Lufthansa Group has started selling a stripped-down European fare called Economy Basic, and its headline restriction is on hand luggage. Bookings opened on October 6 and travel began on October 27. The fare covers Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Lufthansa City Airlines and Air Dolomiti on short and medium-haul routes.
The fare includes one personal item of up to 40 x 30 x 15 centimetres, roughly a small backpack that fits under the seat. A standard overhead cabin bag of up to 8 kilograms is not included and must be purchased separately. Advance seat selection and checked luggage also cost extra, and tickets are non-refundable and non-rebookable. Fare prices were not published in the coverage reviewed.
Distribution is a quiet part of the story. The fare is sold on the airlines’ own websites, through NDC channels and via aggregators used by partner travel agencies, but not through traditional global distribution systems. That means travellers who book through some older agency tools may not see it at all, and comparison across fare types will depend on where you shop.
The move brings the group closer to the unbundled model that low-cost carriers made familiar, and it is aimed at price-sensitive leisure flyers who can travel with a single small bag. If you normally bring a roller case, compare the total with the bag added before assuming the headline price is the cheapest option, and check whether your itinerary mixes carriers, because rules can differ by airline.
Sources: Travel Extra, Lufthansa Group Newsroom
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