United Airlines, Lufthansa Group and Deutsche Bahn have
announced a new commercial cooperation offering customers greater choice and
enhanced connectivity traveling between Germany and the United States.
Effective November 22, the new arrangement will allow United
customers traveling between the U.S. and Germany via Frankfurt Airport to book
integrated rail and air journeys with one single transaction, one combined fare
and one single ticket.
Customers will be able to connect between 25 cities in
Germany, as well as Basel, Switzerland, and United’s hubs at New York/Newark,
Chicago, Washington, Houston, Denver, and San Francisco and beyond to U.S.
destinations.
"We are excited to announce our new partnership with
Lufthansa and Deutsche Bahn,” said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President Global
Network Planning and Alliances, United Airlines. “This new collaboration offers
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.”
The collaboration builds upon Star Alliance’s Intermodal
Partnership model, launched in July 2022, that combines airline with railway,
bus, ferry or any other transport ecosystem, alliance-wide. It is designed to
link loyalty systems and facilitate convenient airport/station/port transit.
“Connecting amazing places on both sides of the Atlantic has
never been so easy,” said Stefan Kreuzpaintner, Senior Vice President Network,
Alliances & Partnerships, Deutsche Lufthansa AG. “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 program offering travelers
to and from the USA a convenient, comfortable journey – a real premium
product.”
Customers have the possibility of receiving 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, as well as the
ability for United MileagePlus customers to collect miles for rail journeys as
part of a combined rail/air ticket.
Transfer and connection protection in the event of delays
and breakdowns and access to Deutsche Bahn lounges for eligible customers are
also included.
Hans Joachim Luhm, Vice President Pricing, Revenue- and
Partner-Management, DB Fernverkehr AG said, “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.”
"We are thrilled to see our innovative Intermodal
Partnership Model extend to a significant member of Star Alliance - United
Airlines," remarked Renato Ramos, Vice President of Corporate Strategy,
Star Alliance. "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."
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