Want the cheapest flights out of Hong Kong? Lufthansa, British Airways offer half-price fares – with a catch

Traditional airlines experimenting with reduced perks such as no checked-in baggage and forfeited seat choice as they strive to beat back expanding low-cost carriers

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Lufthansa is Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:12pm, 28 Apr 2018Updated: 11:32pm, 28 Apr 2018

Lufthansa and British Airways are testing a new class of airfare in Hong Kong, which may cut prices of regular economy-class tickets for flights from the city by nearly 50 per cent.

But there’s a catch: passengers will get no allowance for check-in luggage, board last, and forfeit selection of their seats, flight times or even carriers.

“We are asking the traveller to give us this flexibility and in return we give them a very attractive price. That’s how the deal works,” said Malte Haut, general manager for the Lufthansa Group’s three airline brands in Hong Kong, southern China and Macau, which include Swiss International Air Lines and Austrian Airlines.

Lufthansa is using Hong Kong as the first international market to test its concept. Photo: Fung Chang

Lufthansa – Europe’s largest airline in terms of passengers – and British Airways are among the first traditional carriers to alter their offerings with special discounts as passengers increasingly opt for low-cost fares and no-frills service.

Working alongside its Swiss and Austrian partners, Lufthansa wants its passengers to sacrifice flexibility – such as not knowing the exact airline or flight times until a few days before departure – to enjoy cheaper fares. The German airline giant is using Hong Kong as the first international market to test its concept.