As of: February 6, 2024, 10:13 a.m
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Verdi called on Lufthansa ground staff to go on an all-day warning strike at several airports on Wednesday.
Many flight cancellations are to be expected.
Berlin – It feels like one strike is following the next.
First, the pilots and cabin crew of Lufthansa subsidiary Discover Airlines stopped work.
On Wednesday (February 7th), the Verdi union called on the parent company's ground staff to go on an all-day strike.
The Lufthansa locations in Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin and Düsseldorf are affected.
According to Verdi, at some of the airports the strike could also have an impact on other Star Alliance partner airlines, for example if Lufthansa counter staff there also normally look after these guests.
Lufthansa customers will receive information about cancellations and rebooking options by email or in the Lufthansa app, according to the company on the Internet.
If you have booked a flight for Wednesday and Thursday, Lufthansa asks you to regularly visit its website for current flight information.
Travel lawyer Paul Degott explains what rights those affected generally have:
This is how you still get to your destination
The airline must proactively offer alternative travel options in the event of flight cancellations and delays of more than three hours.
This can also happen automatically and be communicated via email, for example.
It is always advisable to contact the airline or find out more on their website.
If a flight is delayed by more than five hours, travelers can return the ticket and request their money back - they do not have to accept vouchers.
Processing fees may not be retained by the airline either.
The catch: You then have to figure out how to get to your destination yourself.
Often you end up paying extra and have the additional organizational effort.
The Verdi union has called on Lufthansa ground staff to go on an all-day warning strike on Wednesday.
© Sven Simon/Imago
Paul Degott advises travelers to try the airline.
It would be cheaper to leave the airline responsible for finding replacement transport in a timely manner.
With the help of the airline, it might be possible to take the train to another airport and fly from there.
For domestic German flights, airlines often offer their customers train tickets to get to their destination.
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If you stay at the airport and wait for a replacement flight, the airline has to provide you with meals and drinks depending on the waiting time.
If necessary, the airline must also arrange accommodation in a hotel and the necessary transfers.
Are there claims to compensation as compensation?
“What matters is who is on strike,” says Degott.
Lufthansa ground staff are called on strike on Wednesday.
For affected passengers, this means that compensation claims could be considered in the event of delays and flight cancellations.
The EU Air Passenger Rights Regulation determines how high possible compensation is.
For delays of more than three hours at the destination or short-term cancellations, the cost is between 250 and 600 euros, depending on the flight route.
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What if the package holiday starts late?
“With a package tour, the organizer is responsible,” says Degott.
For example, if you don't go on vacation until a day later due to the warning strike, you can reduce the travel price proportionately.
This means you pay less for one day.
What if pilots go on strike?
Even if pilots go on strike, passengers have to prepare for cancellations and delays.
The current example until Monday evening (February 5th) was the strike at the Lufthansa subsidiary Discover Airlines.
The same applies here: Strikes or warning strikes by our own staff are a circumstance that is within the airline's control.
According to current case law, internal strikes do not count as an “extraordinary circumstance” that could free you from the payment obligation.
The weather doesn't cooperate
According to Paul Degott, bad weather is not automatically an extraordinary circumstance.
“Even though many airlines like to argue this,” explains the expert.
There are many questions that come into play: What weather situation occurred and when.
When the airline became aware of this, when and how it adjusted to it or not.
Did flight operations continue at the affected airport or not?
Were other airlines affected by the weather situation in the same way?
According to Degott, it can basically be said that “bad weather” is not considered an extraordinary circumstance for the majority of events and refers to relevant court decisions.
App for trouble with air passenger rights
In connection with the strike, the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Center also refers to its information pages on the Internet on the subject and to its free Fluganger app.
This helps when checking possible claims.
(dpa)