The Lufthansa Group introduced further changes to its fare structure on April 7, 2026. While rebooking fees have already been increased several times in recent years, the latest adjustment targets refund fees. However, only selected routes to and from Asia, the Pacific region, and Africa are affected.
Cancellation fees on these routes have risen significantly. Depending on the travel class and fare, up to €2,000 per ticket may now be retained. Even when booking the expensive Flex fare, refunds are no longer free of charge.
New cancellation fees since April 7
Lufthansa informed its distribution partners about the changes on April 7, with immediate effect. The new rules apply to the following destinations:
- Asia-Pacific (excluding China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia)
- South Africa
- Mauritius
- Seychelles
Fees vary depending on travel class and fare type:
| Travel Class | Fare | Rebooking Fee* | Cancellation Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Class | Light | €300 | non-refundable |
| Basic | €200 | non-refundable | |
| Basic Plus | €150 | €600 | |
| Green | free | €600 | |
| Flex | free | €400 | |
| Premium Economy | Light | €400 | non-refundable |
| Basic | €250 | non-refundable | |
| Basic Plus | €200 | €1,000 | |
| Green | free | €1,000 | |
| Flex | free | €700 | |
| Business Class | Light | €500 | non-refundable |
| Basic | €300 | non-refundable | |
| Basic Plus | €250 | €1,500 | |
| Green | free | €1,500 | |
| Flex | free | €1,000 | |
| First Class | Basic | €600 | non-refundable |
| Basic Plus | €500 | €2,000 | |
| Green | free | €2,000 | |
| Flex | free | €1,500 |
*In any case, you also have to pay the price difference between your new and old ticket.
These changes are already implemented in Lufthansa’s booking system:
Award tickets are not affected – cancellation remains free of charge on those.
Bottom Line
The Lufthansa Group has not provided any official explanation for the changes. While the airline has raised various fees in recent years, this latest move is quite unusual, especially when it comes to the Flex fare.
One possible explanation is the ongoing Iran War. Lufthansa appears to be facing a high number of cancellations on routes to and from Asia. In some cases, passengers may be booking fully refundable Lufthansa tickets as a backup option, only to cancel them at short notice if airlines like Etihad Airways or Emirates operate their flights as planned. The newly introduced high cancellation fees could be intended to discourage this behavior.
It seems unlikely that these changes will remain in place long term. Fees at this level risk alienating business travelers in particular, who rely on flexibility. The measure therefore feels more like a temporary workaround. That said, it raises the question whether more balanced solutions might have been possible, such as limiting free cancellations to a certain number of days before departure. It is also unclear why Malaysia is excluded from the changes, despite there being no joint venture in place.
Sources: Reisetopia & Lufthansa Release