jerrychuang

Booked OSL-ZRH-PVG on 10 Feb 2024 in cash J. LX canceled the ZRH-PVG leg and rebooked me for the second day, which would not work because my schedule was Inflexible for various reasons. When I booked I went out of my way to pay an extra 300 euros so that I don't fly Lufthansa, because LH comprehensively sucks.

I can only depart on Feb 9 or 10, but must account for reasonable connection time since I need to first go to OSL from ARN. That means essentially no morning departures from OSL, since the earliest flight arrives in OSL at 7 but the punctuality of flights in Nordic winter weather is very risky.

There are no departures on LX or OS to any Asian destinations on the 10th, no idea what the reason for such scheduling is. LX flies to HKG and SIN on 9th evening. OS flies to PVG on 9th 12pm. And SK flies from CPH to PVG on the 10th evening.

I called up the LX contact center (via a local number, don't think it's Zurich since I couldn't manage to reach the +41 Zurich line). Since I can take multiple layovers and knew they'd only be willing to shift me to other LH group flights I suggested alternative routings: OSL-ZRH-SIN-PVG(SQ) or OSL-ZRH-HKG-PVG (CX) on Feb 9th. The problem is LX only flies OSL-ZRH nonstop in the early morning, so I further suggested that I can take the afternoon OS flights via VIE (multiple connection available). The lady answering the phone seemed to be a bit overwhelmed and said she could not get the flight, despite her system showing a OSL-VIE-CPH-ZRH-SIN-PVG on a 70 hour adventure as the only option(What??) then started to play ghost. Fine.

But what are my options here? Can I ask for the SK OSL-CPH-PVG on 10th? Or if I have to, I could potentially accept OSL-ZRH on SK departing 9:50am on Feb 9 (this is available as a 220 stock so not worried about that), connecting to LX's own ZRH-PVG but I would risk missing the connection. I'm sure I can't play the origin change exemption (Sometimes work with sympathetic AA EXP desk agents) but it'd be a lot easier if they allow me to depart from ARN.

Apologies for the word diarrhea and thanks a lot in advance.

jerrychuang

Edited for redundancy

chris63

Just tell them you happen to be in ARN on 9th & ask them to rebook you from there

YuropFlyer

Chinese New Year. Flights to predominantly Chinese cultural areas will be affected during that period, with quite some rotations cut. It's normal for airlines to thin their flights to PEK/PVG/HKG/TPE/SIN etc. during that period.

And to add some more besides cultural background: Check the current rates. Might be better to cancel for a full refund and rebook yourself.

They don't have to rebook you through SIN (considered too big of a detour - if you get that routing, consider yourself lucky) and if they don't want/can't rebook you onto any other connection you'd like, you're out of options.

LH sells Oslo to Shanghai RT - with 10th February departure and return like 2 weeks later (many dates) - for about 1430€

Even if I don't like LH either, but that's a crazy cheap fare.. if you only need a one-way ticket, fares are more expensive..

Edit: Return flight could be booked on LX. Even cheaper for 1420€. Out 10th Feb 9.50am (arrive the night before if you need to position yourself) on LH, return 29th Feb on LX (but several days available)

FlyF

I had a similar situation earlier this year and managed to get a friendly agent to rebook my origin from GOT to CPH.
Though any non-LH-group carriers were completely ruled out.

oliver2002

Read the rules in this thread:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luft...changes-3.html

There is a LX/OS variant available with LX/OS flight numbers, if you call the right people they can rebook you. Sadly you need to overnight in ZRH

AN10FEBOSLSHA/ALX,OS
** AMADEUS AVAILABILITY - AN ** SHA SHANGHAI.CN 65 SA 10FEB 0000
1SK:LX4703 J4 C4 Y4 B4 M4 U4 H4 /OSL ZRH 1630 1850 E0/320
Q4 V4
LX1574 J4 C4 Y4 B4 M4 U4 H4 /ZRH VIE 3 0725+1 0845+1E0/32B
Q4 V4
OS 075 J4 C4 G4 E4 N4 Y4 B4 /VIE 3 PVG 2 1235+1 0640+2E0/772 31:10
M4 U4 H4 Q4 V4
2SK:LX4703 J4 C4 D4 Z4 Y4 B4 M4 /OSL ZRH 1630 1850 E0/320
U4 H4 Q4 V4
LX:OS8802 J4 C4 Y4 B4 M4 U4 H4 /ZRH VIE 3 0725+1 0845+1E0/32B
Q4 V4
OS 075 J4 C4 G4 E4 N4 Y4 B4 /VIE 3 PVG 2 1235+1 0640+2E0/772 31:10
M4 U4 H4 Q4 V4
3 LX1211 J9 C9 D1 Y9 B9 M9 U9 /OSL ZRH 1605 1835 E0/223
H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L5
LX1574 J9 C9 D1 Y9 B9 M9 U9 /ZRH VIE 3 0725+1 0845+1E0/32B
H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L5
OS 075 J9 C9 D1 G9 E9 N9 Y9 /VIE 3 PVG 2 1235+1 0640+2E0/772 31:35
B9 M9 U9 H9 Q9 V9 W9 S9 T9 L5

jerrychuang

Update: The agent answering my call today seems much more reasonable and knowledgable. After a brief chat with their revenue control desk she swiftly put me on the ARN flight on 9th. A new confirmation email never came through and for a couple of hours the seat selection on the longhaul leg was not available, but now I am able to select seats and bid for upgrade so I assumed that it is ticketed without any problems. Thanks for all the help! And it seems it's a fairly YMMV situation at the call center.