How to make even more money on the back of travelers? The Lufthansa Group found the solution for a new source of income : Since July 1, when travelers check-in online, they need to pay if they are unsatisfied with the automatically assigned seat. Is Lufthansa turning into a low-cost carrier without carrying the title?
Lufthansa Group has expanded its ancillary revenue strategy by introducing charges for passengers who want to change their automatically assigned seat during online check-in on many long-haul flights.
The policy took effect on June 30, 2026 and applies across the group’s network airlines, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Discover Airlines.
Previously, travelers who did not pay for advance seat selection could often switch to another available standard seat free of charge when check-in opened. Under the new rules, passengers who receive an automatically assigned seat at check-in must now pay if they want to move to another available seat in the same cabin, unless they qualify for an exemption.
The change extends a policy that had already been introduced on some short- and medium-haul fares and now covers a wider range of long-haul Economy and Premium Economy tickets, including selected Light, Green, Comfort and promotional fares.
The exact fee varies according to the route, fare type, point of departure and booking conditions.
On Austrian, Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa long-haul services, seat selection fees also vary by route and seat type, with a standard Economy seat on many intercontinental flights typically costing between €25 and €45. Preferred seats with extra legroom or seats in premium locations can cost significantly more. On Swiss, charges for a standard Economy seat can reach CHF52 (about €56) on some itineraries.
Passengers who have already purchased a seat reservation, travelers on flexible fares and frequent flyers with HON Circle or Senator status remain exempt from the new charges. Lufthansa Group also says it will continue to try to seat families and groups together whenever operationally possible.
Lufthansa’s explanation
Lufthansa says the change is intended to create a more transparent and flexible fare structure, allowing customers to pay only for the services they want rather than including every option in the base fare. The airline says different fare products are designed to offer varying levels of flexibility and services, while optional extras such as seat selection allow passengers to customize their journey according to individual preferences.
The move is consistent with the airline group’s broader strategy of expanding ancillary revenues while keeping entry-level fares competitive.
Like many global carriers, Lufthansa has increasingly adopted unbundled pricing over recent years, introducing fare families with different baggage allowances, flexibility and seat selection benefits. The approach mirrors a wider industry trend in which airlines generate a growing share of their income from optional services rather than ticket prices alone.
While the airline says the new structure gives customers greater choice, critics argue it further reduces the flexibility traditionally associated with full-service airlines and brings legacy carriers closer to the ancillary revenue model long used by low-cost airlines. What would then be the next step? Paying systematically for meals -even the compulsory one-, for water-served after two free glasses? or for the use of toilets (an idea that Ryanair had at some point)? The future will tell…
