Overview
- The Ältestenrat, chaired by Bundestag President Julia Klöckner, approved the change on September 11 allowing business class from two hours’ flight time.
- It rolls back the prior guideline that limited reimbursement to economy class for flights under four hours.
- A Bundestag spokesman said the panel weighed limited fare savings against reduced working capacity and the risk of exposing confidential documents in economy seating.
- Media price checks show higher public costs, with examples such as Berlin–Rome at about €177 in economy versus €495 in business and Berlin–Lisbon at roughly €174 versus around €570.
- The decision was not publicly announced; it primarily affects European service trips, and first class remains permitted only in particularly justified individual cases with presidential approval.