Originally Posted by pdeut

It would seem to me that a large part of this mess can be attributed to the extreme lack of ticketing agents that LH has. (Not even going to mention the non-functioning chatbot)
I was to fly CDG-MUC today, and woke up to the flight being cancelled. I had been rebooked on AF to BER and then LH to MUC, which, even though one could argue isn't that bad, I did not want to proceed with, for reasons including not wanting to have an interline SCON, and more importantly not be stuck in Berlin. I called the German SEN line before 8am, and was rebooked (but not ticketed) on CDG-FRA-MUC. By the time I got to CDG around 11am, FRA-MUC had been cancelled, but I still wanted to get to FRA—even without trains there are good options there, such as reasonably priced rental cars. This proved problematic, however, because my CDG-FRA segment had still not been ticketed. The CDG contract staff were unable to reach their ticketing line at all, and while I waited in line for what they claimed was the ticketing desk, I called the German SEN line twice, and both times got agents that were unable to issue the ticket, yet promised it would be done within 15 minutes (obviously hot air). In the mean time it turned out that the so-called ticketing desk run by further CDG contractors was not actually a ticketing desk, but 3 staff members on hold with a ticketing department somewhere, accomplishing next to nothing. Time ticked by until I had missed my FRA flight, despite having spent the past several hours at the check in desk. I refused to leave without some meal vouchers, and, much more importantly, a written statement from the duty manager confirming I had been denied boarding on the FRA flight. I then rented a car one way from CDG-MUC for about 900€ (don't forget tolls and gas!) and despite it having summer tires, finally did arrive in Munich. I am not looking forward to the long uphill battle of recovering these costs from LH, but I will do anything it takes—Ombudsman, EU court, US small claims, etc. I intend to press for the additional 250€ compensation, as my inability to board the flight to FRA was not weather related and entirely the fault of LH.

Originally Posted by SK AAR

Good luck with that! LH is under no obligation to reimburse you a 900 E rental car. Your decision to go by car. Why didn’t you go by train to Frankfurt? (or by bus).

You have not been denied boarding. You were rebooked to AF to Berlin but upon your request you were rebooked to FRA but without sufficient time or possibility to issue the ticket. That has nothing to do with denied boarding.

Originally Posted by pdeut

There was no alternative to get to Munich at all—Frankfurt was just an easier way to get there. The earliest I could have gotten to MUC by plane was Monday, and the train would have been similar. However neither the call center or staff in person were in the position to actually rebook me in any format. LH has a contractual obligation to transport me to my final destination, and, if they fail to make proper accommodations in case of IRROPS, I can accommodate myself. This is similar to buying a fresh revenue ticket with another carrier or booking one's own hotel, and claiming it back. Keep in mind that if I am not reimbursed, I have a right to a refund of the original ticket, which wasn't cheap either. If I wanted the pleasure of a 10+ hour bus ride, I would have booked one from the beginning.

I had a confirmed booking for a flight I showed up on time for, yet wasn't allowed to board. Therefore, the only LH staff member present, the duty manager, concurred, and wrote and signed a statement that I was denied boarding and was not offered any reaccommodation to Munich. I'm quite sure 6 hours is sufficient to reissue a ticket when this normally happens in minutes.

Snow, particularly in December in the colder parts of Europe is not a novel concept. Many problems faced at this time are not at all snow related, and instead are the result of incompetent and negligent management.