My Alma Matter High School made the News on Lufthansa
Jul 25, 2022, 9:16 pm
#1
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My Alma Matter High School made the News on Lufthansa
My Alma Matter High School Saratoga High made the news as their band was delayed in leaving Prague due to the hot weather. Lufthansa first told them that the next available flights would be in August. One of my contacts in Governnment assisted in getting Lufthansa to get a Charter Flight.
https://abc7news.com/saraoga-high-sc...ions/12068461/
What are your thoughts on this? I think that downloading the Lufthansa Application can assist when tehre are delays. Was a charter flight warrented vs flyiing some of the group with Chaperons on LOT or other partners?
I have the popcorn and Troken Wine redy for the discussion!
https://abc7news.com/saraoga-high-sc...ions/12068461/
What are your thoughts on this? I think that downloading the Lufthansa Application can assist when tehre are delays. Was a charter flight warrented vs flyiing some of the group with Chaperons on LOT or other partners?
I have the popcorn and Troken Wine redy for the discussion!
Jul 26, 2022, 6:26 am
#3
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
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114-120 people in a high school orchestra? All booked on the same flight? What charter did they find at short notice to take them from PRG to SJC/SFO/OAK?
Jul 26, 2022, 6:54 am
#4
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Jul 26, 2022, 7:01 am
#6
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Originally Posted by https://saratogafalcon.org/content/orchestra-and-band-students-headed-to-europe-this-summer
As of now, the tour has 438 total travelers. There will be 280 students, 14 parent chaperones and 11 faculty/staff members; the remaining are part of the shadow tour, which consists of accompanying parents or family members.
Seems not everyone made it all the way to PRG
Jul 26, 2022, 7:30 am
#7
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
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Holy cow, that bigger than the Berlin Philharmonik crew 
They (aprox 250) charter a LH B747 when they tour the world.
They (aprox 250) charter a LH B747 when they tour the world.
Jul 26, 2022, 9:19 am
#8
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Seems like the issue is that they are all traveling on Group tickets. Had a similar situation back in 2012 when I was coming back to the US after a study abroad program in France. Security personnel strikes caused our flight LYS-FRA to be canceled and it was a struggle for the (outsourced) ground staff in Lyon to do much of anything since ~20 of us were booked on a single group ticket through our University.
We had the foresight to call into the call centers and have our booking split. Some of us traveled to Geneva and others to Paris by train to get alternative flights offered by LH group.
The overall meltdown of air travel in Europe (it’s disingenuous for the article to pinpoint LH) certainly isn’t helping. Across the board flights are packed, airports are over capacity and the heatwaves haven’t helped either.
Keep in mind this is a HUGE group all going to one destination. Generally cancellation of feeder flights are easier to accommodate as on the connections passengers are going to many different destinations. Perhaps they could have split the group up and sent them via various hubs in Europe to different hubs in USA to get back to the Bay Area. But it seems like they were adamant about traveling together. And anyway, those connections would not have been convenient for all involved (but at least it would get them home).
Crappy situation for all involved, but seems like things worked out in the end.
We had the foresight to call into the call centers and have our booking split. Some of us traveled to Geneva and others to Paris by train to get alternative flights offered by LH group.
The overall meltdown of air travel in Europe (it’s disingenuous for the article to pinpoint LH) certainly isn’t helping. Across the board flights are packed, airports are over capacity and the heatwaves haven’t helped either.
Keep in mind this is a HUGE group all going to one destination. Generally cancellation of feeder flights are easier to accommodate as on the connections passengers are going to many different destinations. Perhaps they could have split the group up and sent them via various hubs in Europe to different hubs in USA to get back to the Bay Area. But it seems like they were adamant about traveling together. And anyway, those connections would not have been convenient for all involved (but at least it would get them home).
Crappy situation for all involved, but seems like things worked out in the end.
Jul 26, 2022, 10:21 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Posts: 5,978
But you can just grab another 747 and paint it... keep on rocking!
Jul 26, 2022, 10:37 am
#12
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Jul 26, 2022, 10:45 am
#14
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Seems like the issue is that they are all traveling on Group tickets. Had a similar situation back in 2012 when I was coming back to the US after a study abroad program in France. Security personnel strikes caused our flight LYS-FRA to be canceled and it was a struggle for the (outsourced) ground staff in Lyon to do much of anything since ~20 of us were booked on a single group ticket through our University.
We had the foresight to call into the call centers and have our booking split. Some of us traveled to Geneva and others to Paris by train to get alternative flights offered by LH group.
The overall meltdown of air travel in Europe (it’s disingenuous for the article to pinpoint LH) certainly isn’t helping. Across the board flights are packed, airports are over capacity and the heatwaves haven’t helped either.
Keep in mind this is a HUGE group all going to one destination. Generally cancellation of feeder flights are easier to accommodate as on the connections passengers are going to many different destinations. Perhaps they could have split the group up and sent them via various hubs in Europe to different hubs in USA to get back to the Bay Area. But it seems like they were adamant about traveling together. And anyway, those connections would not have been convenient for all involved (but at least it would get them home).
Crappy situation for all involved, but seems like things worked out in the end.
We had the foresight to call into the call centers and have our booking split. Some of us traveled to Geneva and others to Paris by train to get alternative flights offered by LH group.
The overall meltdown of air travel in Europe (it’s disingenuous for the article to pinpoint LH) certainly isn’t helping. Across the board flights are packed, airports are over capacity and the heatwaves haven’t helped either.
Keep in mind this is a HUGE group all going to one destination. Generally cancellation of feeder flights are easier to accommodate as on the connections passengers are going to many different destinations. Perhaps they could have split the group up and sent them via various hubs in Europe to different hubs in USA to get back to the Bay Area. But it seems like they were adamant about traveling together. And anyway, those connections would not have been convenient for all involved (but at least it would get them home).
Crappy situation for all involved, but seems like things worked out in the end.
I also know that weather delays are not covered. In this situation due to excessive heat the flight was cancelled so how is LH responsible for flying them home on their dime? Where is the group's travel insurance policy? Nothing was mentioned about travel insurance in the article.
My theory is if you spent $5000 on a trip you can afford insurance . BTW Saratoga is an overall wealthy Silicon Valley bedroom community.
Jul 26, 2022, 10:48 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Traveling the World
Posts: 6,072
Seems like the issue is that they are all traveling on Group tickets. Had a similar situation back in 2012 when I was coming back to the US after a study abroad program in France. Security personnel strikes caused our flight LYS-FRA to be canceled and it was a struggle for the (outsourced) ground staff in Lyon to do much of anything since ~20 of us were booked on a single group ticket through our University.
We had the foresight to call into the call centers and have our booking split. Some of us traveled to Geneva and others to Paris by train to get alternative flights offered by LH group.
The overall meltdown of air travel in Europe (it’s disingenuous for the article to pinpoint LH) certainly isn’t helping. Across the board flights are packed, airports are over capacity and the heatwaves haven’t helped either.
Keep in mind this is a HUGE group all going to one destination. Generally cancellation of feeder flights are easier to accommodate as on the connections passengers are going to many different destinations. Perhaps they could have split the group up and sent them via various hubs in Europe to different hubs in USA to get back to the Bay Area. But it seems like they were adamant about traveling together. And anyway, those connections would not have been convenient for all involved (but at least it would get them home).
Crappy situation for all involved, but seems like things worked out in the end.
We had the foresight to call into the call centers and have our booking split. Some of us traveled to Geneva and others to Paris by train to get alternative flights offered by LH group.
The overall meltdown of air travel in Europe (it’s disingenuous for the article to pinpoint LH) certainly isn’t helping. Across the board flights are packed, airports are over capacity and the heatwaves haven’t helped either.
Keep in mind this is a HUGE group all going to one destination. Generally cancellation of feeder flights are easier to accommodate as on the connections passengers are going to many different destinations. Perhaps they could have split the group up and sent them via various hubs in Europe to different hubs in USA to get back to the Bay Area. But it seems like they were adamant about traveling together. And anyway, those connections would not have been convenient for all involved (but at least it would get them home).
Crappy situation for all involved, but seems like things worked out in the end.
Also I advised them of EU Rule 261/2004 for delay compensation.