October 21, 2025, 4:15 am | Read time: 3 minutes
With two free pieces of luggage, discounts on ticket prices, and flexible rebooking options, airlines like Lufthansa, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines are specifically targeting students. It sounds like a fair deal—but not every supposed bargain delivers on its promises. TRAVELBOOK reveals what students should watch out for before booking, and when these special fares are actually worth it.
Whether for a semester abroad or a trip during semester breaks, many airlines now offer special fares for students. Lufthansa has recently joined in and is now offering these deals for departures from Germany. Previously, such promotions were only available in selected international markets like Asia or South America.
Student Fares with Airlines—What Are the Benefits?
In addition to Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, Emirates, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines offer special student fares. Even with budget carriers like Eurowings or Ryanair, students can benefit from discounts—the latter in collaboration with the Erasmus Student Network. Students looking for a flight ticket should specifically search for these fares.
More Luggage and Flexible Rebookings
A key advantage of many student fares with airlines is the option for free or discounted rebooking. This can be important for spontaneous plan changes. However, it’s worth taking a close look at the conditions, as there are often restrictions. For example, with Air France, rebookings are only free for flights from France to the French overseas territories. For other routes, fees of up to 200 euros may apply.
Another plus: the baggage allowance. Lufthansa, for instance, allows two 23-kilogram bags with its student fares, while many other fares include only one piece of luggage.
Significant Discounts
Many airlines advertise attractive price reductions. Eurowings, for example, offers up to 50 percent savings compared to regular prices through the Flyla platform. Emirates, Ryanair, and Singapore Airlines offer up to 10 percent, while Turkish Airlines mentions up to 15 percent off international transit flights.
What Is Required for Booking
The prerequisite for purchasing a student fare is usually valid proof of student status. Depending on the airline, this can be a certificate of enrollment or an official acceptance letter from the university. Sometimes an international student ID or proof in English is required.
Additionally, many airlines require registration on their website. Sometimes proof of being a student must also be presented at check-in. Age restrictions are also common: For Air France and KLM, the maximum age is around 29 years. Important: The offers usually do not apply to all flights of an airline, but only to certain routes or booking classes.
Read Carefully: The Conditions in Detail
Karolina Wojtal from the European Consumer Center advises reading the fare conditions on the airlines’ websites carefully. The extra baggage regulations with some airlines are generous and helpful for long-term stays, she explains.
The rebooking options are also a plus: “For example, if you’re going abroad and the return date isn’t quite set because you don’t know: ‘Do I want to leave on the day my semester ends? Or do I want to extend a bit longer?’” Wojtal says.
Not Every Student Fare Is the Best Option
Despite the advantages, students should not automatically assume that a student fare is the cheapest option. “You can’t generally say that a student fare is always the cheapest for students,” Wojtal warns. It’s worth comparing regular economy fares with additional services like baggage options.
Those who are flexible with travel dates and departure times can particularly benefit, according to Wojtal: “Overall, it’s a good thing for students, and if you’re a bit savvy, you can definitely get a good deal.”
With material from dpa