Lufthansa like Ryanair, if you travel economy now you pay for everything (except water)
Lufthansa Group's onboard menu will change from 2021, but only for certain types of flights
Lufthansa
Star Alliance
FRA
The year 2021 will bring big changes on the flights of Lufthansa Group in active Economy Class services. The reference is to flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines, which will serve food and beverages for a fee to customers of the short- and medium-haul routes. A new policy that will be implemented starting in the spring of next year. No changes, however, will be made in business class and all long-haul routes.
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An operation that represents an important point of contact with lowcost airlines. Just think of the famous Ryanair and EasyJet, which, for reduced costs, offer pay-as-you-go menus based mainly on snacks of various kinds. On the other hand, it is difficult to assume a drop in fares for scheduled airlines, especially in the wake of the economic damage generated by Covid-19. To identical ticket costs, or rising in the coming years, it will therefore be necessary to add those of the in-flight menu, which, unlike the low-cost universe, will however boast more valuable products.
Lufthansa, what changes in catering service
To date, and until spring 2021, Lufthansa Group offers its passengers various types of snacks, sandwiches, and hot meals on most of its flights. This is complemented by a wide selection of beverages, including alcohol.
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Instead, all of this will be totally replaced by a pay-as-you-go menu, allowing each customer to be able to choose his or her favorite food and drink, depending on taste and price. Both Lufthansa and SWISS, however, will continue to provide a free water bottle for those who choose not to order additional food. A minimal service not active on Austrian instead.
On the sweet front, and those who have traveled with Group companies know what we are referring to, SWISS will not eliminate from its on-board routine the free distribution of chocolates "Thank you for flying SWISS." The same goes for Austrian, which will give customers treats, but only on flights with a minimum duration of 180 minutes.
The menu on board
The companies will not implement these changes at the same time. First on the list will be Austrian, followed by SWISS and Lufthansa. The basic idea is to provide their customers with a wider choice of food and beverages, so as to meet everyone's needs.
The menu will consist of. high quality products, with an increased focus on sustainability, which will result in the use of environmentally friendly packaging and mainly regional foods. Customized production will also significantly reduce waste.
Lufthansa Group Executive Board member Christina Foerster also commented on the issue, "The new offer was developed based on feedback from our customers. The current offer in Economy always fails to meet passengers' expectations."
A change announced
The change of course undertaken by Lufthansa Group does not come as a complete surprise. In fact, it is a process that has been in place for some years now. In 2018 an experiment was carried out on a short-haul flight, with food and beverages provided solely for a fee in Economy Class. A novelty that was anticipated this summer "covid cause" since on flights to short- and medium-haul had been eliminated all economy services, excluding precisely the water bottle.
The company in question was SWISS, which, three years ahead of the implementation of the recently announced plan, was able to get an initial report on extra budgeted revenue and public reaction. Crossing the line first, however, was the British Airways in 2017, somehow authorizing all other companies to move in this direction.
Impossible not to point out how all this comes at a historically complicated time for the world of recreational flying. The coronavirus has dealt a blow to all the companies operating in the world and certainly convinced them to push in this direction.
