Lufthansa Flight Cancellation

HCarrick

Hello,

I'm looking for some advice regarding this predicament I find myself in...

Flight LH2505 was due to depart Manchester Airport at 0700 on 24 November 2016, arriving in Munich at 0955. Unfortunately this flight was cancelled due to a strike. We were notified by Lufthansa at 11.25 on Wednesday 23 November. We received a refund on 15 December for the flights as no other flights were available or offered to our destination. I believe this should legally have been refunded within 7 days.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of time between being notified of strike and subsequent cancellation and the departure time, we have incurred the following costs:

Hotel £226.73 (the free cancellation option for this booking made on booking.com had ended just a few days prior to the strike)
Non sterling transaction fee for above payment £6.68
Airport Parking (pre booked) £36.89
Animal Care £15
Total 285.30
Plus considerable interest on Halifax Credit Card this was booked using.

I have added this issue to Resolver one month ago but am yet to have a reply from Lufthansa and have continued to escalate as per the guidance on there. I believe Lufthansa's policy is to not provide any compensation in the event of an 'exceptional circumstance' which a strike is deemed so do not have faith this complaint will result in the compensation desired. Today my travel insurance company Coverwise have informed me that their policies do not cover any costs as a result of cancelled flights.

I would appreciate if anyone has any advice with regards to the best next steps to take. I have not yet spoken to my credit card company. I've emailed the Civil Aviation Authority who can take up to 10 days to get back to me - perhaps longer at this time of year.

Thanks!

isplumm

Hi

I suspect that you are on to a loser here ... your insurance should have covered your extra costs?

Try posting here - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lufthansa-austrian-swiss-brussels-lot-other-partners-miles-more-495/

Thanks Mark

PeacefulWaters

Have you thought of suing the trade union calling the strike?

I'm not convinced the airline has any liability beyond the fare. And I'm not aware of any requirement to refund within seven days (although it's a frustration I've shared with other airlines).

I suspect, if your insurer isn't paying up, you're stuffed.

leylandsunaddict

Airlines are not responsible for consequential losses. Its your responsibility to make sure you have adequate insurance cover for such events, or you 'self insure' and take the hit yourself.

Bogalot

If Lufthansa are not replying via Resolver have you considered that they do not use it? Like others I doubt you'll get far, maybe a few loyalty miles, but it makes little sense going through a third party.

Westin

I am in agreement with the other posters who have replied.

If your travel insurance does not cover it then unfortunately this is a loss you will be footing. Lufthansa are not responsible for those consequential costs.

agrinnall

My advice would be to understand what your travel insurance covers before you buy it in future. If you want consequential loss cover in the event of industrial action affecting a flight then you need to make sure that's in the policy.

richardw

Btw it's not 'exceptional' but 'extraordinary' circumstances.

A strike by Lufthansa employees and/or a provider who has a principal-agent relationship with LH is less 'extraordinary' than say a strike by ATC employees.

Art 8 of EU reg 261:2004 says you should have been re-routed, it doesn't say 're-routing can only be on the operating air carrier's aircraft'.

The intention of the reg may be to reduce consequential losses for passengers.

PeacefulWaters

richardw wrote: »

Btw it's not 'exceptional' but 'extraordinary' circumstances.

A strike by Lufthansa employees and/or a provider who has a principal-agent relationship with LH is less 'extraordinary' than say a strike by ATC employees.

Art 8 of EU reg 261:2004 says you should have been re-routed, it doesn't say 're-routing can only be on the operating air carrier's aircraft'.

The intention of the reg may be to reduce consequential losses for passengers.

Your interpretation of this regulation suggests that the OP should try a Money Claim Online.

How confident are you that the OP would win?

richardw

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Your interpretation of this regulation suggests that the OP should try a Money Claim Online..

It's just comment, which must not be relied upon, for further research.

martindow

I wonder why the cancellation was so last minute. The OP's losses were the result of Lufthansa not giving more notice of a strike that was no doubt announced earlier than the day before.

If the OP is the betting type a MCOL could be worth a punt.