Mar 28, 2014, 7:06 am
Last edit by: warakorn
VC has announced a stike phase from 0am on 02APR14 till 11.59pm on 04APR14:
Expect massive advance cancellations. VC pilots only operate LH Mainline A32S, B737 and longhaul widebodies, so expect cancellations on such flights.
The current list of cancellations can be found here:
http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/de/flight_services/cancelled_flights?nodeid=118127922&l=de&cid=18002
Or just open your booking and take a look.
Once the cancellation is announced LH allows rebooking online or via the phone. The exact procedure is described here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lufthansa-austrian-swiss-brussels-lot-other-partners-miles-more/1541419-flyertalk-vielfliegertreff-lufthansa-irreg-interview.html
According to EU passenger rights regulation EC261/2004 article 8, the operating carrier (Lufthansa) is responsible to reroute passengers under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.
Article 8 also applies in situations like strikes.
Tickets issued for 2-4APR just received a waiver to rebook for free:
Die VC wird ihre Mitglieder vom 02. April 00.00 Uhr bis 04. April 23.59 Uhr zum bundesweiten Arbeitskampf zur Durchsetzung eines neuen Tarifvertrages Übergangsversorgung aufrufen.
The current list of cancellations can be found here:
http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/de/flight_services/cancelled_flights?nodeid=118127922&l=de&cid=18002
Or just open your booking and take a look.
Once the cancellation is announced LH allows rebooking online or via the phone. The exact procedure is described here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lufthansa-austrian-swiss-brussels-lot-other-partners-miles-more/1541419-flyertalk-vielfliegertreff-lufthansa-irreg-interview.html
According to EU passenger rights regulation EC261/2004 article 8, the operating carrier (Lufthansa) is responsible to reroute passengers under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.
Article 8 also applies in situations like strikes.
Tickets issued for 2-4APR just received a waiver to rebook for free:
Announced strike of the pilots union from April, 2nd – 4th, 2014
The pilots union “Vereinigung Cockpit” (VC) has called upon its members at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings to cease work for three days from Wednesday, April 2nd 2014, 00:00, to Friday, 4th April 2014, at 23:59 at all German airports.
In order to keep impact of the strike as low as possible, Lufthansa will inform its customers about details of flight cancellations and alternative travel options via www.LH.com as soon as possible. Customers, who advised their contact information, will be informed by e-mail and SMS notifications about changes of their flights.
Lufthansa will publish a list with cancelled flights as well as information for passenger services on Monday afternoon, 31st March 2014.
Passengers holding a Lufthansa/SWISS/Austrian Airlines or Brussels ticket for flights on April 2nd – April 4th, 2014 from/to/via Germany, are permitted to rebook their flight once free of charge online via My Bookings with immediate effect, provided that:
- the ticket was issued on/before March 28th, 2014
- the new travel date is on/before September 30th, 2014
- the original ticket class remains
- all other fare conditions are adhered to
Passengers may also contact our service center on +49(0)69-86-799-799* or via one of our local phone numbers.
* Calls from German landlines at local rates, call charges from German mobile networks may vary dependent upon the provider
The pilots union “Vereinigung Cockpit” (VC) has called upon its members at Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo and Germanwings to cease work for three days from Wednesday, April 2nd 2014, 00:00, to Friday, 4th April 2014, at 23:59 at all German airports.
In order to keep impact of the strike as low as possible, Lufthansa will inform its customers about details of flight cancellations and alternative travel options via www.LH.com as soon as possible. Customers, who advised their contact information, will be informed by e-mail and SMS notifications about changes of their flights.
Lufthansa will publish a list with cancelled flights as well as information for passenger services on Monday afternoon, 31st March 2014.
Passengers holding a Lufthansa/SWISS/Austrian Airlines or Brussels ticket for flights on April 2nd – April 4th, 2014 from/to/via Germany, are permitted to rebook their flight once free of charge online via My Bookings with immediate effect, provided that:
- the ticket was issued on/before March 28th, 2014
- the new travel date is on/before September 30th, 2014
- the original ticket class remains
- all other fare conditions are adhered to
Passengers may also contact our service center on +49(0)69-86-799-799* or via one of our local phone numbers.
* Calls from German landlines at local rates, call charges from German mobile networks may vary dependent upon the provider
VC Pilots Strike 02-04 APR 2014 [discussion & info wiki]
Mar 26, 2014, 8:01 pm
#61
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,257
..since for an aircraft there will be far fewer options to land safely than for a bus to pull over safely.
I'm not saying that he bus driver's job is marginalized, it's just IMHO the aircraft pilot needs to have more in his 'skillset' toolbox.
My acid test for this would be that I would much rather be on a bus that is out of control or suffering an emergency (flat tire, engine fire, etc) than on an aircraft at 38k feet over the atlantic when the engines go quiet....I think if anyone would rather be on a plane vs. a bus on a given emergency is asking for far more trouble! 
Mar 26, 2014, 8:37 pm
#62
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: GRR, USA
Posts: 3,298
This holds neither true statistically nor in a per case scenario. The chance that the bus will crash if a tyre blows, is a lot larger than for an engine out (or a tyre burst to be pedantic) in an airliner.
That assumes that the vehicle is maneuverable normally which is the case we are not presuming.
I wouldn't know - I was allowed at the helm of two jets and one bus and failed miserably to only execute the simplest actions.
I would definitely take the plane. I have been in two engine outs (one of two in each case) incidents on planes and the pilots handled it gracefully. I'd not want to be in a road vehicle at high speeds when a tyre failure occurs.
That assumes that the vehicle is maneuverable normally which is the case we are not presuming.
I wouldn't know - I was allowed at the helm of two jets and one bus and failed miserably to only execute the simplest actions.
I would definitely take the plane. I have been in two engine outs (one of two in each case) incidents on planes and the pilots handled it gracefully. I'd not want to be in a road vehicle at high speeds when a tyre failure occurs.
.
Mar 27, 2014, 4:46 pm
#64
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: AA Plat + SPG Plat
Posts: 235
The strike will be announced 48h in advance and LH will adjust the schedule. Then you proceed as per the comments in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lufth...interview.html
Worrying now makes no sense.
Worrying now makes no sense.
Being potentially impacted by the strike(s) with upcoming LH flights on Sunday and receiving absolutely NO help from the LH SEN desk nor the Twitter CS for either LH/LH-USA teams, I can only say that we're a tad concerned here...
Mar 27, 2014, 6:07 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
And also nothing you could expect LH to be doing since everything is flying as scheduled (the airport strikes are totally unrelated here, and LH handled those rather efficiently).
Mar 28, 2014, 3:21 am
#66
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,132
Mar 28, 2014, 6:18 am
#67
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between DM464 and DM463 on the NAPSA26 RNAV TRANS in EDDM
Programs: this and that
Posts: 1,731
Why don't we just shut the entire country down??? I am extremely annoyed...
http://www.vcockpit.de/presse/presse...ockpit-vc.html
LH pilots go on strike between April 2 12 a.m. and April 4 11:59 p.m.
http://www.vcockpit.de/presse/presse...ockpit-vc.html
LH pilots go on strike between April 2 12 a.m. and April 4 11:59 p.m.
Mar 28, 2014, 6:36 am
#68
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Montreal
Programs: Aeroplan, M&M
Posts: 583
Why don't we just shut the entire country down??? I am extremely annoyed...
http://www.vcockpit.de/presse/presse...ockpit-vc.html
LH pilots go on strike between April 2 12 a.m. and April 4 11:59 p.m.
http://www.vcockpit.de/presse/presse...ockpit-vc.html
LH pilots go on strike between April 2 12 a.m. and April 4 11:59 p.m.
I am flying on the 2nd but I still can't find the rebooking online option. Does that mean that the strike is not really confirmed yet?
Mar 28, 2014, 6:40 am
#69
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between DM464 and DM463 on the NAPSA26 RNAV TRANS in EDDM
Programs: this and that
Posts: 1,731
April 2, 3 and 4
The link I did post shows the press release of the VC union. So for now it seems to be "confirmed" unless LH and VC come to an agreement before April 2.
Mar 28, 2014, 7:27 am
#74
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BSL/FRA
Programs: UA 1K, TK*G (not matched)
Posts: 160
Looks like LH has already zeroed out all booking classes on all their Wednesday' to Friday's flights next week so they do not think that they'll for sure manage to come to an agreement with VC before the strike.
Mar 28, 2014, 7:27 am
#75
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Miles&More Blue, SPG Silver
Posts: 3,376
Lufthansa will probably shortly announce the flights which will be canceled and which will be not affected. As soon the flight you are booked on is canceled you will have various options to change your flight online or via phone. It is not possible to to do this without the actual cancellation.
1) If possible (only for intra-German flighst) you can exchange your ticket for a train ticket (this can be done online on the LH website and you can print out the train ticket at home)
2) You can cancel your flight and get your money back
3) You can rebook once your flight for free
1) If possible (only for intra-German flighst) you can exchange your ticket for a train ticket (this can be done online on the LH website and you can print out the train ticket at home)
2) You can cancel your flight and get your money back
3) You can rebook once your flight for free