We had seen many US carriers going in this direction, increasing baggage fees. In the wake of the events in the Middle East with the war between the US and Iran, now even one of Europe’s major carriers is taking action. Lufthansa is making cabin baggage paid starting May 2026 in an unprecedented move for a European full-service carrier.
In this post:
- Paid cabin bags starting May 2026
- The Lufthansa Group Fare Change
- Why is Lufthansa changing its fares?
- Subscribe to my newsletter
Starting May 2026, cabin bags will be a paid service when flying Lufthansa
The Lufthansa Group press release tries to blur it between the lines; however, the bottom line is that cabin bags will be paid when flying Lufthansa and Lufthansa Group carriers, with the exception of ITA Airways starting May 2026.
The German-led group will be restructuring its economy class fares in a way that makes it unavoidable to pay if you wish to bring a cabin bag on board the aircraft with you.
Changes will come into effect on April 28th, 2026, for bookings of trips happening after May 19th, 2026.
Here’s how the fares are changing and how it will impact Cabin Bags flying economy
Currently, when flying Lufthansa and the other Lufthansa group carriers, there are four economy class fares:
- Light
- Classic
- Green
- Flex
The changes that Lufthansa is pushing forward will not change the number of fares themselves; however, it will change the way they are structured. The four new fares should be:
- Basic
- Light
- Classic
- Flex
The basic flight fare will replace light at the bottom of the range, and it will no longer include a cabin bag. You will only be allowed a small personal item which will fit under the seat in front of you. Light fare, on the other hand, will include the cabin bag thereby forcing you to pay more for that service.
| Feature | NEW Economy Basic | NEW Economy Light |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Item | Included | Included |
| Carry-on (8kg) | No (Add-on only) | Included |
| Rebooking | Not allowed | Allowed (for a fee) |
| Checked Bag | Extra Fee | Extra Fee |
Why is Lufthansa changing its fares?
This pricing policy change is being applied to the Lufthansa group of airlines, which includes:
- Lufthansa
- SWISS
- Austrian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
- Discover Airlines
- Lufthansa City Airlines
- Air Dolomiti
Is the direct result of the events taking place in the Middle East, with the war between the US and Iran pushing up jet fuel prices and creating supply uncertainty.
It is somehow comparable to what we all experience at the supermarket when the economy is going south and we notice packaging is getting smaller and prices remaining the same, in a phenomenon that we all have become familiar with as shrinkflation.
ITA Airways is the only airline of the Lufthansa group that is not having this change applied, and that is because Lufthansa does still not control the majority of the Italian airline, only holding a 41% stake.