Guys,

I had a bizarre flight irregularity that I will expose here to see if there is anything else I could have done (or can still do, if someone finds a solution real fast). I apologize if this is a bit long, but I am trying to give all the details, unlike many other stories here on FT where the OP omits critical details.

Back in September I booked LIS-LUX and LUX-LIS for Feb 2. Outbound in the morning on LG nonstop, return same evening on TP nonstop. It was to be a day to get a taste of Luxembourg. Totally optional thing, no meeting to go to or anything like that, just tourism. Booked both tickets on Priceline, separate itineraries. The $35 TP ticket plated on TP 047, but the $80 LG ticket plated on Hahn Air stock (169). Both tickets charged to my US-based Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Well, Feb 1 morning comes and I go online to check-in for my LG flight tomorrow. Unable. Why? Let me look at the reservation. Oh, the reservation in for today Feb 1 at 08:40. Wait, did I goof and book the flight for the wrong day? I looked and no, I did not, I booked for Feb 2, I have the original confirmation. But LG had a schedule change, and now they don't operate LIS-LUX on Thursdays anymore, they operate on Wednesdays. So for my convenience they changed my reservation from 02-Feb at 08:35 to 01-Feb at 08:40. They changed the schedule by 23h55m. By the time I went to OLCI the flight had already departed.

I called LG. They could not help me, I would have to contact my travel agent.

I called Priceline. They found a possible LH connection to get to LUX on 02-Feb, but would have to get a waiver from LG. Told me to check back in 2-3 hours.

2-3 hours later, no approval for anything. LG says my ticket was non changeable, so they can't change it. The fact that they changed their schedule is irrelevant because airlines can change the schedule. My ticket is also nonrefundable because it has no value since, according to them, I was a no show. So they are refusing to do anything: no refund, no alternate flights. I am just considered a no-show for my 01-Feb flight and will forfeit all the money. As for the return TP flight, TP says they have nothing to do with it, and also won't refund. I accept and respect TP's position, they did nothing wrong.

So, what can I do here?

- Pay $450 to go on LH. Not gonna happen.
- Pay 15000 UA miles and $35 to go on LH. Not gonna happen, still too expensive.
- Pay €80 to go on TP to BRU, then another €20 or so for train to LUX, but that would only leave me about 2 hours on the ground in Luxembourg, not worth it

I called Chase. The deadline to dispute a charge has passed, because this is a charge from back in September, However, they are still going to open a dispute of both the Hanh Air and TAP charges, and we'll see where that goes. Do you guys think that will be successful?

I looked into the travel benefits of the CSP card, and nothing covers airline whim. Weather, strikes, random delays, all covered. Airline schedule changes? No.

EU261 recourse? The airline says they notified my travel agent on Jan 10 of the change. More than two weeks before the flight, therefore not eligible for EU261 compensation.

Showing up at the LIS airport tomorrow? Likely pointless, as there will be no Luxair staff there. because they have no flight.

What else can I do here? Sue Priceline/Hahn Air/Luxair in small claims in Georgia, where my domicile is and where my CSP is billed, but where Hahn Air and Luxair have no nexus? Serving Luxair would be fun. Not.

Or am I just out of luck and stuck with losing the money and not going to Luxembourg

Any thoughts or ideas on what else I could do are much appreciated. If any of you have a private jet I can borrow to go LIS-LUX tomorrow morning, or any other such brilliant idea, I would love to hear.