Lufthansa baggage allowance in 2011

Why not read the latest version of this article? Lufthansa baggage allowance 2012

In today’s post of our series on baggage allowance and restrictions we refresh the subject of Lufthansa. This huge European airline carry over passengers a year hence the need for an updated version of the baggage policy of Lufthansa.

What is new?

The novelty is the rule of Most Significant Carrier (MSC) effective from April 1, 2011. I says “if the geographically longest or most significant stretch of your journey is not operated by Lufthansa, but by another airline, this airline’s rules may also apply to Lufthansa flights or Lufthansa flight numbers.” Otherwise the latest version of the baggage policy of Lufthansa still applies.

Carry-on baggage

Economy Class passengers are allowed to carry on-board one item of hand baggage which is not larger than 55 cm x 40 cm x 20 cm and may not weigh more than 8 kg. The exception are foldable garment bags. They count as hand baggage up to a size of 57 cm x 54 cm x 15 cm. If you carry-on luggage exceeds these measurements it will be transported in the cargo hold.

In addition to your carry-on baggage may take the following items into the cabin:

- A handbag, wrist bag or small bag (or small laptop bag) and their content

- A small camera or a pair of binoculars

- A coat, blanket or shawl

- An appropriate amount of reading material for the flight

- Crutches or other orthopaedic aids you are depending on

- A infant carrier and baby food for the flight

Checked baggage

Lufthansa have got two baggage concepts. When it comes to: routes within Germany and within other European countries, and flights between Europe and other countries, including Germany, CIS, Middle East (except Cairo), Africa (except West-/East-/Central-Africa) and Asia (except Japan), the Weight Concept applies. This means that what is crucial is the total weight of your baggage rather than the quantity of bags.

For Economy Class the allowance is 20 kg (44lb) and 1 ski bag

As far as the free baggage allowance on long-haul flights is concerned, it varies depending on the route:

A) between Europe included Yekaterinburg, India and the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand (via USA / Canada)

1 piece of baggage max 23kg and one pair of skis

B) – between USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand: worldwide, except Europe included Yekaterinburg and India (via USA / Canada)

- between South America: worldwide, except commencement of travel in Brazil for travel in both directions

- between West Africa, East Africa, Ethiopia and Egypt: worldwide

- Star Round The World:

2 pieces of baggage max 23kg

C) between Japan and worldwide: 2 pieces of baggage max 23kg

D) Commencement of travel in Brazil: worldwide for travel in both directions: 2 pieces of baggage up to 32kg

Other than that, children under the age of 2 without their own seat are entitled to 1 piece of baggage up to 23kg + 1 collapsible buggy

Excess baggage

Sometimes the baggage allowance is just way too little and you have to pay extra to take all the necessary belongings. Again, the destination is decisive:

Theoretically There are 5 zones and 5 charges (amount you pay for 1 kilo)

Zone 1: Within Germany, Italy as well as routes between third countries on which Lufthansa passengers are carried (e.g. in the Middle East, Asia) - €5/kg

Zone 2: Within Europe, including Germany (without CIS) – €10/kg

Zone 3: Between Zone 2 and CIS as well as the Middle East (exclusive Cairo) - €20/kg

Zone 4: Between Zone 2 and Africa (exclusive East- West- and Central-Africa) and Asia (exclusive Japan) – €30/kg

Zone 5: Between Zones 3 and 4 and with two consecutive long-haul flights(e.g. from Johannesburg via Frankfurt to Hong Kong) – €40/kg

What do we mean by “theoretically”? Just below the list of charges, the carrier admits disarmingly that “In all cases where bags are overweight, a minimum fee of €30 will be charged if the kilo rate payable is below this amount.”. In other words, you pay from €30 and up…

Interested to learn more? Have a look at our previous articles in this series. The baggage policy of various European airlines:

• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Ryanair
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: easyJet
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Vueling
• Air France introduces a revised baggage policy
• Airlines’ baggage policy: Alitalia
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Jet2
• Low-cost arlines’ baggage policy – Germanwings
• Low-cost airline’s baggage policy – Pegasus Airlines
• Low-cost airline’s baggage policy – Norwegian Air Shuttle
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Wizz Air
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Thomas Cook Airlines
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Air Southwest
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Arkefly
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Condor
• Baggage policy: Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Cimber Air
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Monarch Airlines
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Jetairfly
• Low cost airlines’ baggage policy: Air One
• Baggage allowance – Spanair
• easyJet – baggage allowance in 2011
• Baggage allowance and restrictions: Brussels Airlines

Slawomir Budziak Airlines, Baggage allowance, Lufthansa