Teh One Who Knocks
02-12-2019, 12:02 PM
By Ross Ibbetson For Mailonline
https://i.imgur.com/DOPSgw8.jpg
The man booked a return ticket from Seattle to Oslo via Frankfurt, but instead took a separate flight to Berlin
during the changeover in Frankfurt.
German airline Lufthansa is trying to sue a passenger for using a trick to get a cheaper fight by missing the final leg of a two stop flight they booked.
The airline claims the passenger exploited the ticketing system which places a premium on non-stop flights to get a bargain by buying a multiple-stop ticket.
The man was supposed to fly from Seattle to Frankfurt and then to Oslo - but he failed to fly from Frankfurt to Oslo and flew to Berlin instead in April 2016.
Lufthansa has been granted permission to appeal after an original ruling found in the passenger's favour, it has been reported.
https://i.imgur.com/YgfuVy8.jpg
The passenger saved £1,873 when he made the original booking by buying a multiple stop ticket rather than a single stop.
He paid 6,224 Norwegian Krone (£556) for his return ticket to Seattle.
But Lufthansa claims that he should have paid €2,769 (£2,429), and have demanded €2,112 (£1,852) plus interest.
According to German court documents, the case was thrown out because the airline failed to fully explain how it had arrived at the compensation figure of €2,112 (£1,852).
The court documents said the pricing was 'lacking in transparency' in a summary of their verdict.
Lufthansa is taking a stand because it is hit harder than most other airlines by the practice.
That is because so many of their flights are routed through the hubs of Frankfurt and Munich.
Terms and conditions when buying tickets through Lufthansa do, however, make it clear the practice is not allowed.
There is an increasing market among passengers, with companies like Skiplagged helping customers to find deals, the Independent reported.
Skiplagged's website even boasts: 'Our flights are so cheap, United (Airlines) sued us... but we won.'
There is a risk to such travel, with seasoned 'tariff abusers' travelling with only cabin baggage, because hold luggage is often checked through to its final destination.
https://i.imgur.com/qn9jItT.jpg
Another risk is that if you miss the first leg of a flight you will be considered a no-show for the others.
For example, if you booked a New York - London - Bangkok flight but tried to join the journey out of London, you would have already nullified the ticket by not boarding in New York.
However, it is uncommon for passengers to be challenged and Lufthansa will be hoping to set a precedent, as well as deter other customers from trying the same technique.
According to Forbes, Lufthansa is the third largest airline company in the world and made nearly $3bn (£2.33bn) in profit in 2017.
They are the largest European operator, surpassed globally only by American Airlines and Delta Airlines.
A Lufthansa spokesperson told Simple Flying: 'As this is a running court case, we do not comment on this case at this stage.'
https://i.imgur.com/DOPSgw8.jpg
The man booked a return ticket from Seattle to Oslo via Frankfurt, but instead took a separate flight to Berlin
during the changeover in Frankfurt.
German airline Lufthansa is trying to sue a passenger for using a trick to get a cheaper fight by missing the final leg of a two stop flight they booked.
The airline claims the passenger exploited the ticketing system which places a premium on non-stop flights to get a bargain by buying a multiple-stop ticket.
The man was supposed to fly from Seattle to Frankfurt and then to Oslo - but he failed to fly from Frankfurt to Oslo and flew to Berlin instead in April 2016.
Lufthansa has been granted permission to appeal after an original ruling found in the passenger's favour, it has been reported.
https://i.imgur.com/YgfuVy8.jpg
The passenger saved £1,873 when he made the original booking by buying a multiple stop ticket rather than a single stop.
He paid 6,224 Norwegian Krone (£556) for his return ticket to Seattle.
But Lufthansa claims that he should have paid €2,769 (£2,429), and have demanded €2,112 (£1,852) plus interest.
According to German court documents, the case was thrown out because the airline failed to fully explain how it had arrived at the compensation figure of €2,112 (£1,852).
The court documents said the pricing was 'lacking in transparency' in a summary of their verdict.
Lufthansa is taking a stand because it is hit harder than most other airlines by the practice.
That is because so many of their flights are routed through the hubs of Frankfurt and Munich.
Terms and conditions when buying tickets through Lufthansa do, however, make it clear the practice is not allowed.
There is an increasing market among passengers, with companies like Skiplagged helping customers to find deals, the Independent reported.
Skiplagged's website even boasts: 'Our flights are so cheap, United (Airlines) sued us... but we won.'
There is a risk to such travel, with seasoned 'tariff abusers' travelling with only cabin baggage, because hold luggage is often checked through to its final destination.
https://i.imgur.com/qn9jItT.jpg
Another risk is that if you miss the first leg of a flight you will be considered a no-show for the others.
For example, if you booked a New York - London - Bangkok flight but tried to join the journey out of London, you would have already nullified the ticket by not boarding in New York.
However, it is uncommon for passengers to be challenged and Lufthansa will be hoping to set a precedent, as well as deter other customers from trying the same technique.
According to Forbes, Lufthansa is the third largest airline company in the world and made nearly $3bn (£2.33bn) in profit in 2017.
They are the largest European operator, surpassed globally only by American Airlines and Delta Airlines.
A Lufthansa spokesperson told Simple Flying: 'As this is a running court case, we do not comment on this case at this stage.'