Lufthansa, Provider Offer Med Travelers Special Fares, Services

Lufthansa and Premier Healthcare Germany, based in Hamburg, announced special fares and services for medical travelers to Germany, a country renowned for its focus on quality, scientific research, and evidence-based medicine while still maintaining affordable treatment.

Olaf Haase, director of marketing and clinical affairs, told Travel Market Report that the program with Lufthansa includes:

•  Reduced fares in economy, business, and first class;

•  Access to Lufthansa’s global network connecting more than 200 cities in 85 countries;

•  Mixed cabin class option: fly to Germany in economy class and return in business class, e.g. after a hip replacement;

•  Free itinerary changes to offer patients flexibility in case of changes in their medical condition;

•  Hassle-free medical trip planning with the services of Lufthansa and Premier Healthcare Germany;

•  An opportunity to earn miles in Lufthansa’s Miles and More frequent flyer program.

Lufthansa is a member of the 28-carrier Star Alliance, which also includes United Airlines, Continental, Turkish Airlines, Air Canada, ANA, US Airways and Singapore.

Haase said that the ticket needs to be a Lufthansa ticket (i.e.) Flight Number. Someone flying from the U.S. could take a flight operated by Star Alliance member United, but it must be ticketed under the Lufthansa Flight Number to be considered a Lufthansa flight.

“However, the patient, can’t fly on a United ticket that is operated by Lufthansa. It is a global program, so patients from the US can benefit from it as can patients from Australia or any other part of the world.”

Haase added, “This cooperation is easy for Lufthansa to implement and it means so much for us, an emerging company that strives to make medical treatment in Germany accessible for everyone.

“Being mobile and having easy access to Germany is the fundamental key to any medical travel. With this cooperation, we can offer transportation that goes far beyond the simple booking of a seat.”

Haase said that the program with Lufthansa helps Premier Healthcare Germany provide the complex professional services that medical travelers require.

“The task of traveling to another country for treatment often seems daunting. This is often due to the logistic efforts involved. Only the very few Internet savvy and travel experienced individuals find it easy to plan and execute a medical trip. For others, it can be a project with unpredictable complexity.”

Premier Healthcare Germany offers professional services specifically designed to tackle this complexity, Haase added. Premier Healthcare Germany can provide a diagnosis upon arrival and then tailor the appropriate treatment to the individual patient. If the patient provides a diagnosis, medical reports, and other diagnostic data, Premier Healthcare Germany seeks and finds the right experts in Germany, organizes travel, manages local case agent support, talks to embassies about medical visas, tries to get health insurance reimbursement where possible, and follows up during treatment at home.