Lufthansa Group Mandates Travel ID for Online Check-In, Warns of Scams
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Lufthansa Group is implementing a mandatory "Travel ID" for online check-in across its airlines, starting November 30 for flights from Israel. The free digital profile consolidates passenger information and bookings. While airport check-in remains an option, passengers are warned of a growing scam where fake customer service numbers are inserted into search results and AI overviews, leading to exorbitant fees for assistance. Official airline websites and apps are the only trusted sources for support information.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Lufthansa Group now requires a free "Travel ID" for online check-in on its seven airlines.
- Flights departing from Israel will require the Travel ID starting November 30.
- Airport check-in remains an option and does not require the new digital account.
- Scammers are using AI and search results to promote fake customer service numbers.
- Passengers are urged to use only official airline websites and apps for support.
- The Travel ID requirement is based on flight departure location, not passenger nationality.
The Lufthansa Group is progressively requiring passengers to create a free "Travel ID" account to complete online check-in for flights across its seven airlines: Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss, and Air Dolomiti. This new requirement will take effect for flights departing from Israel on November 30. The Travel ID, which is a digital profile linked to an email address, consolidates personal details and bookings for all group airlines. It does not require enrollment in the Miles & More frequent flyer program, though it can be linked. Registration, possible from age two, requires an email address, title, name, date of birth, and a password meeting specific complexity criteria. The registration is finalized via an email link valid for 24 hours, and each email address can only be used for one account. This change does not eliminate the option of checking in at the airport counter or self-service kiosks. The primary impact is on passengers who do not prepare in advance, potentially facing the requirement just before their flight when trying to select seats or obtain a boarding pass on their phone.
The rollout began on October 20 for flights from Schengen countries (excluding Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), expanding to other European countries and select German airports on November 2, and to the US, Canada, and Mexico on November 16. The final phase on November 30 will include Frankfurt and the rest of the world, including Israel. The rule is determined by the departure airport of each flight segment, not the passenger's nationality or final destination, meaning a single round trip might involve different check-in procedures. Exemptions apply to tickets issued by non-group airlines, flights operated by external carriers, group bookings, and some bookings through tour operators and charter companies. For family bookings, only the person performing the check-in needs a Travel ID.
Beyond the check-in requirement, the article warns of a significant financial risk associated with seeking customer support. Scammers are reportedly exploiting search engine auto-completes and AI overviews (including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google AI Overview) to insert fake customer service phone numbers for airlines like Lufthansa. Israeli cyber investigators have identified campaigns that poison AI responses with these fraudulent numbers. Individuals calling these numbers are directed to seemingly legitimate call centers that charge exorbitant fees for routine services like booking changes or cancellations. Passengers are advised to obtain account information and support phone numbers exclusively from the official airline websites or apps, not from search results or chatbots. Travel agents can also perform check-in for their clients using their own Travel ID accounts.
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