Lufthansa Group has announced that a Travel ID account will become mandatory for online check-in across its member carriers, with the rollout beginning in October 2026 and completing by the end of November that year.
The change will affect passengers checking in via the group's websites or apps on flights operated by Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Edelweiss and Discover Airlines. It is one of the more consequential procedural shifts the group has introduced for leisure and business travellers in recent years.
What Is the Travel ID and Who Needs One
The Travel ID is a unified login used across all Lufthansa Group carriers. aeroTELEGRAPH reported, as cited by One Mile at a Time, that it is a separate credential from the Miles & More frequent flyer programme, meaning loyalty programme members will still need to create a distinct Travel ID account if they do not already have one.
The requirement applies only to passengers travelling on tickets issued by a Lufthansa Group carrier. According to View from the Wing and One Mile at a Time, those holding tickets issued by another airline are exempt. Passengers who prefer to check in at airport counters or self-service machines are also exempt from the new rule.
How the Lufthansa Group Rollout Is Structured
The requirement comes into force in three stages. aeroTELEGRAPH reported that from 20 October 2026, a Travel ID will be needed for online check-in on departures from the Schengen Area, excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
From 16 November 2026, the mandate extends to departures from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Munich and Zurich, as confirmed by View from the Wing and One Mile at a Time. The rollout then concludes on 30 November 2026, when the requirement takes effect for all remaining departure regions, including Frankfurt, according to both outlets.
What This Means for Passengers
The practical effect is straightforward: anyone intending to check in online for a Lufthansa Group flight on a group-issued ticket will need to register for a Travel ID before they reach the check-in step. Those who do not wish to create an account retain the option of checking in at the airport.
For frequent travellers who already manage accounts with multiple carriers within the group, the unified login may reduce friction over time. For occasional travellers, it adds a registration step that did not previously exist.
You can explore Lufthansa Group's carriers and routes using our Airline Search tool. We have been following the group closely: our recent piece on which Lufthansa Group airline will receive the newly ordered 737 MAXs gives broader context on how the group is expanding and restructuring.
The Bottom Line
This is an administrative change rather than a policy reversal, but it will catch passengers off guard if they arrive at online check-in without an account registered. The phased rollout gives travellers several months to prepare. Those on interline or codeshare tickets issued by other airlines need not act, but anyone booking directly with a Lufthansa Group carrier should register for a Travel ID well before their travel date.
This article draws on reporting by View from the Wing and One Mile at a Time.
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