Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn are focusing on the rapid expansion of joint offers for train-to-flight services. In Frankfurt, both German travel giants presented their plans for a joint product initiative.
The Lufthansa Express Rail network will be expanded by five cities. From December 2021, extra-fast Sprinter trains will also travel to Frankfurt Airport for the first time.
Deutsche Bahn and Lufthansa already offer 134 daily feeder trains from 17 German cities to Frankfurt Airport – the popular train to flight service. In the second half of 2021, another five cities will be added. For the first time, it will be possible to travel to Frankfurt Airport with Lufthansa Express Rail from Hamburg and Munich from July 2021, and then from Berlin, Bremen and Münster from December 2021.
In addition, new Sprinter connections will celebrate their premiere from December. The rail journey between Munich and Cologne will be shortened to less than four hours. To and from München and Nürnberg, there will be direct connections to Frankfurt Airport twice a day in three and two hours respectively, without any further stops in between - half an hour faster than today and precisely matching the departure and arrival times of the Lufthansa hub.
All the confirmed features of the Lufthansa Express Rail program, such as reserved seats on the train, connection security, mileage credit for the train journey as well as 1st class travel and access to the DB lounges for Business and First-Class customers, will continue to be available. More services will be added in the future.
Express Rail trains will be easier to identify thanks to joint DB-LH (Deutsche Bahn – Lufthansa) branding on many multiple units. LH information content can also be accessed on the train via the free WLAN. Those who book Business or First Class will enjoy the DB Premium Service in 1st Class and receive a complimentary catering offer at their seat.
Luggage transportation will also be easier for the train to flight service: Deutsche Bahn prefers to use the latest generation of trains with large luggage compartments. As soon as traffic at the airports picks up again, Lufthansa Express Rail customers will be given access to the Fastlane at the security checkpoint. When landing at Frankfurt Airport, Express Rail customers' suitcases will be prioritised.
Booking Lufthansa Express Rail tickets will become more flexible. From April 2021, feeder trains will be available for booking alongside the corresponding connecting flight. At the same time, early booking is worthwhile, which means that tickets can be cheaper. A special highlight this year: Miles & more customers will receive double status miles on all Lufthansa Express Rail journeys, as they do on all flights.