Lufthansa Group seat change fees boosts ancillary revenue

Lufthansa Group introduced variable seat change fees for long-haul flights from 30 June.
The policy covers Economy and Premium Economy tickets.
Fees range from €25 to €45 for standard intercontinental seat switches.
HON Circle, Senator, flexible ticket holders and pre-paid seat reservations are exempt.
The airline will continue to seat families and groups together for free when possible.

Lufthansa Group is reporting a revenue boost this month by ending free seat changes at check in for many long haul passengers. The move forms part of the group’s strategy to expand ancillary revenues while offering more fare flexibility.

Since 30 June 2026, the Lufthansa Group has expanded its ancillary revenue policy to charge passengers a variable fee if they want to modify their automatically assigned seat during online check-in on long-haul flights. The update expands a rule previously limited to short-haul routes and specific basic fares. It eliminates a long-standing industry standard where travelers could freely swap their randomly assigned seats once check-in opened.

The policy applies to long-haul flights operated by Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Discover Airlines. It covers Economy and Premium Economy tickets, including Economy Classic, Comfort, Green and promotional fares. Fees vary dynamically depending on the route, departure point and specific seat category, with standard intercontinental economy seat switches generally ranging from €25 to €45.

Passengers with HON Circle or Senator status, those with fully flexible tickets, travelers who purchased advanced seat reservations, and groups will not face new charges. The airline will continue to automatically attempt to seat families and groups together for free whenever operationally possible.