Lufthansa denying compensation

Andy1411

Hello, and thanks for any replies to this..  

Seven of us booked Lufthansa flights through Booking.com to Munich from Manchester.. 30/11 fly out, 3/12 fly back. Over that weekend there was heavy snow in the Munich area, we arrived at Munich airport at lunchtime for our scheduled take off time which was 22.15. Trains to Munich airport were cancelled but flights did take off, that is 100% true. Admittedly some were cancelled though. 

We past through customs and we’re waiting in the departure area, our flight time arrived and passed but staff were at counter assuring us that they were waiting for steps upto the aircraft.. 
At 23.35 we proceeded through the gate and made our way onto the aircraft, now I’ve worked at Airbus for over 35 years and that aircraft was never taking off, snow and ice covered the wings over the elevators, ailerons etc. 
We were sat in seats whilst the plane was supposed to be de-icer but at 00.30 on the 4/12 we were told flight was cancelled, and to disembark. No other communication than that. Once back inside the terminal we were left on our own. No airport staff to speak to, no one. Only person there was a border security guard. They had left blankets, water and nibbles out though, this makes me think they knew the flight was not going to take off. 

With no assistance our group like the vast majority of people stayed gate side of airport. 

We finally got home on the 6/12, though it was a total farce. 

Lufthansa paid us for hotel which we had to find ourselves, for the 4/12 and 5/12 for food we ate and taxi back to and from airport. We think they should also pay some form of compensation as we were stuck in the airport overnight 3/12 to 4/12 with no help, they refuse this. They say bad weather, but like I said other aircraft took off and our plane was there. Could it be no staff to de ice the aircraft. Any advice would be helpful thanks. 

eskbanker

Andy1411 said:

Lufthansa paid us for hotel which we had to find ourselves, for the 4/12 and 5/12 for food we ate and taxi back to and from airport. We think they should also pay some form of compensation as we were stuck in the airport overnight 3/12 to 4/12 with no help, they refuse this. They say bad weather, but like I said other aircraft took off and our plane was there. Could it be no staff to de ice the aircraft. Any advice would be helpful thanks. 

Bad weather will often result in a lower number of flights being allowed to operate, rather than all or none, so they could probably make that stick, thereby denying compensation rights under the regulations.  They should have arranged overnight accommodation on that first night, but failure to do so doesn't automatically trigger any compensation being payable, just reimbursement of any reasonable expenses incurred.

Andy1411

Thanks for reply, appreciated.. so you believe that we are not due any form of compensation. As we were in airport overnight we did not occur any expenses. And because Lufthansa claim bad weather, we can’t claim on that. 

Again thanks for reply, we just feel fed up, that all we get back is our hotel, food and taxi service, for 60+ hour delay getting home. We had a 69 yr old in our group, and being left overnight in airport without any assistance was disgraceful 

eskbanker

Andy1411 said:

Thanks for reply, appreciated.. so you believe that we are not due any form of compensation. As we were in airport overnight we did not occur any expenses. And because Lufthansa claim bad weather, we can’t claim on that. 

Again thanks for reply, we just feel fed up, that all we get back is our hotel, food and taxi service, for 60+ hour delay getting home. We had a 69 yr old in our group, and being left overnight in airport without any assistance was disgraceful 

There are only three events that trigger the compensation provisions within the regulations, namely flight cancellation, delay of 3+ hours, and denial of boarding, but the first two don't apply if there are extraordinary circumstances outside the airline's control such as bad weather.

The airline is obliged to provide accommodation and meals:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2004/261/article/9

so you can (legitimately) argue that they should have done more, but my point was that the compensation provisions within the regulations only apply in very specific circumstances, so you'd effectively be seeking some sort of goodwill gesture rather than exercising clearly-defined legal rights as such.