FRA - misssed connection, LH refuses hotel
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
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FRA - misssed connection, LH refuses hotel
Flew LHR-FRA-KTW. Arrived FRA at 21:34, few minutes after that got out from the plane and had to run from terminal A to B (gate 10) to catch my flight to KTW. The transfer path was closed at this time (there was a card that is open till 9pm - which is radiculous). So the guard told me to go out and pass the security, then go to my gate. Flight left the gate 22:23 (Amadeus says so), they closed boarding around 21:55. So I missed the flight, didn't manage to get to the gate on time - even have been running all the time. They rebooked me for free for the next day, but refused to pay for the hotel - the staff said that they don't care about airport problem, MCT was enough. And it's not LH fault that the transfer path was closed.
Do you think I have chance to have the complain accepted? I stayed at the airport all night, so don't have the hotel invoice - they might say that I should go to the hotel. Did any of you have similar case?
Do you think I have chance to have the complain accepted? I stayed at the airport all night, so don't have the hotel invoice - they might say that I should go to the hotel. Did any of you have similar case?
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Berlin, Germany
Programs: LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 476
A nice but precise letter to LH might get you something.
I assume you were on LH 4739, due to arrive @ FRA at 21:35. With such tight connections, it is usually not a bad idea to approach (any) LH counter immediately upon deplaning. I'd venture to say that you have a decent argument against LH.
Personally, I am amazed at the tight connection allowed for this particular route.
I assume you were on LH 4739, due to arrive @ FRA at 21:35. With such tight connections, it is usually not a bad idea to approach (any) LH counter immediately upon deplaning. I'd venture to say that you have a decent argument against LH.
Personally, I am amazed at the tight connection allowed for this particular route.
#4
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Exactly, that was LH4739 and then LH3296 to KTW.
There was no LH counter on the way from my gate, no information, no staff. Just some guards and other unfriendly airport staff. And had to pass the security 2 times, which was strange.
There was no LH counter on the way from my gate, no information, no staff. Just some guards and other unfriendly airport staff. And had to pass the security 2 times, which was strange.
#5
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I can't answer your question about your entitlement but there seems to be something odd about the non-Schengen A pier in the evening. After the last TATL flight (to BOS) leaves assorted non-Schengen flights (e.g. to/from UK) seem to use the gates instead of the usual remote stands but the whole area becomes very quiet.
I was in the Tower Lounge recently which I was informed would close at 18:30 (despite M&M/LH's lounge guide) but just before 18:00 someone came over and told me to leave the lounge and go through passport control (by gate A65) if I wanted to go to the SEN lounge by A26 because passport control was going to close and I would be locked in!
I think there are 3 ways to leave the non-Schengen A pier, passport control by A65, another passport control at the other end of the pier and by the Sky Line train which should have taken you fairly close to B10, though you still had to go through passport control.
I was in the Tower Lounge recently which I was informed would close at 18:30 (despite M&M/LH's lounge guide) but just before 18:00 someone came over and told me to leave the lounge and go through passport control (by gate A65) if I wanted to go to the SEN lounge by A26 because passport control was going to close and I would be locked in!
I think there are 3 ways to leave the non-Schengen A pier, passport control by A65, another passport control at the other end of the pier and by the Sky Line train which should have taken you fairly close to B10, though you still had to go through passport control.
#6
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So I think I took the guard' advise and went to B20-B28 where from I passed to my gate B10.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Berlin, Germany
Programs: LH SEN, BA Gold
Posts: 476
Am on the MAN/BHX-(MUC/LHR/FRA)-TXL p.m. run from time to time. Usually end up taking the last connection through FRA - a significant # of pax leave the aircraft running. Have to say that those connections in FRA result in a prayer that Ryanair/Easyjet would start offering more frequent flights to LPL and EMA ex SXF.
Last edited by awestphal; Jul 24, 2009 at 4:22 am Reason: spelling
#8
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Well, that just seems unacceptable. Whatever LH staff told you FRA Terminal 1 is effectively a Lufthansa terminal and they have to ensure that pax can get through passport control/security to their connecting flights. Also whatever they say about MCT, LH.com sells the LH4739/LH3296 connection so it must be acceptable to them.
#9
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A 45 minutes connection in FRA ?
Was this on a single ticket? If it was sold to you as such, then LH owes you a hotel stay. They will - in all my experience - not pay it voluntarily but filing for small claims court is easy in the UK. I would not waste much time with LH, write them the 2 registered, terse letters, then hand it off...
If it was 2 single tix, then all is in order and they were right to deny you compensation.
Was this on a single ticket? If it was sold to you as such, then LH owes you a hotel stay. They will - in all my experience - not pay it voluntarily but filing for small claims court is easy in the UK. I would not waste much time with LH, write them the 2 registered, terse letters, then hand it off...
If it was 2 single tix, then all is in order and they were right to deny you compensation.
#10
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#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: C2
Programs: TK*G (Elite+)
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Booked on British LH website. Ticket issued by:
DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA AG
WWW.LUFTHANSA.COM
LONDON
UNITED KINGDOM
DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA AG
WWW.LUFTHANSA.COM
LONDON
UNITED KINGDOM
#14
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LOL i feel... I was in a similar situation last April on a VCE-FRA-EDI flight.
Website let me book a 45min connection(I thought it was 1hr45m). Arrived late into FRA, thought to myself it's ok. I'll make it Schengen to Schengen so no passport control. Anyhow, plane I was on parked up at an apron had to wait for a bus, had to go through both pp control and security, made the gate for the EDI flight as it was closing.
Website let me book a 45min connection(I thought it was 1hr45m). Arrived late into FRA, thought to myself it's ok. I'll make it Schengen to Schengen so no passport control. Anyhow, plane I was on parked up at an apron had to wait for a bus, had to go through both pp control and security, made the gate for the EDI flight as it was closing.
Last edited by tomvonc; Jul 24, 2009 at 5:18 am Reason: My pisspoor typing and spelling skills
#15
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