[james777]

When the big snowstorms hit the Northeastern US, I had a ticket to fly out to Germany on Lufthansa. Because of the snowstorm, the flight that I had booked, along with many other flights on those days, was cancelled. When that happens, the ticketholder is given a choice of two options, either a full refund of the price that was paid for the ticket, or a future credit of the price paid towards a ticket anytime within the next year. I called into their reservations center and told them that I would take the credit towards another ticket. I decided to take the credit toward a future flight because I fly to Europe about three times a year, and I did not think there would be any problem. Lufthansa connections, cabin service, and food is very good, and they certainly aren't going out of business anytime soon. According to their rules, I had one year to use that credit. I tried to use that credit several times during that year, but each time, after literally hours on the phone, I was told that I could not use it for one reason or another. Usually they had a "pricing problem' in that they could not figure out how to deduct that credit from the price of a ticket. It seems fairly simple, but their reservations clerks did not have the authority to deduct the credit. During that following year that the credit was suppostedly available to me, I travelled to Europe twice, and each time I had to buy the tickets, even though Lufthansa was still holding my money (over $1,000). A year later when my credit expired, I was rudely told by Lufthansa employees at their reservations center that my credit had expired and they could nothing about it. That is, I lost my $1,000 credit and would not be getting my money refunded, nor would I be getting a new ticket. To say the least, I was very mad. Yes, I made the wrong choice; I should have asked for a full refund when the snowstorm hit and the flight was cancelled. I trusted Lufthansa with my money, and they did a fine job of stealing it from me. I have filed a complaint with the US government FAA consumer protection division and I am writing to Lufthansa to reconsider refunding my money, but Lufthansa should have never put me through this, their reservations personnel should never have been rude to me, and they should not have stolen my money.

Never, ever take a future credit if your flight is cancelled!! ALWAYS get a refund!!