Well, LX just cancelled my ticket. I booked ZRH-YUL directly, bypassing the USA. Deliberately.
I happen to have studied contract law extensively and recently wrote a long research paper on fare mistakes (though sadly, it was just before the new DOT regs so is now out of date). I also was involved in the last alleged Swiss mistake fare (to be clear, this current deal is NOT a mistake fare),
covered in the Washington Times.
I want to test out the limits of the DOT's new jurisdiction--I will not accept that they have no jurisdiction when the itinerary does not touch the USA, but will focus my initial energy on--
1. Working directly with LX's Canadian team
2. Filing a complaint with the CTA if necessary
I don't mean to be self-serving here, but
follow along on my blog for updates on what transpires. I have contacts at LX and CTA from 2009 that I will use here...
As a matter of principle, no matter how outlandish a fare may have seemed, I think a bright-line rule protecting consumers from post-hoc fare increases (which is exactly what LX is doing, no matter how they try to spin it) is necessary. I intend to fly on this fare.
I hope not to be nasty about this: I am willing to work with LX if they are willing to work with me. Right now I'm on a mix of SQ and LX F, with MH C and I can see a contingency in which the SQ flight is substituted for an LX flight. But I was frankly offended by LX's cancellation letter (which I never received but have read here) and I will throw down the gauntlet here: LX will not get away with what they have done.