In a move set to transform traveller convenience, Lufthansa Airlines, in partnership with technology provider AirPortr, has expanded its door-to-door baggage collection and check-in service to the greater Cologne and Bonn regions. Passengers making their way to Frankfurt Airport via the Lufthansa Express Rail network—linking Cologne Station directly—can now pre-book home or hotel luggage pickups from areas including Cologne, Bonn, Leverkusen, Hürth, and Brühl.
This service marks the next phase following Lufthansa’s February launch in the Greater Frankfurt area, which initially covered Mannheim, Heidelberg, Hanau, Aschaffenburg, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Darmstadt, and Bensheim. With this extension, travelers in northwest Germany gain access to the same premium baggage experience previously exclusive to Frankfurt commuters.
Passengers departing from Cologne or Bonn and travelling to Frankfurt by train can now opt for door-to-door service that includes:
Once the traveler arrives at Frankfurt Airport, they proceed directly to security, bypassing traditional check-in and drop-off queues. The service is available for booking through Lufthansa’s website and the AirPortr platform, starting from €29 (or €25 in some areas) with exact pricing varying by pickup location and timing.
Passengers only need to collect their luggage once—at their trip’s end—making a truly hands-free, streamlined journey experience.
Following strong customer uptake in the Frankfurt region and positive reviews—including a Trustpilot rating of 4.6/10, with 96% of customers rating drivers at 8/10 or above—Lufthansa and AirPortr are now scaling the service to new regions. Additional expansions are anticipated in other German metro areas in the near future.
The strategic integration with SITA’s baggage-tracking systems further underscores the industry’s broader shift toward seamless, tech-enabled passenger services, reducing congestion at airport drop desks and enhancing satisfaction with real-time updates.
Travel forums have taken note of the innovation. One user on Travel StackExchange explained the integration with Express Rail and AiRail baggage terminals in Frankfurt—clarifying that under Lufthansa’s system, selected baggage may be routed directly to the train station or airplane, depending on the tag, ensuring that travelers always recover their bags at the correct location without hassle.
This service also aligns with Lufthansa’s sustainability goals—promoting public transport usage and reducing the need for private vehicle travel to the airport. The seamless, off-site check-in supports efficient airport operations and helps mitigate carbon-intensive private transport use.
With SITA’s integration of AirPortr into its global Bag Journey system, Lufthansa’s model sets a standard for future airline and airport synergy worldwide, showcasing how digitalization can reduce queues, enhance travel flow, and enhance passenger loyalty.
Passengers can reduce the stress of airport commutes, skip baggage drop lines, and maximize comfort using this innovative service.
