While the posting box was down, I got the thousand euro lesson in why status matters. The perfesser and I both filed EU 261 claims over a cancelled ex-MUC flight back in July. Last week, his no status self got an offer of $28 in meal reimbursement (we put the extra hotel night under my claim) and 5K miles with no mention of the ‘it was Delta’s fault’ part of additional compensation.

Got my claim back today- $500+ in cash for hotel and food reimbursement (walk up rate to extend a stay at the airport Hilton was crazy high and the rest was like a couple of rotisserie chickens from the on-airport Edeka because none of the restaurants there were calling to us) which I understand is more than twice the usual hotel reimbursement offer plus 2x$817 in travel credit vouchers for me and the perfesser (listed his SkyMiles number in my reimbursement request) as requested instead of the 600 euro cash compensation option.