Strike of the Pilots union "Vereinigung Cockpit" (VC) for Lufthansa flights

The pilots union Cockpit (VC) had previously called for a strike for Lufthansa flights departing from Germany:

• On Wednesday, 23 November from 00:01 to 23:59 hours (CET) on all short-haul and long-haul flights
• On Thursday, 24 November from 00:01 to 23:59 hours (CET) on all short-haul and long-haul flights
• On Friday, 25 November from 00:01 to 23:59 hours (CET) on all short-haul flights
• On Saturday, 26 November from 00:01 to 23:59 hours (CET) on all long-haul flights
• On Tuesday, 29 November from 00:01 to 23:59 hours (CET) on all short-haul flights
• On Wednesday, 30 November from 00:01 to 23:59 hours (CET) on all short-haul and long-haul flights

The strike announcement concerns flights operated by Lufthansa. Flights operated by Lufthansa CityLine may also be impacted by the strike action. Flights operated by Germanwings, Eurowings, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, SWISS and Brussels Airlines are not affected by the strike measures and will continue to operate normally.

Lufthansa will be able to operate almost all its scheduled flights tomorrow, Thursday 1 December. Only a handful of services – 40 – need to be cancelled in the wake of the strike action of the preceding days.

All passengers are requested to check the status of their flight at LH.com before setting out on their journey. Lufthansa passengers who have saved their mobile phone number in their customer profile will be notified about relevant cancellations by text message.

► Flight status request for individual flights

Part 1 – Lufthansa rules for rebooking/reissue/refund for cancelled flights

Customers affected by a flight cancellation can rebook once free of charge or have their ticket refunded. You are welcome to make rebookings/reissues/refunds for cancelled Lufthansa flights yourself in accordance with the Lufthansa Standard INVOL rules.

Passengers travelling within Germany whose Lufthansa flights have been cancelled because of the strike can use Deutsche Bahn trains and issue their own rail voucher either under ‘My Bookings’ on LH.com or at a Lufthansa airport check-in machine.

The previously communicated Rebooking, Reissue & Refund Procedures for cancelled LH flights on SWISS document (724 document) are no longer applicable. (Update: 01.12.2016) 

Please note: The Lufthansa Standard INVOL rules only apply to flights which have already been cancelled. For all other flights, the goodwill rules apply (see Part 2).

Part 2 – Goodwill policy for rebooking/reissue of flights which are not cancelled – no refund permitted

Any passenger with a booked Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings or Germanwings flight on LH/LX/OS/SN document from/to/via Frankfurt, Munich or Dusseldorf between 23 and 30 November 2016, whose flight is not cancelled and whose ticket was issued up to and including 28 November 2016, may rebook once free of charge.

This goodwill policy applies to:

• Flights from/to/via Frankfurt, Munich or Dusseldorf operated by LH, LX, WK, OS, SN, EW, 4U
  
  
• Flights from/to/via Frankfurt, Munich or Dusseldorf operated by other airlines with a booked LH, LX, WK, OS, SN, EW, 4U flight number (Codeshare)

The following rules apply to these rebookings:

• Rebooking on an alternative Lufthansa Group flight/connection (flight number and operated by: LH, LX, WK, OS, SN, EW, 4U) – in the original booking class or alternatively within the same class of carriage. Please note: Lufthansa booking classes G/E/N must not be used for rebooking of Economy Class passengers since G/E/N are used for Lufthansa Premium Economy and consequently considered a different compartment.
  
  
• New travel date no later than 31 March 2017
  
  
• The change of origin/destination is not permitted. Exception: rebooking/reissue to an alternative nearby departure/destination airport within Germany, e.g. DUS instead of CGN, HAM instead of HAJ.
  
  
• In the case of reissues the endorsement entry should read: 1516
  
  
• For refunds of tickets that are not affected by flight cancellations, the fare conditions apply.

For rebookings/reissues based on the above mentioned goodwill policy, no approval/waiver is required.

You will find general information on handling flight irregularities on OS documents here.

You will find general information on handling flight irregularities on LX documents here.

You will find general information on handling flight irregularities on SN documents here.

Lufthansa regrets the inconvenience caused by this strike action and would like to apologise to you and the passengers affected. Please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to keep the effects of the strike to a minimum.

For questions please contact your respective Lufthansa Group Service Team.