[markousha]

Hi,

I had a reservation yesterday from Houston to Nice (France) with a 2hr connection time in London. I checked in online on Saturday.
The first flight (CO 4) was late on departure and on arrival of 78min. Landed, technical problems wouldn't allow the staff to open the doors. The bridge wasn't working properly. 45min later they invited passengers to use the stairs to reach the terminal.

I then informed the crew that I had obviously missed my next flight and asked what I was supposed to do. They answered that someone will be there for me. No one was there, so I went back in and they told me to get to a Continental counter.

I had a quick look at the luggage belt, just in case mine would unexpectedly show up, which didn't happened. The CO check-in staff at Houston airport wasn't sure about the luggage thing... Maybe because of the code share CO-BA on the second leg.

Anyway, at the service counter, half an hour away in another terminal, I had to talk with an asian person which I could barely understand due to his poor language skills. English isn't my first language and I have sometimes difficulties, but at an airline counter you expect dealing with someone fluent, at least. Whatever.
So, that person said my BA flight London-Nice had been changed into a Lufthansa London-Frankfurt-Nice. "Did you change it because of the delay, I asked? "No, because Sunday, lot of people travel", he answered. Adding that someone was supposed to inform me at the bridge. Surprise! I suppose that flight was then overbooked.
And, as i failed to get to the check in in time, I missed it anyway. Simple.
He then handed me a piece of scrap paper with another Luthansa flight (London-Munich-Nice) details on it (just another 7 hours trip instead of a 1.5hr London-Nice). Here you go! Just get to the terminal 1 now.
About the luggage, the CO person didn't know. Advised me to contact BA first and then Lufthansa! But unfortunately I would have to do it myself as he had a lot to do already. It's Sunday, remember?

Obviously, nothing was provided for the 9 hours waiting time and extra flight time, nor excuses.

My question is, do I need to bother complaining to Continental Customer Service for a refund? Shall I just ignore this CO airline for further travels and advise everyone I know to do so?

Marc