UFO FAs vote for strike action [merged discussion thread]]
Sep 5, 2012, 3:13 am
#346
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 12
Well, Lufthansa in Kuwait very courteously absolutely refused to change my ticket while promising me that my KWI-FRA flight will not be affected by the strike. They also said that if the KWI-FRA flight is cancelled, they'll rebook me on Emirates through Dubai, but I'm afraid that with my travel particulars (I won't be able to check internet for about 6 hours before I get to Kuwait), I might end up losing out on that option, also. Now I really don't know what to do. I don't want to just piss away $450 on a one-way ticket, but I definitely don't want to get stuck in Kuwait, either.
(When I looked online, I found a Swiss KWI-ATH, ATH-GVA, GVA-MUC option, but then Lufthansa swore to me that Swiss doesn't actually fly the KWI-ATH route. So confusing.)
(When I looked online, I found a Swiss KWI-ATH, ATH-GVA, GVA-MUC option, but then Lufthansa swore to me that Swiss doesn't actually fly the KWI-ATH route. So confusing.)
Sep 5, 2012, 3:20 am
#347
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
The Thursday inbound LH flight should operate, so I would not worry. There is a TK and MS flight leaving shortly after the scheduled LH departure, after that there is a wide open KU direct flight leaving at 0855.
Code:
AD07SEPKWIFRA/A*A
** AMADEUS AVAILABILITY - AD ** FRA FRANKFURT.DE 2 FR 07SEP 0000
1 LH 637 F4 A4 J9 C9 D9 ZL P3 /KWI M FRA 1 0030 0520 E0/333 5:50
Y9 B9 M9 U9 H9 G9 Q9 V9 W9 SL
2 MS 615 C9 D9 J9 Z9 Y9 B9 M9 /KWI M CAI 3 0035 0220 E0/773
H9 Q9 K9 E9 G9
LH 585 JL CL DL ZL YL BL ML /CAI 3 FRA 1 0400 0825 E0/321 8:50
UL HL GL QL VL WL SL
3 MS 615 C9 D9 J9 Z9 Y9 B9 M9 /KWI M CAI 3 0035 0220 E0/773
H9 Q9 K9 E9 G9
MS 785 C2 /CAI 3 FRA 1 0945 1410 E0/738 14:35
4 TK 773 C8 D3 J1 R1 Y9 B9 M9 /KWI M IST I 0215 0600 E0/321
K9 H9 S7 E7 Q3 T2 NL
TK1587 C1 D1 JL RL YL BL ML /IST I FRA 1 0820 1035 E0/321 9:20
KL HL SL EL QL NL
5 TK 773 C8 D3 J1 R1 Y9 B9 M9 /KWI M IST I 0215 0600 E0/321
K9 H9 S7 E7 Q3 T2 NL
TK:LH7061 JL CL DL ZL YL BL /IST I FRA 1 0820 1035 E0/321 9:20
>
Sep 5, 2012, 3:46 am
#348
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FLR
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, FB Gold
Posts: 504
It is interesting to note the difference between BA CS when they had their big FA strikes some time ago and LH. Granted, BA knew in advance the exact days of the strike, but even if your flight was supposed to fly, they offered rebooking for free or reimbursement. For one of my flights, they called me two weeks before to break the sad news that I would have to leave 2 hours earlier from AMS to LHR to catch my flight to HKG since the original flight AMS-LHR had been canceled due to the strike. I politely asked them whether they couldn't just put me on the direct AMS-HKG flight on CX (which in C was about twice as expensive as connecting through LH). Five minutes later I was confirmed on CX (and this is not a code share in case you wonder). Probably cost them some money, but made me, the customer happy. I am still a loyal BA flier! Comparing this to the experiences I read about here, I wonder why I am still trying to requalify as SEN this year.
Sep 5, 2012, 3:58 am
#349
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
Plus about half a million pax who are unsure calling in asking if their flight is affected.
Sep 5, 2012, 4:16 am
#350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: VCE
Posts: 14,165
Thats how normal strikes work, the unions give notice, the airline is harmed, but the customers can rebook/plan. Here UFO is trying to do maximum damage and avoid LH arranging alternate crews to operate a minimum flight plan (see the 2009 VC strike). Yesterday 46000 pax needed to be rebooked with about 6 hours notice Plus about half a million pax who are unsure calling in asking if their flight is affected.
Plus about half a million pax who are unsure calling in asking if their flight is affected.
Sep 5, 2012, 4:18 am
#351
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: FLR
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, FB Gold
Posts: 504
Thats how normal strikes work, the unions give notice, the airline is harmed, but the customers can rebook/plan. Here UFO is trying to do maximum damage and avoid LH arranging alternate crews to operate a minimum flight plan (see the 2009 VC strike). Yesterday 46000 pax needed to be rebooked with about 6 hours notice Plus about half a million pax who are unsure calling in asking if their flight is affected.
Plus about half a million pax who are unsure calling in asking if their flight is affected.The relationship between BA and unions was at least as poisened as in the case of LH and UFO. And I still think that BA CS did a better job than LH CS is doing now.
Sep 5, 2012, 4:18 am
#352
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
Sep 5, 2012, 4:37 am
#353
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Between AMS and BRU
Posts: 8,852
I think both parties are behaving very unprofessional. Everybody knows that they will have to renegotiated at some future point. Get it over with and don't make this last longer than is really needed.
And for me the most stupid part of this whole thing is that neither party, but especially LH, has felt to need to really address it's customers explaining what the issues really are. Painting a black and white picture of 3,5% vs 5% is an insult to your customers that are affected this way.
It might not make a difference in the delay you will encounter but at least you present you seem to care about your customer and maybe will give them some perspective about the issues you are arguing over.
And for me the most stupid part of this whole thing is that neither party, but especially LH, has felt to need to really address it's customers explaining what the issues really are. Painting a black and white picture of 3,5% vs 5% is an insult to your customers that are affected this way.
It might not make a difference in the delay you will encounter but at least you present you seem to care about your customer and maybe will give them some perspective about the issues you are arguing over.
Last edited by RTW1; Sep 5, 2012 at 4:55 am
Sep 5, 2012, 6:01 am
#354
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: STX
Programs: Used to have a bunch of shiny metallic cards. That was one life ago.
Posts: 1,807
First time posting in this forum. I quit my job about a year ago and am no longer a frequent flier. Am booked with wife on LH tomorrow ATL-FRA connecting to an LH flight FRA-FCO on Friday. I take it based on what we know now there is a decent chance the FCO flight will be canceled and, if so, it will happen sometime while we are over the Atlantic.
These are UA award tix. I was a DL guy in my last life and this will be the first time I've ever flown LH.
Best advice on how to proceed? Should I try to be proactive with UA? If we get to FRA and flight is canceled and total chaos, what is best option to try to get rebooked (phone, Internet, particular queue)? Outside of LH, nonstop options to FCO seem few and expensive. Is there a rail option? How do I book?
Thanks for any advice. Like I said, I was mostly a DL guy flying around the US when I had the juice to work the system.
These are UA award tix. I was a DL guy in my last life and this will be the first time I've ever flown LH.
Best advice on how to proceed? Should I try to be proactive with UA? If we get to FRA and flight is canceled and total chaos, what is best option to try to get rebooked (phone, Internet, particular queue)? Outside of LH, nonstop options to FCO seem few and expensive. Is there a rail option? How do I book?
Thanks for any advice. Like I said, I was mostly a DL guy flying around the US when I had the juice to work the system.
Sep 5, 2012, 6:10 am
#356
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,182
Book a back up AZ ticket FRA FCO which leaves at noon. In this case your luggage will be lost and sent to you.
Or call UA to rebook onto the IAD FCO flight asking them to waive the change fee.
Or call UA to rebook onto the IAD FCO flight asking them to waive the change fee.
Sep 5, 2012, 6:39 am
#357
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,069
I think both parties are behaving very unprofessional. Everybody knows that they will have to renegotiated at some future point. Get it over with and don't make this last longer than is really needed.
And for me the most stupid part of this whole thing is that neither party, but especially LH, has felt to need to really address it's customers explaining what the issues really are. Painting a black and white picture of 3,5% vs 5% is an insult to your customers that are affected this way.
It might not make a difference in the delay you will encounter but at least you present you seem to care about your customer and maybe will give them some perspective about the issues you are arguing over.
And for me the most stupid part of this whole thing is that neither party, but especially LH, has felt to need to really address it's customers explaining what the issues really are. Painting a black and white picture of 3,5% vs 5% is an insult to your customers that are affected this way.
It might not make a difference in the delay you will encounter but at least you present you seem to care about your customer and maybe will give them some perspective about the issues you are arguing over.
Sep 5, 2012, 6:57 am
#358
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: world
Programs: all
Posts: 1,422
I can report at least one good experience on the HON line this morning:
My partner was booked on LH899 for Friday evening (LGW-FRA). The HON desk answered on first ring with a native-German-speaking person on the other end. Her reservation was cancelled and ticket refunded (on non-refundable fare) quickly, efficiently, and politely, no questions asked.
She is now booked on U2 8437 (EasyJet) to MLH (for about the same price as the unused LH ticket), and will be home about one hour sooner. (I have to drive about an hour [30 minutes each way] to collect her, but that is to me in this case pretty minor).
The only question we had after the LH experience today:
"Why doesn't LH always treat their good customers like this?!"
(or any customer for that matter?)
My partner was booked on LH899 for Friday evening (LGW-FRA). The HON desk answered on first ring with a native-German-speaking person on the other end. Her reservation was cancelled and ticket refunded (on non-refundable fare) quickly, efficiently, and politely, no questions asked.
She is now booked on U2 8437 (EasyJet) to MLH (for about the same price as the unused LH ticket), and will be home about one hour sooner. (I have to drive about an hour [30 minutes each way] to collect her, but that is to me in this case pretty minor).
The only question we had after the LH experience today:
"Why doesn't LH always treat their good customers like this?!"
(or any customer for that matter?)
I had a first class flight FRA-RIO that was delayed on Sept 4 for 7 hours with no advance notice. LH put me on TAM first class at night saying that they were not sure any LH planes would leave. This was on a United award ticket so I was pretty happy. PLus they paid for the sheraton at FRA
Sep 5, 2012, 6:59 am
#359
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Scottsdale, Berlin, Wherever
Programs: Marriott titanium Elite, Hyatt Globalist, AS, UA, AA, TWA, PAN AM, PSA
Posts: 558
+1, I had the same situation last Friday when my flight from SEA to FRA was cancelled. I went online and saw open seats through IAD and called United. They made the change with no change fee. For my return, I decided not to wait and called United on Monday. They changed me to a return flight on UA via ORD and waived the change fee. No LH 1st class terminal and no rubber ducky but I'll get home on time. United was very helpful on the phone.
Sep 5, 2012, 7:21 am
#360
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
Do folks think nothing will operate on Friday? I'm at IAD, where we don't have Swiss or Brussels, so I guess they'll try squeeze three widebody loads onto the little Austrian plane.