Lufthansa is set to unbundle airfares in order to increase ancillary revenue. The news follows a similar revelation from Emirates, and was announced at the airline's Capital Market Day in Frankfurt.

The carrier believes that the future of airfares will involve upselling individual options. Indeed, the Lufthansa Group believes that tailored offerings based on individual needs could be the answer.

Between 2015 and 2019, Lufthansa has more than doubled its ancillary revenue from €284 million to €585 million. By unbundling and upselling, they hope to increase this by 50% again in the next three years. This follows Emirates' announcement that they would unbundle business class earlier this year.

How things stand

Today, Lufthansa already offers a tiered approach to its airfares. Indeed, in a similar vein to Ryanair, Lufthansa offers three economy fares. Economy light gives passengers one carry on bag, and a 'snack"' Regular readers will know I'm not a fan of Lufthansa's snack offering.

Economy classic adds a checked bag and a seat reservation, in addition to being able to rebook the flight. Finally, passengers can purchase Economy Flex which allows all the previous benefits plus the ability to take an earlier flight, priority boarding, and the fare being refundable. It goes without saying that each bundle costs more than the previous.

Lufthansa Unbundled Airfares Ancillary revenue
Lufthansa currently sells fares in a tiered bundle approach. Photo: Lufthansa

The future

According to Harry Hohmeister, Chief Commercial Officer Network Airlines at the Lufthansa Group, the future of airfares is to unbundle them and to upsell tailored products. This would see passengers purchasing a base fare and then topping it up. The presentation gave examples of different demographics, such as travellers and families.

For example, the Family Bundle could include additional luggage for a family, while the traveller package could include additional baggage and a seat reservation. Finally, a business traveller could get fast track security and lounge access at the expense of additional baggage.

Lufthansa Unbundled Airfares Ancillary revenue
The airline would look to target different packages at different demographics of passengers. Source: Lufthansa

While Hohmeister only focused on economy class in Monday's presentation, Australian Business Traveller reports that the approach will also apply to business class.

500 million additional revenue

Speaking to investors at the Capital Market Day, Hohmeister said,

"Selling through bundles is reactive selling ... you are booking the Economy Class classic ticket.

You want to have a lounge, and then do you want as a special seat? And then do you want to have special food... [this] can be done by proactive selling"

Finally, he added: "It's giving us an opportunity to sell proactive and not reactive which has high potential in terms of money-making, and this is, of course, behind the 500 million additional revenue we want to receive."

What do you think of Lufthansa's plan to unbundle airfares? Let us know in the comments!