Lufthansa Group launches new boarding system “Wilma”

The Lufthansa Group is introducing a new boarding system called “Wilma”. The abbreviation stands for Window, Middle and Aisle: While currently the first and last rows of seats are filled first, in the future, passengers will first board with a window seat. Then follow the middle seats and finally the aisle seats.

This system is intended to prevent passengers from having to get up at the aisle or center seat when a later-appearing passenger wishes to go to their window or center seat. According to US studies, short and medium-haul aircraft can save up to 35 percent of their time compared to the usual boarding process. For an Airbus A320, that would take around two and a half minutes on average.

The Lufthansa Group tested the “Wilma” boarding system at various airports in Europe this autumn and is likely to have come to a similar conclusion. Therefore, it will be gradually introduced over the winter on all short- and medium-haul flights. Lufthansa and Swiss will start on November 07. It starts with the outstations in Europe and the smaller airports in Germany. The major hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Vienna will follow later.

The individual groups are listed on the boarding pass. However, nothing changes at priority boarding for business class and status customers. In addition, couples and parents with children will continue to join in together. When and how the boarding on the long-haul flights is changed is still unclear. Most American airlines, but also Air France and British Airways have been relying on “Wilma” for some time.

This is how the new boarding system at the Lufthansa Group operates:

• Pre-boarding: Families with babies and toddlers under the age of 5, children traveling alone, travelers with reduced mobility
• Group 1 and 2: frequent flyers from Senator status, Star Alliance Gold members, Business Class passengers and Economy Flex fare
• Group 3: Economy Class passengers with window seat and companion
• Group 4: Economy Class passengers with middle seat and companion
• Group 5: Economy Class passengers with aisle seat