Editorial Team
Our content team
5 min read
Your cabin trolley just got a price tag. Since May 19, 2026, Lufthansa's Economy Basic fare on European short and medium-haul routes no longer includes a free overhead bin bag. You get one small personal item under the seat. That's it.
The Lufthansa Group announced this change as part of a broader fare restructuring. Bookable from April 28, first flights departing May 19. And here's what probably matters most: it's not just Lufthansa. All seven airlines in the Lufthansa Group are affected.
What You Actually Get With Economy Basic
One personal item. Maximum dimensions: 40 x 30 x 15 cm (roughly 15.7 x 11.8 x 5.9 inches). It needs to fit under the seat in front of you. Think laptop bag, small backpack, or handbag.
No cabin trolley. No checked bag. No seat selection. No rebooking.
Want to bring your roller bag into the cabin? That'll cost you. According to ZDF Heute, the add-on starts from around 15 to 20 euros depending on when you book it.
Here's something that caught my eye. Lufthansa's personal item allowance of 40 x 30 x 15 cm is actually more restrictive than Ryanair's 40 x 30 x 20 cm. Those extra 5 centimeters of depth at Ryanair translate to about 33% more volume. So the full-service carrier is now tighter on bag size than the budget airline. I honestly didn't expect that.
The Four Economy Tiers Compared
| Feature | Economy Basic (NEW) | Economy Light | Economy Comfort | Economy Flex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal item | 1x (40x30x15 cm) | 1x (40x30x15 cm) | 1x (40x30x15 cm) | 1x (40x30x15 cm) |
| Cabin trolley | NO (from ~15-20 EUR) | 1x up to 8 kg | 1x up to 8 kg | 1x up to 8 kg |
| Checked bag | NO (extra fee) | NO (extra fee) | 1x up to 23 kg | 1x up to 23 kg |
| Rebookable | No | Yes, with fee | Yes, with fee | Yes, free |
| Seat selection | No (extra fee) | No | Included | Included + Priority |
If you need a trolley, run the numbers before booking Economy Basic plus the add-on. Economy Light with the trolley included could end up cheaper.
All Seven Lufthansa Group Airlines Affected
This isn't a Lufthansa-only thing. The Economy Basic fare rolls out across the entire group:
- Lufthansa
- Swiss International Air Lines
- Austrian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
- Discover Airlines
- Lufthansa City Airlines
- Air Dolomiti
One exception worth knowing: HON Circle and Senator frequent flyer members keep their free cabin bag in Economy Basic. But you need to enter your Miles & More number during booking. Forget to add it, and you might lose the perk. As airliners.de reports, the rollout is gradual on selected routes, not all at once.
The EU Is Watching
Lufthansa isn't the first to charge for overhead bin bags. Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet have done it for years. But consumer groups aren't happy about it spreading to full-service carriers.
The European consumer organization BEUC has filed complaints against seven airlines over cabin baggage charges, arguing that a reasonably sized carry-on bag is part of the basic ticket under EU law. Spain already fined five airlines a combined 179 million euros for similar practices in late 2024, according to BEUC's press release.
And the European Parliament passed a reform proposal that would guarantee passengers two free baggage pieces: one for the overhead bin and one for under the seat. But EU member states pushed back, and a conciliation committee is still working on it as of mid-2026. So don't hold your breath.
