Lufthansa Expands Services With CheapOair Even as Airline Pursues Surcharge

Skift Take
Lufthansa is being pragmatic. The airline knows its differences with the global distribution systems will get sorted out, one way or another, over the long term. In the meantime it still needs travel agencies such as CheapOair to sell its tickets and ancillary services.
Even as the Lufthansa Group proceeds with plans to level a surcharge for bookings that take place beyond its websites and call centers beginning in September, the airline group has expanded its relationship with one such third-party travel agency, CheapOair.
With the exception of the Lufthansa Group's own sites, CheapOair states it became the first site globally to enable customers to make seat reservations in advance as they book Lufthansa Group flights, including those for Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines. Travelers can also select seats on these airlines when booking over the phone through CheapOair's parent, Fareportal.
The advance seat res