Since I posted we have called Lufthansa 4 more times in an effort to resolve our issue. You can redeem the award miles you earn for flight awards with our airline partners, which include all Star Alliance partners and other Miles & More airline partners. On one occasion after asking for a supervisor we were told it was probably United's fault. Even then, paying for every seat and piece of baggage may make other airlines seem more attractive. Lack of transparency, kind of blackmailing. And yet their pricing still screams full service carrier.. LH has lost its way, the brand positioning is a mess and customer service at all-time lows: They position LH as premium, yet create these ridiculous light fares. Others too. Fares that include a large carry-on usually come with some kind of a decent seat included, plus "priority" boarding. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. Confirmed reservation (no waiting list bookings) An already issued ticket; Flights operated by Lufthansa (Lufthansa flight number) Upgrades via lufthansa.com are only possible for all passengers travelling under one booking. After 1.5 hrs. Never understood how seat reservations are lost. standard seat, seat in the preferred seating zone, seat with more legroom). Is that just for LH flights or will that also be the case for LX/OS flights as well? Please note that passengers who have purchased an Economy Light fare on a continental route and have not made an advance seat reservation that is subject to a fee before checking in cannot change the seat offered to them at check-in without payment of a fee. So it doesn't affect your scenario at all. Heck, I remember being able to get a GT free of charge on the As a LH senator (dropped to silver right before pandemic) who you used to be a big fanboy, the appeal of the airline is rapidly disappearing. Lufthansa, leading the race to the bottom since becoming a "5-star" airline. As far as the worst European business class goes, Lufthansa is simply unrivalled. Time to leave star alliance and seek for better options. Please contact Lufthansa as soon as possible after your flight for any reimbursements. They changed our seats! When I checked in at the airport (Dulles), the Delta/Air France agent told me I would get my boarding passes at the gate, the first indication something was screwed up. Lufthansa was able to book me a flight from Munich and even offered to pay the train fare. I travel standby so always get last minute seat assignments after every paying passengers gets a crack at it (now including these Economy Lite passengers), and their automated system is set up to assign the BEST AVAILABLE seat at the time the actual seat assignment is given. If you dont need a seat assignment or checked bag, the savings could be worthwhile. I hope Im never forced to need that airline again. Never again. If youre Star Alliance Gold you do get one free checked luggage, it is just not indicated inside the app or during online check in. The seat change, after payment of the amendment fee, is possible within Economy Class per leg of the trip. Untrue - just flew two international eco light legs with the liberty to choose any seat at check-in. With other food airlines to choose from we will now avoid this airline. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. But not on a train that would get me to Munich on time! I just checked in for our light on United and they send me to Lufthansa to reserve seats. Now, it is deteriorating in on line services and booking flights. It is not possible to pay the fare on the bus. CarolGreat story. Simply click on the white "continue without all seats" button to finish booking without adding any extra fees. We flew to LHR last month with fully paid Business Classes tickets and BA wanted to charge up to $168 each to reserve each seat, each way. They feature at least ten centimetres of extra legroom. I had to check in, pick seats, and make amendments on two of the airlines with no problem. Seat changes may be made due to operational reasons of the airline. Any free seat assignment option for *S or *G? How to contact Lufthansa Airlines customer service. I will avoid Lufthansa in the future as much as possible. I called one more time after checking in . There are still seats available on the flight you are checking in on. (From economy to premium economy). This isnt a huge deal, as your connecting flight within Europe will probably be relatively short. IF you booked on the Lufthansa web site then you need to call Lufthansa to get the PNRs for the other (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Lufthansa had a sign up flight full no seat changes they had assigned me a middle seat. I'm grateful to the posters, something new I've learned when booking a code share (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. They position LH as premium, yet create these ridiculous light fares. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-81448028', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');airlines. However, considering the usual fare difference between these airlines, passengers may be wise to see how much sense it is flying with a 25/$35 seat fee each way and no scope for refunds or changes. I will avoid Lufthansa in the future as much as possible. B) Why are you not refunding them when you change their seats ? I say go right ahead. I haven't booked these yet, but I need to book flights from SFO -> Frankfurt -> Nairobi -> SFO. The hopeful in me is praying that they oversold. Never again! Somebody needs to take a look at Lufthansa operations in Frankfurt. On neither leg did we have the seats I originally selected. Lufthansa will begin randomly allocating seats during check-in for base economy tickets. Please note the following special conditions in such cases. I find it difficult to find this earth shattering news when you consider what British Airlines is doing for Business Class. They have no noticeable disadvantages, even though they aren't ensuite. 2.1. In reality, the differences between budget airlines and full-service ones keep reducing every day. Those traveling Economy Light, the base fare, will now be randomly allocated a seat and have to pay to change this. I picked our seats and were given our boarding passes the next day at the airport. I used to get excited to fly them (most of the time economy or premium economy) but the light fares and the fact that strong liquor are not included anymore was already a turn-off. Please note that the name must be identical to the name on the flight booking. Otherwise Ryanair wins all the time, just carry headphones to avoid on board ads. This includes wireless charging, Bluetooth connectivity . You will be asked to enter your information and then directed to a customer service representative. They are operating in a very low level that is a significant liability to the Star Alliance. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-81447008', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');airline (which you can get from the airline you booked through) you should be able to go to the operating airlines website, enter it, and pick your seats assuming your fare class allows it. I picked seats on Lufthansa and every time I checked, they still showed up. Well Lufthansa if I don't want a seat you choose for me , then I simply won't fly with you. The Lufthansa Reservation Number is +1818^483^0820. Booking your plane ticket on a Sunday, and departing on Friday, could possibly save you money* based on historical data. I am tall and not thin so a center seat really isn't fun. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. total phone time all I cared was that I got my seats that I had already paid for. As Lufthansa described this option up until now: RT London , have cream tea get over jet lag,have some fun, see a friend and then fly to wherever . Telephone our Service Center and book the seat of your choice on +43 5 1766 1000, Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 20:00. However, I imagine the economics change if you have to spend a minimum of 50 for roundtrip seat assignments. Without the warning it took 1.5 hrs. Some of these are linked to specific airlines. Each time a few hours later after receiving a seat reservation confirmation and seeing it online the seats disappeared again. Your boarding pass in conjunction with a valid ID is valid as a ticket for the Lufthansa Express Bus. I will not fly Lufthansa any more. What does this mean? You can also book a hotel or a rental car directly, or even take out travel insurance. However, an upgrade is unfortunately not possible for technical or legal reasons in the following cases: Tickets that have not yet been issued; Tickets that are part of a group booking; Tickets whose booking includes a child under 2 The representative will be able to help you with any questions or concerns you have about your Reservation. 5 star? any time. Seat . It stands to reason FR deserves to be named a five-star airline as they are now pretty much equivalent to Lufthansa! Here you will find all information about the seat reservation fees in Economy Class. SAS cancelling Japan flights 5:54 pm. I doubt it. Re: Lufthansa seat reservations are not possible on this flight. And I do prefer flying with Ryan then with you.. keep up this attitude See how far gets you, This is ludicrous. I flew Eco light last week from LAX to FRA and Im TAP Gold and it wasnt a problem on either flight to just bring my luggage without any questions asked. You are capable of reading and understanding instructions and of complying with the orders of the crew in the event of an emergency. To reserve seats in emergency exit rows, the following conditions apply: In order to ensure safety, Lufthansa is, before departure, entitled to assign a different seat to passengers who cannot meet these requirements. Turns out that the SFO-> Frankfurt flight is on United, the remaining are on Lufthansa (codeshare). In such a case, you can change seats free of charge. See more about our ethics policies here. Not Lufthansa, but I also had this happen with Uniteds codeshare with Turkish. LH is absolutely lousy !! The outbound flight featured such outrageously bad service and manners that I thought I was in an SNL skit about Nazi flight attendants. The amendment fee is not refundable and is forfeited if you do not board the flight. Lufthansa was a problem. The A350s will have three suites with up to four seats each. This upgrade is not valid on flights operated by other airlines. I am a senior citizen and had to bear the brunt of it on my health. On the plane it was obvious that there were many open economy seats. She is very terse and rude and says she needs o deal with another flight. I'm going to call Lufthansa and make sure everything is ok, I guess, but I had not having assigned seats. Advise others to share thrir experirnce honestly so that it benefits others before deciding to book tickets by this carrier. I will wait until tomorrow or so. We are traveling from SFO to Valencia this Tuesday 2/21 . I produced a letter signed by my doctor stating that I had breathing difficulties (COPD) and that I was exempt from wearing a mask. For the time being I cant totally avoid LH or OS but I am starting to consider other options, even if it means a connection or inter-European flights. This morning I was assigned a seat toward the back of the plane but not the aisle I had requested. If the names are not available by this deadline, the booking will be cancelled (see Cancellation and Refunds). Starting June 21st, the German carrier will charge a 25/$35 fee for anyone looking to change their seats in Economy Light. They should realise things like the free seat assignment at check in aren't the reason people choose light over classic, but LH over EasyJet. Save. After your booking has been confirmed, you can reserve a seat up to 52 hours before departure. Jo Jo RabbitThanks! I tell him no, I dont think so, I've travelled for 50 years and this is not normal. You have no condition or position of responsibility that would restrict you from carrying out these tasks or would lead to bodily harm in their execution. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-81445337', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');airlines, via Brussels, inbound with LH via Frankfurt, only leg possible for seat reservations is Frankfurt > BHX, any reason why were unable to book seat selection for all legs? But United said I had to pick my seats. Review: EgyptAir Lounge Cairo Airport (CAI), Lufthansas Boeing 787 Business Class: Exactly As Expected. Online seat selection is free of charge from 23 hours before your flight departure. If you need an aisle seat or a checked bag, the savings isnt actual savings once you tack on the required fees. LH has become one of the worst airlines in Europe. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-81445496', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Airline and not on Lufthansa planes. I recently flew to Frankfurt and was happy to chose a seat at checkin. An exemption to the obligation of wearing a face mask can be made on health grounds upon presentation of a negative Covid-19 PCR test result (no more than 48 hours old) alongside the Lufthansa Group form signed by a doctor. I Called Lufthansa to find out. Thanks Francis, according to LH web chat, I can use my LH booking reference for both (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You'd lose some money, then, because Lufthansa Group's primary competitors are ULCCs, and even they tend to be somewhat reasonable with ancillary fees. I come back later and I am told to go hurry, the gate has been changed a 10 minute walk away. I had been a loyal Lufthansa customer (even paying more to fly with them) until they some "genius" decided it was time to follow the "American model". I did that, no hassle, paid the fee and got a confirmation number and could seat my seat numbers on both Lufthansa is the biggest joke of Europe. They will be able to help you resolve the issue. The only time Ive had a problem was an AF Delta meds and actually I was on Delta but checking in at Air France, first the Air France agent tells me you arent allowed to reserve exit row seats and when I showed her the print out of the reservation with the exit receipt, she grudgingly gave me back my seat. And to come back later. Please also note that any carry-on baggage must be stowed in overhead bins as no items may be put near or under the seats of an emergency exit row during take-off and landing. I flew Lufthansa r/t SEA to ATH, January 2022. Yet on Eurowings flights, there is a biz class and you get extra carry on, priority seat assignments & boarding as *A Gold. To request the refund, you must call the Service Centre. Furthermore, when you book an award ticket as a Flyingblue Gold/Platinum for someone else, they will receive all your elite benefits (lounge access, suitcase, skypriority) even if you don't fly with them. What more can you ask for? I always checked in . Service is terrible: ground service at secondary airports is outsourced to untrained staff, needing 1h for biz class check-in, once it's your LH has lost its way, the brand positioning is a mess and customer service at all-time lows: In such a case, you can change seats free of charge. seat 3A). You have a confirmed booking and are accepted at check-in (no waiting list). If they don't go well there very well could be another strike. I *think* United does this as well though it's been a while since I've flown on a UA BE fare. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Yes, Lufthansa Express Rail includes an advance seat reservation. Honestly they had the second worst economy product in Europe- slightly worst then SAS and mildly better then Iberia and BA. Yet on Eurowings flights, there is a biz class and you get extra carry on, priority seat assignments & boarding as *A Gold. True for all US to EU flights as well. I couldnt of course. Thanks. Its funny that they chose seating, something that doesnt cost them a cent to allow you to choose from. Our mileage bargains also offer you particularly attractive deals to selected destinations worldwide. C) Why are you agents playing some ridiculous game of ping pong with sending customers back and forth to different gates ? Hey there, I have to correct you on one thing: If youre Star Alliance Gold you do get one free checked luggage, it is just not indicated inside the app or during online check in. I had been a loyal Lufthansa customer (even paying more to fly with them) until they some "genius" decided it was time to follow the "American model". 2.2. In a bid to increase revenue, Lufthansa has introduced an 'amendment fee' for passengers looking to change their seat assignment. You are willing to provide assistance in the unlikely event of an emergency. Without change, the check-in procedure can be completed with the initial seat suggestion without additional costs. Booked via LH, BHX > Toronto, outbound with Brussels (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Seat reservations after booking You can still reserve a seat even after you have booked your flight. Payment flexibility Book now, pay later. But for now I have left that behind and am enjoying my trip. I just got a text from Lufthansa asking about our recent customer service experience. In the past when I have had the misfortune to fly Lufthansa in economy, I have been able to pay the seat fees in Euros by calling in. In total, there will be six different business class seat types to choose from, with some including a bed of up to 2.2 metres, a baby bassinet, or extra work and storage space. Lufthansa: This is the worst airline booking experience ever - See 39,264 traveler reviews, 7,915 candid photos, and great deals for Lufthansa, at Tripadvisor. Just told me I couldn . If they keep on the same track as they are, theyll be doing all sorts of nasty things before too long, such as banning Jews from flying, just you wait and see. As of June 1, 2022, Lufthansa will assign economy seats at the time of check-in when traveling on Economy Light fares. I will not do this again. She handed me my boarding pass with a smile and I looked down and didnt say anything but I wasnt business class. I've had previous issues similar to Jojo Rabbit's. I was one of those die-hard LH fans for many, many years - but I'm done until they stop viewing their passengers as enemies and return to being a customer-centric premium airline. So yeah, you can bet that youll most likely be assigned a middle seat, and if you dont want that, you can pay a 25 (or $35) fee for the privilege of being assigned a better seat. I can see the seating part of the interface, but the link to change seats is gone. So far there isn't a single documented case of people being assigned middle seats when windows and aisles were available. Hi stillaliveca I have flown a number of Lufthansa flights like your within Europe. Flights under Lufthansa flight numbers that are operated by Lufthansa or Lufthansa Regional (Lufthansa Cityline) Upgrades via lufthansa.com are only possible for all passengers travelling under one booking. While frequent flyer and status miles are useful too, Economy Light fares usually only attract a percentage of the usual earnings. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences! Tends to be rather punitive against all that didn't pay fantasy prices for a shit product that honestly has little differentiation left to LCCs. Please understand that Lufthansa seat reservations are only possible to a limited extent on flights that are not operated by Lufthansa, Lufthansa Regional or Austrian Airlines, especially in Economy Class. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Shame on you Luftansa ! I had to pay $70 to ensure a seat with my husband. Well, of course everyones favorite five-star European airline has a new policy: The Economy Light fare on European routes does not include any free advance seat reservations. All Lufthansa flights have been cancelled. Covid is not an excuse to disregard your customers. Free seat selection upon checkin for all passengers, free drinks and snacks on KLM/Air France and a free suitcase for Elites on all fares starting from Flyingblue Silver. Then as now, paying considerably more than other carriers for the direct flight and Lufthansa quality. If you have a credit card that pays for such fees then this would be a charge the benefit would include. I paid nearly 60 euros for a preferred economy aisle seat on my last long haul from FRA to YVR. A pop-up will appear saying that your seat selection is not complete. not inclined to argue with the German police as a foreigner! I've been flying with LH since 1982 and they have progressively become worse and worse. It was the first time I ever had a panic attack on a flight from claustrophobia. For example, seat prices on Ryanair cost as little as 3 ($3.2) and rise to 14 ($15) for extra legroom options. WTF MAN ? Absolutely ridiculous they are a 5 start airline. Turkish took good care of me - but I thought it was strange. So, in sfo I hoped to choose at the airport. Whether you are looking for a last minute flight or a cheap plane ticket for a later date, you can find the best deals faster at KAYAK. Adding the fact that I might have a middle seat is for me a reason to actively avoid them. You can see the exact position of the seats on the seat maps. I recently flew with Lufthansa from London to Frankfurt and then on to Singapore. How a great airline became terrible in over 2 years.. LH is really the worst and I say this as a Miles and More Senator who is forced to fly both them and Austrian bc of their dominance in Central Europe. If you buy a fare that won't allow you to select something in advance, then this of course means a much higher probability of a middle seat if the flight is quite busy. and then some people (Hallo Lue!) There are no operational reasons that would prevent a seat change. If you only want to purchase upgrades for some of the passengers in a booking, please contact a Lufthansa Service Center. No so fast! Seat changes may be made due to operational reasons of the airline. To make things even better, Y catering is suspended on short intra-Europe flights, they're claiming staffing shortages. As for any chargeable seat product, the issuance of an EMD requires the simultaneous issuance of an ETKT (with flight booking) or an existing ETKT (when the preferred . I flew with them last month for the first time. A refund for this reason is not possible. They are not. I flew Eco light last week from LAX to FRA and Im Hey there, Lufthansa has unveiled some impressive new seats across all its cabins which will transform the customer experience over the coming years. Please note that a confirmed advance seat reservation does not constitute a legal right to a specific seat on board the aircraft (e.g. Tipping for wheel chair assistance 6:02 pm. If you would like to change this seat, an amendment fee starting from EUR 25/CHF 35/USD 35 will be charged with effect from 21.6.2022. I do. This is stated on their website that they do accept this but you have to claim this at the check in counter at the time being. You can make an advance seat reservation, rebook or cancel a flight, request special meals and book a Rail&Fly ticket at Pranjal is enthusiastic about new aircraft types and has his stories regularly picked up by renowned publications including Forbes. Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines. I had to check in, pick seats, and make amendments on two of the airlines with no problem. A silly desperate attempt to grab a few more Euros from passengers. He gets angry at me and closes the door and says no more boarding. Once you have the PNR for the operating (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Nope. (Can't remember whether I used my Lufthansa account or not.) The connecting flight on Lufthansa was OK but my pre flight experience with them informs my future choices. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-81453198', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. It could be that when you check-in for your flight (online and at the airport), the seat mystery will clear up. After he spent 5 minutes telling the flight attendant his tale of self-importance, she took our boarding passes and went away. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying. Honestly one has to look closely and I am not sure they do. Update from a booking on Jan25 2022 - Long haul flight from SFO to BLR involving Air Canada and Lufthansa with 2 kids (2 and 9 years). Lufthansa points out that it includes one 8kg carry-on bag and snacks with its fare, two offerings that are chargeable in low-cost airlines. Likes: 0. Please note, however, that for safety reasons there may be restrictions on your choice. Lufthansa,,, you need to get a grip and listen to what your customers are saying to you. Please note that, in this case, the selection can in some circumstances be limited. With hubs in Frankfurt and Munich, Lufthansa flies to nearly 200 destinations across the globe. Thanks Lufthansa. Starting June 21st, the German carrier will charge a 25/$35 fee for anyone looking to change their seats in Economy Light. 7. You can also update your saved preferences, contact and frequent flyer details at any time. Passport control is often understaffed and the police are increasingly aggressive - asking to see a return flight, a hotel reservation and when leaving Germany they demand to see your entry stamp into the EU. You have booked anEconomy Light fare on a continental flight. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Passengers who have already purchased an advance seat reservation can change free of charge. #flyingwhilejewish. By the end of 2023, the German airline will start rolling out its new Allegris cabins, featuring smart seat designs in economy, premium economy . Sure, the cheapest ticket on LH is a bit better than the cheapest ticket on FR, but if you go for FR's Regular or Plus fare, the product is better than LH Economy Classic and it usually costs much less. Posted by MA Traveler (S.F Bay Area (Marin)) on 02/17/23 01:16 PM. the United website and the Lufthansa website. But with this, they will soon be topping the charts. I go to the gate agent and ask for help. 20% of the group can be cancelled free of charge up to . I find myself gravitating more and more towards LOT - they are usually cheaper, the service is much better and Warsaw is far superior as an airport to Frankfurt. Doesn't BA do the same thing including Business Class? When does the Skytrax rating get updated? But strangely only at FRA. Very disappointed in Lufthansa.I have to look into different airlines since I have to fly to Europe in July. For Friday, 17 February, the German union ver.di has called for a one-day strike at various airports in Germany. No. Ski Helmet on Frontier Airline 7:23 pm. Nothing less, nothing more. Lufthansa was a problem. Authenticate using your booking code or ticket number (E.g. Booked flight for my wife and myself from Charlotte to Munich via Lufthansa for a trip to Verona. Please understand that Lufthansa seat reservations are only possible to a limited extent on flights that are not operated by Lufthansa, Lufthansa Regional or Austrian Airlines, especially in Economy Class. The amendment fee is payable once per leg of the trip. Lufthansa Gets Punitive With Economy Light Seat Assignments. Revenue almost doubled to 33 billion euros Record results at Lufthansa Cargo and Lufthansa Technik Highest Adjusted free cash flow in company history Booking momentum remains strong at high average yields Passenger numbers more than doubled: Over 100 million passengers on board again New aircraft and new cabin interior for premium flight experience Further significant improvement of Adjusted . Won't respond to my refund requestwill have to do a chargeback now. Most German I know prefer to fly Easyjet. and when leaving Germany they demand to see your entry stamp into the EU.. Now that I live near Dresden, they are the main airline from here but in a week I will be driving to Berlin to take a different airline to New York.

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