[jeanm]

I had to share this complaint about Lufsthansa airlines. I recently had to fly home to the US from Nice, France due to the passing of my father. I chose Lufthansa, even though I found a cheaper flight elsewhere, because they offered a flight with just one stop getting me back home faster. However, I left Nice almost 2 hours behind schedule missing my connecting flight in Frankfurt. Staff in Nice said the delay was due to too much air traffic in Frankfurt. All staff in Nice assured that everything was delayed in and out of Frankfurt, so to not worry about any connecting flights. Of course, that was not the case. I had to stand in an endless line of people who were also delayed and missed their connection too. The line moved quite slow, especially because at one point they only had 2 agents working. Unless, of course you were a first class or premium air traveler. End result, I had to stay the night in Frankfurt, even though I had arrived in the early afternoon. I landed at my final destination over 24 hours behind schedule. I contacted Lufthansa to explain my frustration, and to explain that my departing portion of my travels was not what I paid for. Their responce, a nice apology, however their policy prohibits any compensation since they are not directly in control of any lack of coordination between the various European air traffic controls with their different technical systems, overburdened airport infrastructures and delays to other aircraft that required realignment of time slots.
I replied again, and asked for an answer as to why staff in Nice were not more helpful right from the start, and still have not received a response. Bottom line, I feel arriving over 24 hours after what was originally planned and paid for is unacceptable in any circumstance, but despicable under the circumstances in which I was traveling.

[jimworcs]

Read this...

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/passengers/air/air_en.htm

This outlines your rights... you can ask the aviation authorities to investigate if Lufthansa can claim an exemption from Regulation 261/2004. The airlines are pushing the "exceptional" circumstances excuse, but even the volcano disruption last year was ultimately determined not exceptional and the airlines were required to pay out.

You can file your complaint, in English, on this form....

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/passen...nt_form_en.pdf

The aviation authority is listed here....

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/passen...ent_bodies.pdf

Don't give up, they rely on customer ignorance to get away with this. Incidently, after a delay they are required by law to advise you of your rights. If they did not do so, include this in your complaint.

Hope that helps...

[jeanm]

Thank you so much, I will follow through with your recommendations. JeanM