Up to now, I’ve written about a few Lufthansa top quality downgrades that I handled over time. The primary was brought on by an plane swap (to a aircraft with out top quality), whereas the second was on account of a damaged seat.
Reader Owais requested for my tackle an tried Lufthansa top quality downgrade scenario he simply handled, and I can’t actually make sense of it…
Threatened with Lufthansa top quality downgrade in Chicago?!
Yesterday morning, reader Owais redeemed Air Canada Aeroplan factors for his mother and father to fly Lufthansa top quality from Chicago (ORD) to London (LHR) through Frankfurt (FRA). This was booked day of departure, since Lufthansa typically solely makes top quality award house out there to associate applications inside a few days of departure.
I’ve even reviewed the e-ticket, and every little thing regarded because it’s speculated to, with the lengthy haul flight being within the “O” fare class (the usual Star Alliance top quality award fare bucket).
Nonetheless, when Owais’ mother and father arrived on the airport and went to the primary class check-in line, they had been reportedly met by an unhelpful check-in agent, who pointed them to the financial system line. Owais mentions that his mom could be sarcastic, and it’s potential that she rubbed the Lufthansa consultant the unsuitable method. The preliminary interplay reportedly went as follows:
“Financial system class is that method”
“We’re in first”
“Top notch?” (sarcastically)
“Sure do you have got an issue with that?”
“No, however really top quality examine in is over there”
“Why don’t you take a look at the display screen on high of your desk it says top quality check-in”
“Ma’am, it’s over there”
When the mother and father had been checked in, they had been knowledgeable that they had been really booked in premium financial system, and never top quality, and in the event that they needed to fly top quality, they’d should pay the fare distinction.
Now, “O” is the award fare class for Lufthansa top quality, however it’s additionally the income fare class for Air Canada premium financial system. Nonetheless, every little thing in regards to the ticket was 100% appropriate, it was confirmed in top quality, charged primarily based on top quality, and the seat map proven on Air Canada’s web site was even for top quality.
So Owais referred to as up Aeroplan, and on the identical time, pulled up the reservation on Lufthansa’s web site. Lufthansa’s web site confirmed that the reserving was in top quality, however displayed seat assignments in premium financial system.
Whereas on maintain with Aeroplan, Owais texted his mother and father and instructed them to ask the Lufthansa consultant to name Aeroplan’s associate desk, and to tell him they’d file a UK261 declare. 5 minutes later, earlier than an Aeroplan agent even picked up the telephone, he heard from his mother and father that every little thing had been taken care of, and that that they had been reassigned seats in top quality.
When his mom requested the way it was resolved, the Lufthansa consultant reportedly mentioned “Air Canada agreed to pay the distinction between the reserving lessons.”
Owais asks me the next:
Does this entire scenario appear fishy to you? Clearly completely different airways have completely different fare codes but when the working airline is exhibiting the fare code for top quality wouldn’t that suffice? Was this a rip-off attempting to get cash out of older individuals who wouldn’t know higher that evaporated after they realized the victims knew their rights? Does Lufthansa permit non-revs in top quality, and had been they attempting to offer the seats to a buddy?
For what it’s value, there ended up solely being one different passenger in top quality on this flight (it was operated by an A340-600 with eight top quality seats).
What may clarify this bizarre downgrade scenario?
I’ve been doing this a very long time, and ordinarily I really feel like I a minimum of have a very good inclination of what may need occurred. Nonetheless, on this scenario, I’m stumped. I suppose the logical clarification is both that there was a rogue consultant, or some type of a system glitch.
The important thing element to me right here is that whereas the vacationers had been on the airport, the Lufthansa web site confirmed them as being confirmed in top quality, whereas exhibiting premium financial system seat assignments. A couple of ideas:
- If this was some type of a system glitch, that is the primary time in all of my years that I’ve heard of a Lufthansa top quality award ticket by chance reserving into premium financial system
- I’m shocked {that a} Lufthansa consultant even knew that “O” was the income premium financial system fare class for Air Canada
- I don’t suppose this was some scheme for the agent to pocket an improve charge and attempt to make the most of aged passengers; there’s simply an excessive amount of oversight of airline methods, and that’s simply method too dangerous
So one of the best concept I can provide you with — and it’s not even a very good one — is that the Lufthansa consultant simply had a little bit of an perspective, didn’t like that he acquired an perspective again, and he screwed with them a bit. Now, that also appears actually unusual, however it appears extra prone to me than the opposite theories. It’s telling how shortly this was all resolved, and in addition that no value for the improve was ever given.
The one factor I’m confused by is how a Lufthansa consultant can assign somebody a seat in premium financial system after they’re confirmed in top quality. Does the system even permit that? I wouldn’t suppose so, however…
I feel there’s one small lesson right here, regardless — at all times examine your reserving straight on the web site of the airline you’re flying with. In his electronic mail to me, Owais even proactively mentioned he ought to have finished that, however the ticket was booked day of departure, he was at work, and Air Canada’s web site even let him choose seats, so he didn’t get round to it.
Backside line
A pair booked in Lufthansa top quality utilizing Air Canada Aeroplan factors had been knowledgeable at check-in that they had been really booked in premium financial system. This makes completely no sense, particularly for the reason that ticket seemed to be issued appropriately.
Whereas they had been initially instructed that they’d should pay the fare distinction for top quality, that didn’t find yourself being the case. Luckily this story had a constructive ending, although I’m nonetheless puzzled how one thing like this might occur within the first place.
What do you make of this Lufthansa top quality downgrade story?
Supply hyperlink
