Lufthansa is the latest airline to add a free inflight internet tier. And, like the others, it has tied the shift to membership in its loyalty program. From mid-January 2024 passengers on Lufthansa’s A320 fleet will have access to free messaging service on board.
I am pleased that our guests will in future be able to stay in touch with their relatives or business partners above the clouds – free of charge. – Heiko Reitz, CCO Lufthansa Airlines
The carrier announced it will support the free messaging tier for members connecting to its FlyNet portal with a Miles & More account or with an e-mail address registered with the Lufthansa Group Travel ID. Passengers will have the option to register for an account during the flight.
Of particular note, Lufthansa says its free messaging plan supports sharing of images. Typically the larger file sizes of that content are not supported on the messaging plans. The carrier will also slash rates by nearly 50% for higher service tiers that allow browsing and streaming during flights.
This free messaging offer is part of what appears to be a growing trend toward making at least some inflight internet services free for passengers on board. This month alone Lufthansa joins Vistara and Malaysia Airlines with free tiers added to their inflight connectivity platform. Air Canada also expanded its free offering in recent weeks.
Lufthansa’s inflight internet service on the A320 family is provided by Viasat’s GX Aviation, part of the Inmarsat acquisition.
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