how to squeeze the full compensation out of LH?
Apr 3, 2009, 8:03 am
#1
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how to squeeze the full compensation out of LH?
A good friend of mine of Chinese citizenship flew HKG-FRA-onwards - against my recommendation - on LH. LH denied her boarding in HKG because she did not have a valid Schengen visa for the day (she had one for later in the journey) and put her on standby on the evening flight via MUC.
When I talked to her she was intimidated that they would not let her board the MUC flight as they told her that her booking class is 'long gone'.
Her FRA flight was Y0! There was no free seat on the plane as her companion reported. So that was the true reason for the bump.
I sent my friend the EU passenger rights leaflet, armed her with the confidence that LH fraudulently bumped her from her flight and that she should demand EUR 600 compensation and a confirmed seat on the next flight.
As expected, the HKG staff did not give in. But we pushed until a supervisor confirmed her on the next flight and paid her USD 200 'for the inconvenience'.
I take this as a full acceptance of LH's guilt. How does she have to proceed to receive the rest of the EUR 600 - USD 200 from LH? She will fly them again the next few days. Whom does she have to talk to and where? Is there any legal terminology that will help her to receive what LH owes her? Flying Lawyer perhaps?
Any input is greatly appreciated!
When I talked to her she was intimidated that they would not let her board the MUC flight as they told her that her booking class is 'long gone'.
Her FRA flight was Y0! There was no free seat on the plane as her companion reported. So that was the true reason for the bump.
I sent my friend the EU passenger rights leaflet, armed her with the confidence that LH fraudulently bumped her from her flight and that she should demand EUR 600 compensation and a confirmed seat on the next flight.
As expected, the HKG staff did not give in. But we pushed until a supervisor confirmed her on the next flight and paid her USD 200 'for the inconvenience'.
I take this as a full acceptance of LH's guilt. How does she have to proceed to receive the rest of the EUR 600 - USD 200 from LH? She will fly them again the next few days. Whom does she have to talk to and where? Is there any legal terminology that will help her to receive what LH owes her? Flying Lawyer perhaps?
Any input is greatly appreciated!
Apr 3, 2009, 8:15 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2005
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What confuses me is the Schengen visa thing. Was she on a Non-Schengen connection for that day? Same ticket or different one? Couldn't she confirm with LH HKG, she was on a Non-Schengen connection?
Obviously a Schengen visa only starting some days later is not of any help, or would you disagree?
Without a valid Schengen visa and having no proof of Non-Schengen connection I believe it is okay to decline boarding, as this is required in the EU from the airlines.
Obviously a Schengen visa only starting some days later is not of any help, or would you disagree?
Without a valid Schengen visa and having no proof of Non-Schengen connection I believe it is okay to decline boarding, as this is required in the EU from the airlines.
Apr 3, 2009, 8:43 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2005
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What confuses me is the Schengen visa thing. Was she on a Non-Schengen connection for that day? Same ticket or different one? Couldn't she confirm with LH HKG, she was on a Non-Schengen connection?
Obviously a Schengen visa only starting some days later is not of any help, or would you disagree?
Without a valid Schengen visa and having no proof of Non-Schengen connection I believe it is okay to decline boarding, as this is required in the EU from the airlines.
Obviously a Schengen visa only starting some days later is not of any help, or would you disagree?
Without a valid Schengen visa and having no proof of Non-Schengen connection I believe it is okay to decline boarding, as this is required in the EU from the airlines.
If Y0 was the real reason for the bump and poor excuse, shame on LH.
Apr 3, 2009, 9:12 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: FRA
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Yes, but weero does mention that the person was confirmed on the next LH flight. So, I don't think the visa was the real reason, otherwise they would have had valid reason to deny her again as well.
If Y0 was the real reason for the bump and poor excuse, shame on LH.
If Y0 was the real reason for the bump and poor excuse, shame on LH.
I just heard a similar story earlier this week (No Schengen Visa, flying from the US via FRA to Switzerland), but this was even on a paid BIZ (D fare, I guess) and the companion finally was sitting in a 40% empty BIZ cabin.
Apr 3, 2009, 10:44 am
#6
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Apr 4, 2009, 12:59 am
#7
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The agent argued that she could try to enter Germany on her layover and than LH would be in trouble.
Apr 4, 2009, 1:00 am
#8
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Apr 4, 2009, 1:01 am
#9
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.
Apr 4, 2009, 1:13 am
#10
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Apr 4, 2009, 2:02 am
#11
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I agree.
Apr 4, 2009, 7:41 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
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A good friend of mine of Chinese citizenship flew HKG-FRA-onwards - against my recommendation - on LH. LH denied her boarding in HKG because she did not have a valid Schengen visa for the day (she had one for later in the journey) and put her on standby on the evening flight via MUC.
So, did her VISA cover the day post-departure (but not the day of dep itself)?
Apr 4, 2009, 8:54 am
#13
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I haven't seen the visa but she didn't need Schengen immigration for that part of her trip - she was transiting in FRA.
Apr 4, 2009, 8:55 am
#14
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Apr 4, 2009, 11:51 am
#15
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If she was tranisiting in FRA and her destination was outside of Schengen, then anything about validity of her visa is completely irrelevant. Timatic (system that most airlines use to determine when PAX needs visa) is quite clear -you do not need visa in this situation and you can not be denied boarding for that reason. After all, FRA is not some small airport that is closed overnight, so even if she would have a layover in FRA, she can stay airside for another night.