For those of you using Lufthansa’s “Blue Legends” App, I’ve updated the United and US Airways codeshare flight numbers that are valid for the month of February. Please note that Lufthansa does not have a codeshare flight number for every United or US Airways operated flight, but they do cover a large majority. If you are using older versions of Lufthansa codeshare flight numbers, please discard them. Lufthansa updates them on a monthly basis and previous codeshare flight numbers may be invalid.

For those of you not familiar with “Blue Legends”, it is a Lufthansa app that allows you to “Check In” with your various Lufthansa based activity; including flights, airport and lounge visits. The App lets you compete with other Lufthansa travelers in becoming “Mayors” of flights and receiving other “Badges” based on your accomplishments within Blue Legends. To learn more about “Blue Legends”, please click here.

PLEASE USE THIS LINK FOR LUFTHANSA’S UNITED AIRLINES CODE SHARE FLIGHT NUMBERS

PLEASE USE THIS LINK FOR LUFTHANSA’S US AIRWAYS CODE SHARE FLIGHT NUMBERS

Earlier this week Lufthansa released updates to its mobile site as well as enhacements to their Smartphone App. I installed it a couple of days ago on my iPhone and iPad and took it through it’s paces. So far, I like the changes and the intuitiveness that the upgrades provide.

Some of the key improvements include “push notifications” that will alert you to changes in flight status, gate information, etc. You can also receive your boarding passes directly into the App, which makes it act a bit like “PASSBOOK”.

In addition, the Apps received a facelift that improves the “logic” of navigating the App. Using the iPhone or iPad you can navigate/scroll you screen in four directions (up, down, left, right) with each new window bring additional functionality. The dedicated windows include one for fare offers, one for general Lufthansa news and information and one that is customizable based on your upcoming Lufthansa travel.

One of my favorite features is the Flight Status option that lets you pick from any Lufthansa flights coming up in the next 3 days and receive status messaging in real time. The Flight Status feature also lets you search for any Lufthansa flight based on airport or route; a cool little feature for us “avgeeks”!

To download this app, visit your respect App Store or use these links:

APPLE iPad / iPhone Users

ANDROID (GOOGLE) Smartphone Users

After you’ve downloaded and tried the App for yourself, please forward to me any feedback/ideas/issues that you have and I’ll share it with those behind the development of the App.

Earlier this month Lufthansa released their updated “schedule” for excess baggage / overweight baggage fees. Overall there were some substantial increases for bags that are much larger or much heavier than the standard weight and size allowed by Lufthansa. To be compliant as a free checked bag, the piece must weigh less than 23kg (50.7 lbs.) and measure less than 158cm (62 inches) when length, height and depth of a bag are added together. Beyond those dimensions, a fee schedule will apply.

The fees increase dramatically when your bag approaches the 33kg (72 lbs) weight, with fees starting at $300 and going to $600 for a bag that is heavier AND oversized (greater than the 158cm/62in maximum). So PLEASE be mindful when packing your bags for your upcoming travel this year! Some of the fees have increased more than 50% over the past year.

For your convenience, here is the 2013 Excess Baggage Charges Chart that Lufthansa released on January 15, 2013:

Lufthansa has updated their website to reflect flights that have been cancelled for January 27. As of now, there are 33 flights that are cancelled. All of them are either FROM or TO Frankfurt.

The flights that are affected are either flights within Germany or within Europe. Long Haul/International operations are not affected.

Please use this link to see the complete list of flight cancellations, including flight numbers and cities.

If you are affected by these cancellations, Lufthansa will help reaccomodate you to another flight or assist with alternatives. Look under “My Bookings” on your Lufthansa profile to see what options are available for you.

CLICK HERE or more information including contact numbers for Lufthansa Reservation Centers and additional information.

Winter continues it’s grip on most of Europe, forcing cancellations of hundreds of flights throughout the continent. Lufthansa has updated their current list of affected flights for 22 January and has included a handful of flights that have been cancelled for 23 and 25 January.

Long Haul flights are so far unaffected. Most cancellations are for flights being operated within Germany or continental Europe.

Lufthansa keeps their latest flight status information on a dedicated page that you can find here.

Lufthansa has announced a long list of canceled flights for Monday, 21 January for flights operating primarily into Frankfurt and Munich. Most of Europe is gripped in a winter storm that is affecting travel throughout the continent.

Lufthansa has provided a list of flights that have thus far been canceled. You can find this list here.

At this point there are no cancelled long haul flights, it appears that most of the cancellations are for flights within Germany and to destinations in Europe.

In addition, a strike at Hamburg’s airport is not helping matters at this point and is adding to the list of flight cancellations.

Lufthansa has announced the beginning of a trial period that will test their latest Inflight Entertainment innovation known as “my media world”. The new technology is being piloted aboard a specific Munich based Airbus A-320, tail number D-AIPP that serves destinations throughout Europe.

In a nutshell, “my media world” is designed to let passengers leverage their own laptop, tablet or smart phone to access a variety of movies, TV and radio programming, destination guides as well as daily newspapers and other periodicals. This a fantastic new technology that brings inflight entertainment possibilities to anyone who carries a compatible device when they travel (and honestly, who DOESN’T fly with a laptop, smart phone or tablet?)

To be able to access the system, you need to make sure that you have the proper software or App installed on your device. For Apple users, you can find “my mediaworld” in Apple’s iTunes App Store and for Android users, you can download the App from the Google Play Store.

Please note that your app must be installed and authenticated BEFORE you board your flight. You will not be able to install the app once in-flight!

If you are a laptop user, you need to first ensure that you have Microsoft’s Silverlight installed (version 4.x or later). To check if your laptop is already configured, you can use this LINK to check your compatibility.

Once you have everything in place and are aboard the aircraft, accessing “my mediaworld” is easy. Once the cabin crew announces that it is OK to turn on electronic devices, power up your device and select “my mediaworld” from your device’s list of available networks. If you are using a laptop, “BoardConnect.aero” will automatically load on your internet browser when you first open it.

This new technology is a great step for Lufthansa as it seeks to provide passengers with more entertainment options while in flight, especially when flying on aircraft that do not have IFE systems installed.

I’m a big fan of being able to use my own devices while flying and not having to rely on an aircraft’s IFE system. With small screens and cumbersome navigation menus in place on antiquated IFE systems, something like “my mediaworld” should become an instant hit with Lufthansa passengers. Hopefully one of you will soon step aboard D-AIPP and can let us know your thoughts.

To help you start the New Year by learning how to manage stress in the workplace, Lufthansa is giving away copies of Stressfrei arbeiten. The book is a 256 page guide that seeks to provide you with great advice when it come to coping with stress in the workplace. The book is available through iTunes with the use of a special code. The offer is only available to iTune accounts that are registered in Germany. I tried changing my preferences to Germany, however it would not let me since my user name is USA based.

To take advantage of this offer and to download the book, please use this link to be taken to iTunes. Once you click on “Download Now” you will be prompted for a code. Enter KPNWAFF6FE7R at this point and the book should begin to download to your “iTunes” library.

Starting January 1, Lufthansa will offer Personal Assitants to help HON Circle Members and First Class Passengers who fly to certain Lufthansa destinations world-wide. These assistants will meet passengers at their plane upon arrival and help escort them through immigration and passport control, baggage claim AND accompany them to their connecting gate should the passenger have onward travel.

To a large extent, similar benefits are already in place for HON Circle members in most markets, however it seems that they are standardizing the program and expanding it to include First Class passengers.

The program will be available at most non-European destinations where Lufthansa has scheduled flights. Additionally, a HON Circle member DOES NOT need to be flying in any specific cabin class to have the Personal Assistant help them when they arrive. Keep in mind that this program only applies to Lufthansa operated flights.

I really welcome this program since it adds that personal touch to a travel experience. Many times when I left a Lufthansa flight after flying in First, the abrupt shock of being in an airport without priority services was sometimes a bit harsh. This helps make up for it very nicely!

Though the program is set to begin January 1, it may take the entire month of January to have the Personal Assistants in place throughout the network. Also, due to the sheer volume of traffic, Personal Assistants WILL NOT be available in Frankfurt or Munich. But honestly, the First Class Lounges and First Class Terminal quickly makes up for that!

Waiting in my e-mail from yesterday was one from Lufthansa and their suggestions for Christmas Market destinations in Germany and cities throughout Europe.

Winter in Europe is one of my favorite times to visit and it is primarily for the Christmas Markets, fantastic snow capped scenery and delicious mulled/spiced wine that I enjoy during my stay! One of my favorite visits to Europe during Winter was my visit to Nuremburg’s “Christkindlesmarkt”.

For those of you who are not familiar with Christmas Markets, it is a celebration put on by cities, towns and villages throughout Europe that celebrate the Holidays. They usually run from the end of November through the first week of the new year. The markets are full of fantastic food and drink, plentiful shopping (especially for local specialities) and entertainment. It may be cold this time of year, but you hardly feel the weather when you immerse yourself into one of these Markets.

In their email, Lufthansa listed some of their Christmas Market ideas for Germany and cities throughout Europe. This by far is not a complete list as their are hundreds of Christmas Markets taking place in Europe during the Holidays.

The links in the image do not work since I took a screenshot of the graphic, however you can visit the dedicated Lufthansa Christmas Market Webpage. As a bonus, by visiting their webpage, you’ll find recipes for Glühwein (Mulled Wine) and Lebkuchen (Gingerbread).

Since Lufthansa launched BLUE LEGENDS, I’ve had many USA based users email me voicing their disappointment that they could not participate actively when flying on non Lufthansa operated flights in the USA. In order to “Check In” for a flight on Blue Legends, a Lufthansa flight number is required. This included codeshare flight numbers for flights operated by United and US Airways.

To that end, I’ve been able to assemble a complete list of codeshare flight numbers that Lufthansa uses for flights operated by United and US Airways. I’ve made these lists available as dedicated pages on my website. You can see it listed as “BLUE LEGENDS: Lufthansa Codeshare Flight Numbers For United Flights” and “BLUE LEGENDS: Lufthansa Codeshare Flight Numbers For US Airway Flights” under my “PAGES”.

There are a few things to keep in mind with these lists:

Lufthansa does not have a codeshare flight number for every United or US Airways operated flight.

Lufthansa updates their codeshare flight numbers monthly and I’ll update my list to reflect the changes (I’ll let you know when I’ve updated the pages)

The list only contains the LH codeshare flight number, origin and destination and does not contain departure or arrival time information. I’m working on adding that piece for future updates. For now I suggest you “Google” the LH codeshare flight number to make sure it corresponds to the actual flight you are on.

Over the coming weeks and months, Blue Legends is being enhanced and during this time, it is possible that not every Lufthansa codeshare flight number is in the Blue Legends database. If you find yourself unable to “Check-In” on Blue Legends for a specific flight, please let me know and I’ll forward that information to the developers.

If you are unfamiliar with Blue Legends, I encourage you to visit the app’s website or read my post on Blue Legends when it was first released in June.

If you have any questions or need help with Blue Legends, feel free to e-mail me or leave a comment on this post.