United Airlines, Lufthansa Group and Deutsche Bahn have announced a new commercial partnership that will enhance connectivity for customers traveling between Germany and the U.S. via Frankfurt.
On Tuesday (November 21, 2023), United Airlines announced a new commercial partnership with Lufthansa Group and Deutsche Bahn, which will enhance intermodal connectivity for customers traveling between Germany and the U.S. via Frankfurt. Customers can now book integrated rail and air journeys with just a single transaction, one combined fare and a single ticket. The partnership will allow customers to connect between 25 cities in Germany, as well as Basel, Switzerland, and United’s hubs at New York/Newark, Chicago, Houston, Denver and San Francisco. From these points, customers can also connect to destinations across the Americas.
In Tuesday’s announcement, United Airlines’ SVP – Global Network Planning and Alliances, Patrick Quayle, said,
“We are excited to announce our new partnership with Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn. This new collaboration will offer our customers even greater travel choice and flexibility, allowing convenient connections between 25 cities across Germany and the United States with just one convenient transfer at Frankfurt Airport, all on a single ticket.”
Also commenting on the new commercial cooperation, Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s SVP – Network, Alliances & Partnerships, Stefan Kreuzpainter, said,
“Connecting amazing places on both sides of the Atlantic has never been so easy. Together with our partners, we have consistently expanded our intermodal services in recent years in many European countries. In Germany, Lufthansa offers a rail alternative to every domestic feeder flight to Frankfurt. This new partnership is another milestone in the successful Lufthansa Express Rail programme. It offers travellers to and from the USA a convenient, comfortable journey – a real premium product.”
DB Fernverkehr AG’s VP – Pricing, Revenue, and Partner Management, Hans Joachim Luhm, added,
“We are very pleased to announce a cooperation with United Airlines through our Express Rail agreement. This agreement between United Airlines, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn offers our joint customers an easy and flexible journey with air and train - seamless with just one ticket - for example from Chicago to Stuttgart.”
The new collaboration builds on the Star Alliance’s Intermodal Partnership model, launched in 2022, which seamlessly connects air travel with railway, bus, ferry or any other transport ecosystem, alliance wide.
Further commenting on the expansion of their Intermodal Partnership model, Star Alliance’s Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Renato Ramos, said,
“We are thrilled to see our innovative Intermodal Partnership Model extend to a significant member of Star Alliance - United Airlines. Initiatives like these foster greater collaboration among modes of transport, providing enhanced convenience and flexibility for customers. This marks another step towards a seamlessly integrated travel ecosystem, aligning with our collective vision for the Alliance.”
The new partnership between United, Lufthansa and DB builds on the successful Lufthansa Express Rail intermodal program. Lufthansa customers have been able to purchase a combined air and rail ticket in one booking step for over 20 years. In the future, all Star Alliance member airlines will be able to include Deutsche Bahn’s environmentally friendly ICE (InterCity Express) trains as a flight number in their booking engine.
Customers booking an intermodal itinerary will receive boarding passes for both rail and air sectors when checking in, priority baggage handling and other services in the AiRail check-in area at Frankfurt Airport, along with the ability for United MileagePlus members to collect miles for rail journeys taken as part of a rail/air ticket. Transfer and connection protection is also included in the event of delays and breakdowns, and eligible customers can enjoy Deutsche Bahn lounge access.
Source(s): United Airlines, Lufthansa
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