INTERNATIONAL

• 1 Bag per person traveling in Economy Class 22.5 Kgs max each
• Second Piece fee $75 (for tickets issued after 1st October 2011 for travel from 1st November 2011)
• 2 Bags per person traveling in Business Class 32 Kgs max each
• Size not to exceed 157 Linear cm (Height + Width + Breadth)

Ok I certainly need to ask the questions we have seen airlines chop and change bagge so often – why is it that airlines do not learn from each other and the mistakes that happen. I have often said that airlines are squeezing and complicating the world of travel. You have airlines on the one hand that each airline has different fares, now each airline has different baggage restrictions, certain airlines have payment restrictions on their flights all in a world where booking and buying travel is supposedly becoming easier for the consumer and doing away with the middle man. I predict that there are many travellers out there about to learn some very tough lessons from trying to do things themselves, and by all means how can you not expect customers to understand when travel agents are over worked and straining to keep up with the changes as it is, making researching each ticket and each sale more complex. All while in a country where you can book and pay your next vacation along with your bread and milk.

So what is going to happen?  People are going to bang their head – there is going to be more aggression and an splurge of negativity in the sector as a whole, there after I believe we may actually see clients becoming more loyal buyers sticking with airlines and service operators that treat them properly and fairly, this above announcement and change of Delta is a direct communication to the travel consumers @ large they are clamping down on the perks and squeezing more in line with what other airlines have done already instead of saying – well we missed the boat on that one and have watched LH (Lufthansa) do an about turn on their unpopular decision to do just the above which lasted a few months.

Note squeezing clients something gives way and as a South African consumer it must be reminded that we often do not talk verbally we talk with our feet.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we re-introduce the return of our seasonal Cape Town flight – LH576, will operate from Frankfurt to Cape Town effective 30th October 2011. The flight from Cape Town to Frankfurt – LH577, will operate from the Mother City daily from 31 October 2011 offering you seamless connections during our summer season.

Eff. 4th September 2010, all travel booked for departure from 01 January 2011 will incur a new German Aviation tax (code OY) for all departures from and within Germany and also for any stopovers taken in Germany.

Please note: This tax will not be applicable for tickets sold with departures from South Africa unless the destination or a stopover occurs in Germany. Example: JNB-FRA-LON-FRA-JNB (no stop in FRA only transfer in FRA , NO OY tax to be charged.)

When the OY tax will be charged:
1) For all departures from Germany.
2) For all departures from Germany irrespective of POS.
Example: FRA-JNB-FRA—- sold in South Africa—- OY tax to be charged
3) Irrespective of POS, the destination is in Germany or if a SO occurs in Germany.
Example: JNB-FRA-JNB —- OY tax to be charged
JNB-FRA-LON//MUC-FRA-JNB — OY tax to be charged

Charges:
EUR 8:     for shorthaul departures
EUR 25:   for medium haul departures
EUR 45:   for longhaul departures
Children (Infants) below the age of 2 without a seat are exempt.
For domestic German tickets 19%VAT is applied on top of the 8EUR (9.52EUR).

Here is Lufthansa new offering:

1.    On short-haul/continental (Intra-European/German-domestic/Israel, Jordan, Lebanon & Northern Africa) sectors:
No change to current YQ level
2.    On long-haul/intercontinental sectors:
* long-haul destinations in the Middle East, East Africa + 5 EUR/USD to 82 EUR/USD
* long-haul destinations in North America and India + 5 EUR/USD to 87 EUR/USD
* long-haul destinations in South America, Central-, West- and Southern Africa, Southeast Asia and the Far East +5 EUR/USD to 97 EUR/USD

Due to a strike which has been announced by the pilots’ union “Vereinigung Cockpit” (VC) between 22 and 25 February 2010, Lufthansa is expecting disturbances to flight operations.

Lufthansa regrets any inconvenience to Lufthansa passengers caused by possible strike action and will do its utmost to reduce the impact for travellers. If you have booked a Lufthansa Flight between 22 and 25 February 2010, but prefer to change your travel plans, Lufthansa offers one free of charge rebooking to another Lufthansa flight before 31 March 2010 under the condition that origin and destination remain unchanged.

You may reach your Lufthansa team during normal working hours, and on the following number: 0861 842 538.