We are writing to inform you that, with effect from 1 September 2015, the Lufthansa Group airlines (Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS) will introduce a global charge for bookings made through Global Distribution Systems (GDS): the Distribution Cost Charge (DCC). You will still be able to make DCC-exempt bookings through the new LHGroup-agent.com.
Increasing digitalisation means there are a variety of ways to find out information about the Lufthansa Group offer and to book flights and additional services. These different booking channels are associated with significant cost differences for the airlines in some cases. Until now, these costs have been passed on across-the-board to all passengers as part of the ticket price. The costs of using a Global Distribution System, in particular, far exceed those of the other booking channels and this year the costs have again increased significantly. A part of these costs for GDS bookings will now be passed on in the form of a new charge based on the cost-causation principle.
As with the introduction of the new Economy Class European fare, with this new charge the Lufthansa Group airlines are enabling their customers to pay only for those benefits and services that they actually use. The Lufthansa Group airlines are therefore taking a further step on the path of strategic realignment with personalised and modular offers.
With effect from 1 September 2015, a globally* consistent Distribution Cost Charge (DCC) of EUR 16.- / CHF 16.- will be levied on all Lufthansa Group airline tickets which are issued from 1 September 2015 through a GDS. This will be calculated automatically in the GDS as an OB fee and factored into the ticketing.
The following DCC-exempt booking channels remain available to you:
• the new website LHGroup-agent.com (booking platform for travel agencies)
• the websites austrian.com, brusselsairlines.com, LH.com, swiss.com
• the Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS call centres
• airport ticket desks
We will enable corporate customers to book their individually negotiated contract rates DCC-exempt on LH.com. We will also offer this option to you as our sales partners through the new Lufthansa Group agent.com.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your usual contact.
*In some countries the introduction of the DCC will require official approval. At the time of writing, this approval is not yet available for the following countries: China and New Zealand. Communication of the introduction of the DCC will therefore take place subject to the agreement of the appropriate government agency in each case. The current exceptions are for bookings with point of origin Hong Kong, Iran and Libya.