Frequent Flyer Horror Story: Why I will NEVER set foot on a Lufthansa flight again
Mar 16, 2011 | 3:30 am
#181
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: UA*S, TK*G, BA G
Posts: 361
I once checked an expensive lense on a flight from NRT to MUC, properly packed etc etc. It arrived cracked in Munich, and LH tried to weasel out of having to pay out compensation on the grounds of a paragraph from their Terms and Conditions:
8.4.2. We may refuse to carry as Baggage any item reasonably considered by us to be unsuitable for carriage because of its size, shape, weight, content, character, or for safety or operational reasons, or the comfort of other passengers. Information about unacceptable items is available upon request.
They argued that a camera lense would be excluded under this provision due to its "content and character" being unsuitable for carriage.
Mar 16, 2011 | 3:58 am
#182
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
As well as in ground services where they offer free standby for earlier flights, 3x32kg of luggage for elites, and free Internet across their delicious lounge systems ... I have avoided them in a while though, so my prejudices might not hold anymore
...
Mar 16, 2011 | 4:05 am
#183
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
Then please elucidate us where the OP breached this clarity?
This is a) not possible as companies like LH do not maintain their website and the thing is stuffed with conflicting information and b) unrealistic as there always lurks some restriction which was not on the site or has been added later which makes anything we ship or do 'illegal' .
All you need is a fall back system so that you can protect your interests in case a greedy employee attempts to ruin your day. Usually lying (the airline's choice of methods) or anything that will make the bird miss its slot work wonders.
When traveling it is your responsibility to know and fully understand the guidelines..
All you need is a fall back system so that you can protect your interests in case a greedy employee attempts to ruin your day. Usually lying (the airline's choice of methods) or anything that will make the bird miss its slot work wonders.
Mar 16, 2011 | 5:43 am
#184
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SIN
Programs: UA Platinum, DL Platinum, AFKL Gold, Qatar Gold
Posts: 895
It pretty clear what is allowable on this flight. I understand that your equipment was extremely valuable. However that being said it is then your responsibility to have that equipment packed securely enough that there is a low possibility of the items to be broken. You aslo have the opportunity to have the items shipped safely. When traveling it is your responsibility to know and fully understand the guidelines. American flights might be more lax in their requirements but that is not always a good thing.
Mar 16, 2011 | 7:59 am
#185
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London
Programs: Mucci Grandee (Upgraded), BA Silver, AZ MilleMiglia
Posts: 3,107
Unfortunately the seats in intra-European business class aren't antiquated - even new ones (e.g. on other airlines) are nearly always the same as Y seats, just with the seat next to you unoccupied. BA is unusual in having "converter" seats on most short-haul flights (except UK domestics) which adjust to give an extra 5cm or so of seat width in Club Europe (business class) configuration. But still nothing like US domestic First.
Mar 16, 2011 | 9:26 am
#186
Join Date: May 2008
Location: IAD or elsewhere
Programs: UA 1K, LH M&M, AA EXP, Marriott Plat, Avis NotLast, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 655
Unfortunately the seats in intra-European business class aren't antiquated - even new ones (e.g. on other airlines) are nearly always the same as Y seats, just with the seat next to you unoccupied. BA is unusual in having "converter" seats on most short-haul flights (except UK domestics) which adjust to give an extra 5cm or so of seat width in Club Europe (business class) configuration. But still nothing like US domestic First.
Mar 16, 2011 | 11:00 am
#187
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: Migros Cumulus Platinum Hero
Posts: 1,628
LH's first class is anything but state of the art
There are many competitors with much higher quality products, e.g. Singapore, Thai, ANA, Asiana, Swiss and - surprisingly - even United's new F class is by far superior to LH's standard product 
Mar 16, 2011 | 11:30 am
#188
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
And the risk with SQ and TG is that they are not consistent enough. It had an equipment change on SIN-MEL with SQ which taught me that SQ runs some cabins which do not deserve the name Business (ok it's nowhere near a NEK experience) let alone F.
So it's basically the inverse gamble as for LH where you need an equipment swap to a 380 in order to get lucky...
Mar 16, 2011 | 2:18 pm
#189
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,816
Unfortunately the seats in intra-European business class aren't antiquated - even new ones (e.g. on other airlines) are nearly always the same as Y seats, just with the seat next to you unoccupied. BA is unusual in having "converter" seats on most short-haul flights (except UK domestics) which adjust to give an extra 5cm or so of seat width in Club Europe (business class) configuration. But still nothing like US domestic First.
) - so the handrest is movable!
Mar 16, 2011 | 9:37 pm
#191
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 41,216
Mar 17, 2011 | 3:10 am
#192
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BRU
Programs: LH SEN, SN Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, BA, QF, AF
Posts: 6,854
Actually LH has this, too! I was travelling with the missus in C (intra EU new seats) and she wanted to sit next to me, so she slid over to the middle seat. The FA noticed this and moved the handrest to give her somewhat bigger width (at my expense ) - so the handrest is movable!
) - so the handrest is movable!
Mar 17, 2011 | 3:56 am
#193
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,255
Actually LH has this, too! I was travelling with the missus in C (intra EU new seats) and she wanted to sit next to me, so she slid over to the middle seat. The FA noticed this and moved the handrest to give her somewhat bigger width (at my expense ) - so the handrest is movable!
) - so the handrest is movable!
Mar 17, 2011 | 4:25 am
#194
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: BRU
Programs: LH SEN, SN Gold, Eurostar Carte Blanche, BA, QF, AF
Posts: 6,854
Horizontally of course! Basically some space is taken from the middle seat so that the windows and aisle seats have more space. Never flown on a Lufthansa A320 series or 737 in the last 6 years?
Mar 17, 2011 | 4:42 am
#195
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PDX
Programs: Don't think it matters...
Posts: 5,255
never noticed this maybe
so this means if the middle seat is empty, we can get more space sitting in window or aisle .. seems interesting specially for me intra europe flights of 3hrs !!
will try to check it out today evening itself if middle seat is empty^