Lufthansa Now Wants a Login Before You Can Check In Online

Lufthansa Group is rolling out a rule that passengers must have a Travel ID account before they can check in online, whether on the website or in the app. The change is being phased in between October 20 and November 30, and the One Mile at a Time travel blog reported on it November 5. Phases covering Schengen departures and other European departures have already begun.

The phase that matters most to American travelers starts November 16, when departures from the United States, Canada and Mexico are included, along with Munich and Zurich. The final phase begins November 30 and covers all other regions plus Frankfurt. Travel ID is one login shared across Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss and Discover Airlines, and it is separate from the Miles & More loyalty program.

There are exceptions. No Travel ID is needed to check in at an airport counter or kiosk, for tickets issued by another airline, or for flights operated by another airline on a Lufthansa Group ticket. The blog’s author called the requirement a minor annoyance that mostly helps the airline collect data, and said most travelers will probably just register.

The practical advice is simple. If you are flying a Lufthansa Group airline from North America in the coming weeks, create the free account ahead of time rather than at midnight when online check-in opens. Make sure the name on the account matches your passport, and keep the airport counter in mind as a fallback if the app gives you trouble.

Sources: One Mile at a Time