pay for checked baggage, advance seat reservations or the opportunity to rebook an extra at Lufthansa. From October onwards, there will be at Lufthansa in economy class three rates: Light, Classic and Flex, explained Bishop. Light will be available from 89 Euro to join the Return, it should always be ten euros cheaper than the previously lowest Lufthansa prices.

But only a hand luggage allowed, rebooking or refund is not possible , Classic allows one piece of luggage up to 23 kg, which can be given a seat reservation at time of booking will cost at least 129 euros. In Flex turn can rebook free among others. There are further the business class. Available tariffs are already in the next week, they are then valid from the fall.

Your Forum , Lufthansa harms with their new pricing model?

luggage cost extra. Seat reservations cost extra. Transfers cost extra. Early bookings are rewarded. Lufthansa competes with the low-cost competition – but the company is doing a favor? your forum