Flight Delay Compensation, Lufthansa Only

Chindori

Thanks to the experience shared! With the help, I managed to successfully claim recently from Lufthansa! So I want to share my experience too..

The Flight I was on: LH778 on 12May16 from Frankfurt (FRA) to Singapore (SIN) with the scheduled departure time of 21:55.This flight arrived 10 hours and 20 minutes late at Singapore.

Basically I followed the suggestions of the forum and sent a request for compensation via Lufthansa website using feedback on 14May16.

As per experience of others, Lufthansa sent a standard reply via email on 18May16 stating that "Our records show that Lufthansa flight LH779 on 12 May 2016 was delayed due to an unforeseen technical problem on the aircraft’s engine." and stated that they were unable to comply with request.

Although this was pretty standard reply, it still made me feel unhappy/anxious. I replied to them via email, using the standard text that was recommended in the other posts, but adding that "there was an additional delay on the morning of 13May16, caused by late arrival of catering trucks. This was clearly communicated by the pilot during the flight."

Finally on 1June16, I received their reply indicating they will pay the compensation.

Received the funds in Jul16 in my bank account (yes, it took quite a couple of weeks). Am happy that case is now closed! Thanks to all the advice!!

Vauban

Good- well done. But just to be clear for others: an "unforeseen technical fault" is not extraordinary circumstances: the catering truck is a red herring!

fluffy123

Hi all,

Was hoping to get some advice on the following situation.

I've recently been to Bangkok for a planned three night stay which involved a flight on Lufthansa LH947 on 24.07.2016 to arrive in Frankfurt at 8.50pm and then get onto Lufthansa LH772 to leave Frankfurt at 10pm to Bangkok.

LH947 was late arriving at Manchester due to previous delays with previous trips due to weather according to the announcer and we did not leave until 7.31pm so we were obviously worried that we would land in time to rush to our connection.

However, the pilot stated that they were making good ground during flight as they knew that there were a number of connections in jeopardy and would aim to land around 9.40pm so whilst there may be a rush, we felt that there would be a chance. The flight landed at 9.39pm but we were to be disappointed to find a list of connecting flights which had been rebooked until the next available, including ours, even though we had landed before the connecting flight was due to go. Therefore, we didn't bother trying to rush and made our way to the service desk.

Once we got to the service desk, we were told we were merely on the waiting list for the next flight (24 hours) and it may be 48 hours until a gauranteed seat. This seemed to be standard practice although the friendly advisor managed to get us on a connecting flight on LH from Frankfurt to Munich for the next morning and then we had to fly with Thai airways the next afternoon to arrive in Bangkok. In the meantime, we had to be taken to a Frankfurt hotel for the night (it was now midnight by this point and we had to be up at 7am to go back)

I since found out that LH 772 was late leaving and didn't leave Frankfurt until 10.21pm. Meanwhile after more journeying, we finally arrived in Bangkok, 16 hours later and at the start of Tuesday morning instead of Monday afternoon which meant a lost night in our Bangkok hotel and having to cram things in more.

Are we entitled to anything due to the delay? We also paid 20 each to pick our seats for LH772 as the flight was a 2-4-2 configuration and as we are both not the best of flyers, we like to get up and move around quite a lot. On the thai airways flight, we had to take what we could and we were stuck in the middle of a 4, who, bless them, liked to sleep a lot so we had to keep disturbing them and put us off doing so a bit. At the very least, are we entitled to a refund for these?

Sorry for the long post but it was the start of our honeymoon to Thailand and I'm not quite sure how the process as neither of us have previously done lone-haul/connecting flights.

Thank you for your help in advance

Vauban

fluffy123 wrote: »

Are we entitled to anything due to the delay? We also paid 20 each to pick our seats for LH772 as the flight was a 2-4-2 configuration and as we are both not the best of flyers, we like to get up and move around quite a lot. On the thai airways flight, we had to take what we could and we were stuck in the middle of a 4, who, bless them, liked to sleep a lot so we had to keep disturbing them and put us off doing so a bit. At the very least, are we entitled to a refund for these?

Sorry for the long post but it was the start of our honeymoon to Thailand and I'm not quite sure how the process as neither of us have previously done lone-haul/connecting flights.

Thank you for your help in advance

Have a read of my guide, which will explain what to do next.

You are entitled to refund of your seat bookings, plus 600 euros each for the late arrival of your connecting flight to Thailand (as it was all on one ticket, and the missed connection was inside the EU, there is no ambiguity on this point: look up the Folkerts judgement, which is a case very similar to yours).

fluffy123

Thank you ☺

Will have a look shortly. I know you said it's not ambiguous but would that even occur even if Lufthansa say it was all down to error?

Also I've read our travel insurance policy and it states it pays out £20 for each twelve hour delay to a destination so would that cancel this claim out?

Regardless, I will read up anyway and thanks for the quick response.

Caz3121

fluffy123 wrote: »

Will have a look shortly. I know you said it's not ambiguous but would that even occur even if Lufthansa say it was all down to error?

Also I've read our travel insurance policy and it states it pays out £20 for each twelve hour delay to a destination so would that cancel this claim out?

what error?
weather on a previous rotation is not extraordinary. Rebooking when your flight did not land until gate closed for the BKK flight is not an error (the times used will be scheduled times)
should be a slam dunk...(a quick check on EUClaim shows €600 each due)
you can claim the £20 from your insurance policy in addition to EU261

fluffy123

Sorry, error was probably the wrong word to use.

I meant more if LH say it was down to natural forces (weather/thunderstorms) that they could not control.Therefore, they have something to justify not paying out.

But thanks, I'm home now so will start to read the guide and to apply to my insurance company too.

fluffy123

Just looking into this and finding information that seems to indicate that as weather is beyond the airline's control - nothing can be applied for, is this correct or does it not apply as it was other flights hit by this and ours was just a knock-on effect from this?

I'm a little confused, sorry :I

Justice13075

Fluffy123. You have been given advice by people who know what they are talking about. Take their advice or give this up. You have a slam dunk case.

JPears

in addition fluffy, the airlines will, at every opportunity, do everything to dissuade, obfuscate or prevent you making a claim. Even to the point of lying and dishonesty. People here have no vested interested other than to help you obtain what your are lawfully due.