Bus and Train Replacement Connections Under a Flight Number

What is this?

On certain routes, the Lufthansa Group offers connections that are booked under a regular flight number (e.g. "LH 3801") but are actually operated by bus or train – for example the Lufthansa Express Rail or the DB ICE connection Erfurt→Frankfurt. These connections are now reliably detected and clearly marked with a "Bus" or "Train" badge.

ℹ️ Good to know: The booking itself works exactly as before. Nothing changes about the process, payment, or cancellation – only the display is enhanced with the "Bus" or "Train" label.

CO2 calculation

Bus and train segments booked under a flight number are now reliably detected and correctly classified as bus or train – instead of, as before, being treated as a flight by default. As a result, the CO2 value is now calculated to match the actual mode of transport.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I suddenly see a "Bus" or "Train" badge on a connection with a flight number? Some routes are sold under a flight number but are actually operated by bus or train (e.g. Lufthansa Express Rail). These segments are now labeled accordingly.

Does this change anything about my booking? No. Booking, payment, and cancellation all work exactly as before. This is purely a display enhancement.

Why is the badge missing from the confirmation email? The badge is currently intentionally shown only in the trips view, the checkout confirmation, and on the eTicket PDF, not in emails. This is by design.

Why don't I see the badge in the admin view or via the API? This is also currently by design and not an error.

Is the CO2 value now calculated differently for these connections? Yes. Since the segment is correctly recognized as a bus or train connection, the CO2 value is now calculated to match the actual mode of transport.

Can I book Lufthansa Express Rail & Lufthansa Express Bus as single ticket? No.

Where can I find more information about this? More details are available at lufthansa.com/de/de/lufthansa-express-rail and lufthansa.com/de/de/lufthansa-express-bus.