[jaz2time]

I was going to fly to Nairobi, Kenya at the end of July with a non-profit humanitarian organization. The org cancelled the trip because the U.S. State Dept. put up a travel warning surrounding possible violence during the Constitution Referendum that would be taking place in early Aug. In discussions between the org and the Ambassador they decided liability was too great. I had to cancel my flight. My problem is that I bought a non-refund ticket through an online "travel agent" (Farefox.com) and because the flight still took off and flew to Nairobi as scheduled, Lufthansa and Farefox will not refund me any of the ticket price. They bounce me off each other. Each saying that the other, by contract, has my money. This wouldn't be nearly as frustrating if everyone in my group received the same treatment, but everyone else in the group got their money back minus a booking fee. I have written and called for three months now with no luck. I was told by the org that most people got their money back because airlines saw it as a humanitarian trip, but Lufthansa does not see it that way. About $2,200 is my loss if I can't find another trip for this summer. As a poor grad student, who wanted to do some good in the world, I'm disappointed that Lufthansa is unwilling to follow the lead of other international airlines and refund my money. Please beware of Lufthansa. They also have no phone number for their customer relations or refund policy, so you cannot talk to the people responsible for your decision.