Lufthansa Now Charges Some Passengers To Change Assigned Seats During Online Check-In

Updated: July 3, 2026, 10:39am CDT

Edited by:

Jump to Section

Table of Contents

What’s Changing With Lufthansa Seat Fees?
Why This Matters
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Lufthansa Group just found another way to charge you for something that used to be free.

Starting July 1, 2026, passengers flying Economy or Premium Economy who want to swap the seat they were assigned during online check-in will have to pay to do so. This used to be limited to the cheapest Economy Light fares. Now it applies across the board, including on long-haul flights.

If you don’t hold Senator or HON Circle status, book on a Flex fare, or fly as part of a family or group, you’re likely paying up.

What’s Changing With Lufthansa Seat Fees?

Previously, only Economy Light passengers were charged for seat changes at check-in. As of July 1, that fee now extends to Economy Classic, Economy Comfort Plus, Economy Green, and their Premium Economy equivalents across Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian, and Brussels Airlines, as first noticed by Loyalty Lobby.

If you didn’t pay in advance for a specific seat, Lufthansa randomly assigns one during online check-in. Want a different seat in the same category? That now costs money, and the price isn’t fixed. Lufthansa is pricing this feature dynamically, and it fluctuates by demand, route, and how close you are to departure, similar to how Economy Light passengers already pay a minimum of €25 ($28.61) to reassign their seat.

A few groups are exempt. Miles & More Senator and HON Circle members keep free seat changes. Flex fare passengers are untouched. Additionally, if you already paid for a specific seat reservation, you can still change it within the same seat category at no extra cost. Families and group bookings are also supposed to retain the ability to sit together, though it’s still unclear how that works out when a group member tries to break away from the pack.

Why This Matters

This isn’t an isolated move. Lufthansa Group has spent 2026 methodically stripping out perks that used to come standard.

In March, it rolled out Light fares for Business and Premium Economy that eliminate seat reservations entirely, even for Senator and HON Circle members. In June, the airline had to walk back a punishing set of change and cancellation fees on award and revenue Business/First tickets after backlash. Now, it’s economy and premium economy passengers’ turn to feel the squeeze.

Lufthansa A320 Munich — Image Credit: Alberto Riva

The pattern puts Lufthansa in the same territory as low-cost carriers, not the full-service, Skytrax-rated airline it has long marketed itself as. Air France-KLM has moved similarly, cutting free seat selection on Light fares and adding business-class seat fees, though Flying Blue elites and group bookings are exempt. British Airways has charged for advance seat selection on Basic fares for years. United still lets standard economy passengers select and change seats for free, reserving fees for Basic Economy.

Hot Tip:

If the check-in system dumps you in a middle seat next to the lavatory, fixing it now costs real money unless you hold elite status or paid for a Flex fare upfront. That’s a real shift for a carrier that used to distinguish itself from budget competitors, and it’s worth factoring in before you book.

Final Thoughts

Lufthansa keeps testing how much nickel-and-diming its passengers will tolerate, and this seat change fee is the latest example.

If you’re booking Lufthansa Group flights in Economy or Premium Economy, check your fare rules before check-in, and know that Senator, HON Circle, and Flex fares are your best paths to avoiding this fee. Given how quickly Lufthansa reversed its business/first fee hike in June, don’t be surprised if this policy gets adjusted after a steady stream of complaints.