Travelers flying out of Frankfurt and Munich with Discover Airlines now have a new, more flexible way to experience premium comfort. The Lufthansa Group leisure carrier has rolled out a bid-based upgrade model that lets passengers name their price for seats in Premium Economy and Business Class, bringing a dynamic auction-style system to two of Europe’s busiest hubs. Combined with new options to buy upgrades during online check in, the initiative is designed to make access to extra space, elevated service and VIP-style amenities more attainable for holidaymakers and long haul leisure travelers.
A New Way to Unlock Premium Comfort
Discover Airlines’ new bid upgrade program gives passengers the chance to move up from Economy or Premium Economy without paying full published fares for higher cabins. Instead of fixed pricing alone, the carrier invites travelers to submit a personalized offer for an upgrade and then evaluates these bids against real time seat availability and demand. Successful bidders are informed ahead of departure and charged only if their offer is accepted, turning the upgrade process into a kind of travel marketplace.
This model reflects a broader shift in airline revenue management, where unsold premium seats are monetized more flexibly rather than leaving high value cabins empty. For Discover Airlines, which focuses on leisure routes from its Frankfurt and Munich bases to long haul destinations in North America, Africa and the Indian Ocean, the system offers a way to appeal to price sensitive travelers who still value comfort. It also fits neatly into Lufthansa Group’s wider strategy of offering multiple upgrade paths, from miles and fixed price offers through to pay-what-you-want mechanisms.
For passengers, the appeal is obvious. A long overnight flight in a more spacious seat with enhanced service can become attainable at a self selected price point. Whether it is a family starting their vacation from Munich or couples heading to Frankfurt to connect to a beach destination, the opportunity to step up into a higher cabin for less than the standard fare difference adds a new dimension to trip planning.
How the Bid Upgrade Process Works
The backbone of Discover Airlines’ auction style system is its online “My Bookings” platform. Once a ticket is purchased, customers can log in with their booking reference to see whether their itineraries are eligible for an upgrade bid. The system checks the flights in the background and, where capacity and fare conditions allow, offers the option to submit an offer for Premium Economy or Business Class, depending on the original booking.
Economy Class passengers on long haul routes can choose whether to bid for Premium Economy or jump straight to Business Class, while Premium Economy travelers can submit offers for Business Class only. On short and medium haul services within Discover’s network, Economy passengers can generally bid for Business Class seats. The process is straightforward: enter a bid amount per person for a specific flight segment, add credit card details, review the offer and confirm. The bid is valid for all passengers on the booking and for the chosen route segment only.
One important detail is timing. Bids may typically be placed up to 60 hours before the scheduled departure time, and passengers retain the flexibility to modify or cancel their offers until that cutoff. Once the bidding window closes, Discover Airlines reviews all offers, available seats and other criteria before selecting successful bids. Travelers are notified at least 24 hours before departure whether their bid has been accepted, giving them time to adjust expectations and pre travel plans accordingly.
From Frankfurt and Munich to the World
Frankfurt and Munich are central to Discover Airlines’ strategy as the airline taps into the enormous outbound leisure demand from Germany and connecting traffic via Lufthansa Group hubs. Frankfurt serves as a major intercontinental gateway, feeding Discover’s flights to North American cities, African safari gateways and island destinations. Munich, with its reputation for efficient transfers and strong local demand, complements Frankfurt as a secondary hub for long haul leisure routes.
By focusing upgrade auctions on flights routed through these two airports, Discover Airlines is targeting some of its highest value and most competitive operations. Many of these long haul routes operate with widebody aircraft featuring distinct Premium Economy and Business Class cabins, which provide enough capacity and segmentation to make dynamic upgrade allocation worthwhile. When seats in these cabins would otherwise go unsold, offering them via bid can generate incremental revenue without undermining advance purchase fares.
For travelers connecting through Frankfurt and Munich from elsewhere in Europe, this system also means that a standard Economy ticket on a feeder flight could lead to a chance at premium comfort on the long haul leg. That makes the hubs more attractive as connection points, reinforcing Lufthansa Group’s position in the leisure travel market. In effect, Discover’s upgrade platform showcases the group’s premium product ecosystem to travelers who might not have considered paying full price for higher cabins.
What Winning Bidders Can Expect On Board
Passengers whose bids are accepted receive the full service level of the upgraded cabin on the specific flight segment. For those moving into Premium Economy, the most noticeable change is space. Seats are wider with greater pitch, more generous recline and extra legroom compared to standard Economy, making overnight flights or time zone crossings more manageable. The cabin typically offers a more intimate layout, with dedicated cabin crew, an upgraded meal service on higher quality tableware and enhanced inflight entertainment.
Business Class brings an even more dramatic step up in comfort. Discover Airlines’ long haul aircraft feature lie flat seats that convert into beds stretching up to around two meters in length, allowing travelers to arrive rested and ready for their holiday or onward journey. On top of the space and privacy, Business Class passengers enjoy multi course menus, a curated wine and beverage selection and priority services throughout the journey, from boarding to baggage delivery on arrival.
Upgrade bidders should also be aware that while their onboard experience changes, most underlying ticket rules stay the same. Fare conditions such as change fees, refundability, minimum stay requirements and checked baggage allowances usually remain tied to the original Economy or Premium Economy fare purchased. The upgrade fee essentially buys access to the higher cabin’s comfort and onboard service on that specific sector, rather than converting the entire booking to the premium fare type.
New Opportunities During Online Check In
In addition to the bidding model through “My Bookings,” Discover Airlines has introduced a complementary option to purchase fixed price upgrades during online check in. As of October 2025, travelers completing check in for eligible flights can see real time offers to move into Premium Economy or Business Class, based on remaining seats and current booking levels. These offers appear within the web or mobile check in flow, allowing passengers to make a last minute decision to enhance their journey.
This development is significant because it widens the upgrade window right up to the eve of departure. Previously, upgrades were available only in advance via the website, the service center or directly at the gate. By bringing the option into online check in, Discover captures spontaneous demand from travelers who may not have considered an upgrade earlier or who only decide to treat themselves once the trip feels imminent.
For passengers departing from Frankfurt and Munich, where long haul flights often depart in waves, the online check in upgrade option adds a layer of convenience. It can be especially appealing after a busy workweek or a long train connection to the airport, when the promise of a wider seat, better meals and priority services becomes particularly attractive. When combined with the bid system, it creates a multi channel approach: a strategic bid in advance for those seeking a bargain, and instant purchase at check in for those willing to pay a set price closer to departure.
Who Qualifies and What Are the Limits
While Discover Airlines aims to make the bid upgrade program broadly accessible, there are notable restrictions. Upgrade bidding is only available on flights operated by Discover Airlines, and tickets must be fully issued before an offer can be submitted. Group bookings, itineraries that include infants under two years of age, and bookings that involve pets in the cabin or hold are typically excluded from upgrade eligibility for legal or operational reasons.
Passengers whose bookings include additional paid services that are incompatible with cabin changes, such as certain special seating arrangements or medical related extra seats, may also be ineligible. Additionally, while bids can cover multiple segments in one itinerary, they are applied per route segment, and successful upgrades are not transferable to other flights or passengers. If a traveler rebooks or changes their itinerary after an upgrade is confirmed, the original upgrade may be refunded according to the airline’s rules, and a new bid can be placed for the revised flight if eligible.
Another key limitation concerns payment and refunds. Bids require a valid credit card, and payment cannot be split across multiple cards or settled using miles in the bidding process itself. If a bid is declined, no charge is made and the traveler simply remains in the originally booked class. Once an upgrade is accepted and charged, however, the upgrade component is generally non refundable if the passenger simply changes their mind. Only in cases of significant schedule changes, cancellations or disruptions initiated by the airline may upgrade fees be refunded as part of compensation procedures.
Strategic Tips for Travelers Considering a Bid
For travelers departing Frankfurt and Munich who want to make the most of Discover Airlines’ bid system, timing and strategy matter. Since bids can be edited or withdrawn up to 60 hours before departure, it is possible to place an initial offer well in advance and then adjust based on evolving plans or budgets. Because the airline weighs the amount of the bid, the number of bidders and remaining seat availability, there is no single formula for success, but offering a realistic amount relative to the typical fare difference increases the chances of being selected.
Passengers should also think carefully about which segments to target. On itineraries combining a shorter European flight with a long haul leg, prioritizing an upgrade on the overnight or longest sector usually delivers the greatest comfort benefit. Families or groups should remember that the bid amount is multiplied by the number of passengers included in the booking, so a carefully calibrated offer that fits the overall travel budget is essential.
Finally, it is worth comparing a bid based strategy with other upgrade paths available within Lufthansa Group, such as using Miles & More miles or purchasing a fixed price upgrade in advance. Miles can be a valuable currency for travelers who fly regularly or hold status, while fixed price offers provide certainty at the cost of less flexibility. The bid model sits between these options, offering the possibility of a deal but with no guarantee of success. Savvy travelers may even combine approaches, using miles on heavily booked routes and reserving bids for flights where premium cabins are more likely to have spare seats.
What This Means for the Future of Leisure Flying
By extending dynamic upgrade tools to its leisure focused brand, Lufthansa Group is signaling that premium comfort is no longer reserved solely for corporate travelers and full fare Business Class customers. Discover Airlines’ initiatives out of Frankfurt and Munich show how carriers can personalize pricing and give passengers more control over how and when they pay for extra comfort. For many holidaymakers, a bid based upgrade could become part of the excitement of planning a trip, with the possibility of starting or ending a vacation in a surprisingly luxurious way.
At the same time, these developments illustrate how airlines are seeking new revenue streams in a competitive environment. Rather than leaving premium cabins partially empty or discounting heavily at the last minute, carriers can match supply with individual willingness to pay. If Discover’s model proves successful on its network, similar systems may become more widespread, blurring the distinction between traditional upgrade pathways and more fluid, auction driven mechanisms.
For now, travelers flying from Frankfurt and Munich with Discover Airlines can look forward to a new level of choice. Whether through carefully planned bids weeks ahead of departure or spontaneous splurges during online check in, the journey from Economy seat to premium comfort has never been more flexible. As leisure travel continues to rebound and evolve, the ability to bid your way to a better seat may quickly shift from novelty to expectation for passengers across Europe and beyond.