Matthew Bade

Hello,

I have a ticket from PDX - ADD. I got to Ethiopia a few months ago and things are fine, but I just got an email from Expedia saying my flight was canceled and I could apply for a refund. When I log in to my Lufthansa account I can see the departing flight in February, but no record of the return flight - it looks like I booked a one way.

I called Expedia and they said due to Lufthansa's rules I could get $550.00 USD and rebook my own return flight/have that applied to a flight's cost. The flights right now from Addis to Portland are between $2000.00 - 4000.00 USD on Lufthansa.

Is that legal? To fly someone across the world, cancel their return ticket leaving them stranded during a global pandemic, and hold the ransom, demanding more money to get them home?

I've been on hold with Lufthansa for hours now. But even when I've gotten through to them in the last few weeks they were not helpful. I think they hired a bunch of new people to handle all the extra calls, but the other day I had to explain to someone how flying against the clock worked. Is there any other way to get help?

.Matthew

Jaimito Cartero

When was your flight supposed to return? Original cost of RT flight?

oliver2002

Expedia is your agent and has to find you an alternative, if no Lufthansa flight is available, they are allowed to arrange an alternative on a *A carrier like ET and UA.

Rules are listed here: https://www.lufthansaexperts.com/sha...ile_143775.pdf

Matthew Bade

The flight was on July 22nd. I think the original ticket was $1088 USD. So they're trying to offer me half but that's useless.

Oliver,

There are plenty of Lufthansa flights, but Expedia isn't offering to rebook. They said that they are following Lufthansa's rules and right now that means offering a refund for the remaining amount or waiving the rebooking fee (though I am then responsible for the fare difference of $1500- $3500 USD).

But I guess I'll try reading them the document you linked.

Jaimito Cartero

Certainly don’t refund it. Hopefully they will be obligated to rebook you.

Mwenenzi

50% of what you paid is in some ways not unreasonable, but do not accept it. You have several weeks yet. EC 261 may apply (other will know)
Do you want to return to USA about July 22? (any airport would do)
Have you looked at other airlines, including considering any Covid-19 transit issues. Qatar QR may be an option
Flights will be/maybe different in ~6 weeks time. The situation is changing day by day

IMH

Welcome to FlyerTalk, Matthew Bade. I hope you resolve your current difficulty and stick around in better times.

Just to reiterate: do not do anything that amounts to applying for a refund and abandoning your return ticket. As oliver2002 says, Expedia should work with you to find an acceptable alternative. Unfortunately that doesn't mean the person you speak to will be helpful or well trained.

A quick search shows availability on your date for under $1,000 one way, with TK via IST to SFO and then UA, so it might help to point the Expedia agent in that direction -- assuming you'd be allowed to transit at IST.

Matthew Bade

Mwenenzi,

It's very unreasonable. I don't have $3500 in my bank account.

I want to return to PDX. I had already been trying to change my ticket to an earlier date so I don't really care when the flight is. I understand that I can wait for more information but this effects visas and other travels I have. I want what I already paid for which is to go home.

I'm not sure what you mean by other airlines and Covid-19 transit issues. Repatriation flights? Those cost thousands of dollars and get you to NY, LAX is you're lucky.

IMH,

Yea I'm back on hold with Expedia now.

I've seen the flights through Turkey but they're not allowed to fly to the States right now and even though its a while away I'm trying to avoid being stranded somewhere else (currently stuck in Zanzibar).

Thanks

Tafflyer

They must rebook you as on your original ticket. You are not forced to accept a refund or a voucher. Recent guidelines and a court injunction have made this clear. Unfortunately for you, that injunction only applies to Germany but LH were told each incidence of not rebooking a passenger for free when a flight was cancelled would result in a €250,000 fine. If Lufthansa have no flights then they must rebook you on another carrier.

https://www.rechteindeutig.de/luftha...ung-verlangen/ (German only)

It's not easy having to deal with Expedia, but they should also have trained staff that know what your rights are. After all, this will also not cost Expedia any money, Lufthansa are liable.

In fact, Lufthansa having cancelled your original flight might help you. You can now request to be rebooked on another date more convenient to you.

LondonElite

OP is out of messages for today, so he may want to edit a previous message with further info. First of all, do not cancel the ticket and or apply for a refund. I would be speaking with LH to try and find an alternative routing solution for you, because dealing with Expedia will not be very easy.

irishguy28

It is completely unreasonable; the OP wants his contract to be honoured and to be brought home at the price that Expedia originally decided was appropriate for such carriage; rebooking options exist, and the airline allows rebooking.

SK AAR

LH cancelled the ADD service?

If LH cancelled the flight(s), requesting to rebooked to a travel date on/about your original travel date should not trigger any up-fare/add. fare to be paid, even if you have to get rebooked to ET to FRA (as you might know ET has a very extensive network out of ADD).

Anyway, you need to deal with Expedia. Exp may have to contact LH for advice on how to rebook.

Tafflyer

LH may tell him on or about the original travel date but the law is that the replacement travel can be at the passengers convenience, as do Lufthansa's own Covid guidelines.

IAN-UK

I've never been sure of how ticketing responsibilities work.

But isn't there something about the carrier taking over "ownership" of the ticket once the trip has started?

fassy

A flight coupon goes into airport control status "A" at a predetermined time before the flight. But for each direction outbound/inbound separately. If you want to change/rebook an itinerary in the middle of a trip, you have to do this via the channel you bough the ticket through.