Lufthansa Starts Charging More for Intra-European Upgrades

Lufthansa, the largest German airline, has increased the cost of upgrades on intra-European flights.

The carrier previously charged €79 for domestic short-haul upgrades from economy class to business class. Now, Lufthansa charges €90, €110 and €160 for an upgrade on routes within Germany as well as to other European destinations, and he price depends on the length of a flight.

Upgrades are available on confirmed Lufthansa-operated flights in combination with an issued ticket. Premium cabin seats must be available to request a paid upgrade.

It’s also possible to request an upgrade by making Lufthansa an offer shortly before your flight. On long-haul flights, you can bid on an upgrade for one higher class above your currently booked class of service. For example, economy passengers can request to be upgraded to premium economy. Premium economy flyers can request to be upgraded to business class, and business class passengers can bid on first class seats. On short-haul flights, economy passengers can bid on business-class upgrades.

It’s a great way of scoring cheap upgrades, but keep in mind that the airline might not accept your low offer and space is not guaranteed in this case, especially if someone else vying for the same seat places a higher bid. In contrast, a paid upgrade basically guarantees you a premium seat upfront.

Business tickets come with access to the Lufthansa Business Lounge as well as priority boarding, an in-flight meal, an extra piece of carry-on luggage and an increased mileage credit for the Miles & More program members. However, keep in mind that the seats themselves are not that impressive on the intra-European flights. Think domestic premium economy with slightly more amenities.

If you require extra legroom and a meal, it might make sense to purchase an upgrade on a long-ish flight of three hours or so. But if you’re flying short-haul, it might be best to save your money for your destination.