June 5, 2025, 12:07 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Stay connected with family and friends during your flight—at no extra cost? For Lufthansa passengers on long-haul flights, this is now a reality. However, there is one condition for using the free service.
Since January 2023, Lufthansa has offered free chat services on short-haul flights. Now, passengers can also use popular messaging services for free on long-haul flights with the German airline. Lufthansa announced this on its website. Previously, a fee was charged for this service on overseas flights.
Access Only with Registration
To use the free chat service, passengers need a card number from the frequent flyer program “Miles & More” or an email address registered with the Lufthansa Group Travel ID. This allows them to log in to Lufthansa FlyNet and use the service. Registration is also possible during the flight.
Sending and receiving photos is also possible through the service. However, there are restrictions on voice and video calls: These remain prohibited to avoid disturbing other passengers.
Also of interest: Wi-Fi on airplanes – what travelers need to know
Important to know: For data usage beyond messaging—such as streaming services or large downloads—the airline still charges fees. “Only dedicated apps for free chat use are centrally enabled,” a Lufthansa spokesperson explained in response to a query from TRAVELBOOK.
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No Access to Personal Data
Passengers need not worry about data protection, according to the airline spokesperson. “Lufthansa has no access to personal data shared through the use of the service.” Data security is a high priority for Lufthansa.
By the way, you can deactivate your smartphone’s airplane mode during the flight. Only during takeoff and landing must the phone be in airplane mode, according to the Lufthansa spokesperson.