Lufthansa Group Launches Upstream Check-In Service in Greater Bay Area

Since September 30, Lufthansa Group has introduced its innovative Upstream Check-In (UCI) service in eight ports across the Greater Bay Area. This service allows passengers traveling with Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines to complete immigration, check-in, and baggage tagging at six ferry ports and two land ports before heading to the SkyPier at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). Passengers can proceed directly to the boarding gates without the need to clear immigration and customs procedures in Hong Kong, making their journey more seamless.

With the UCI service, Lufthansa Group passengers can now skip the usual baggage reclaim process, as their checked baggage will be delivered directly to their final destination. The minimum connection time at the HKIA SkyPier Terminal has been reduced from 110 minutes to around 80 minutes, significantly enhancing convenience for travelers. This service is also available for passengers holding flight tickets from Europe to the Greater Bay Area.

Commitment to Passenger Experience

Frank Naeve, Lufthansa Group’s Senior Vice President of Sales & Distribution, emphasized the company’s ongoing efforts to improve customer experience, stating, “Our group is heavily investing in modernizing our fleet, opening new lounges, offering new catering concepts, and enhancing the digital experience for our customers. We are investing over €2.5 billion in products and services by 2025.”

Expanding Service Coverage and Enhancing Efficiency

Lufthansa Group aims to serve around 20,000 passengers annually through this new service. The UCI service is available at eight ports in the Greater Bay Area, including locations in Zhongshan, Shenzhen Shekou, Guangzhou Nansha, Dongguan Humen, Guangzhou Pazhou, Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal, Hong Kong–Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Zhuhai Port, and Hong Kong–Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Macau Port.

In addition to the new service, Lufthansa Group offers daily direct flights from Hong Kong to Frankfurt and Zurich. To take advantage of the UCI service, passengers need to present valid Lufthansa Group flight tickets with confirmed seats departing from HKIA and purchase a ferry ticket.

Lufthansa Cargo’s Growing Presence in South China

Lufthansa Cargo has also strengthened its presence in South China by adding Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport to its freighter network, now servicing the airport twice a week since July. This further enhances Lufthansa Group’s operations in the region, supporting the growing demand for seamless connectivity and efficient logistics.

This new initiative by Lufthansa Group promises to enhance the travel experience by providing more convenience, reducing waiting times, and offering smoother transitions for passengers traveling through Hong Kong International Airport.