How to score half-price first-class airfares

Lufthansa's first-class cabin includes sound-absorbing curtains and carpet. Picture: Lufthansa

The first-class seats are 2.07m long and 80cm wide. Picture: Lufthansa

• Discounted first-class tickets on long-haul flights
• Passengers will need to sacrifice flexibility
• Have to purchase tickets 60 days in advance

AN airline is offering steep discounts on first-class tickets in a desperate bid to entice passengers to the pointy end of the plane.

German carrier Lufthansa, Europe's second-biggest airline, is offering "First Saver Plus" tickets, which will offer the same on-board experience as first class.

In pictures: Best of first class

They will be available to more than 40 long-haul destinations. Using the offer, passengers could book flights between Bangkok and Frankfurt for 4500 euros ($5707), less than half the full fare, Bloomberg reports.

Meanwhile, flights to New York from Germany will cost 5499 euros ($6973) compared to the full-ticket price of 8499 euros ($10,778).

The fare is currently only available for round-trip flights originating in Germany, but travellers are hopeful it will be expanded to other destinations, including Australia.

Passengers who want to snap up the offers will need to sacrifice booking flexibility. They'll need to purchase the ticket 60 days in advance and there will be restrictions on cancellations and changes.

They will also have to stay a minimum of six days on the US east coast, or 10 days elsewhere.

The airline is trying to tap into a wider group of travellers, Lufthansa board member Jens Bischof said.

While Lufthansa currently has first-class cabins in more than 90 per cent of its wide-body fleet, it will reduce this number to 75 per cent due to waning demand for the pricey tickets.

In pictures: Best of first class

 

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