Lufthansa cabin attendant strike

You can always take the train from Frankfurt to Prague. There are several per day that has 2 train changes....then bus on to Prague....8 hours plus.

Is there any telling on how long this strike will last? We have tickets on Lufthansa in October so I'm not worried but the last time we traveled, we had to change airlines due to the volcano in Iceland...always something... Good luck to those of you who are traveling sooner on Lufthansa!

Strike began today. Lufthansa information page is at: http://www.lufthansa.com/online/portal/lh/de/nonav/local?nodeid=1874371&l=en Cancellations are being announced a day in advance in the afternoon, which may give you some time to make alternative arrangements if affected. However, it seems more flight attendants are either on strike or not wanted to cross picket lines than LH expected yesterday so cancellations are being added through the day as well. As usual in this kind of action short-haul flights take the brunt but some transatlantic flights have been cancelled too. There is for example one Frankfurt-Prague pair of flights cancelled today, along with flights from Boston, New York and Atlanta.

The airport was a disaster today. The strike went from 05:00-13:00 and they didn't announce which airport it was going to be in or the times, until 6 hours before the strike began. The departure area around the Lufthansa counters, was wall to wall people. You could barely walk through the airport. Downstairs by the train ticket machines, again, wall to wall people. Folks were waiting a half hour just to buy a simple train ticket into the city. Quite sad for those who have had their vacation plans messed up. Lufthansa hasn't given a raise to these hard-working people for 3 years, though, so they deserve one I think-

Many people work in jobs that do not give raises after a certain point.. it amazes me that in some professions they feel entitled to more and more money when other people are losing their jobs.. or hours get cut to make up for higher wages..
No raise in 3 years. So what.

Thanks everyone. We have done our homework to investigate other flights particularly from Frankfurt to Prague. Now just have to wait and see what happens...trying not to stress out about it.

"...No raise in 3 years. So what..." Thank you Margret Thatcher. So it's just the executives at Lufthansa that deserve a raise/bonus every year?

Ditto!

Yes Michael, they are the job creators, the execs deserve a tax cut also.

James, I hope you are referring to the female flight attendants. Actually, I think Lufthansa has good service, very professional, but not terribly personable. Just imagine how many people they see in one week and the abuse
they incur. Many times a strike is not only about money but also workrules.

Hi Jeani, I sure hope everything goes well for you! It sounds like you're prepared for whatever happens, so try not to stress and just think about all the fun you're going to have on your trip!!!! Good luck!!

There is a website that ranks customer satisfaction with airlines.. Lufthansa does not rank well.. and all airline stewards put up with same crap from passengers,, that goes with the job.

Pat, I finally have to ask- what's up with the double commas?

This thread has gone totally off the rails. What's going on with the strike? To quote a Mark Twain character, "You show me where a man gets his co'n pone,
and I'll tell you what his 'pinions is."

hm, and Lufthansa posted an 830 million euro profit in 2011. I guess they just don't want to spread the wealth down to the cabin crew. The people who might save your life in an emergency. It is more than just being a server in the sky you know. The health problems they suffer from years of flying should also be noted. Do a bit of research about flight attendants to gain a tiny bit of sympathy for what they all put up with and of their work that they do.

Current strike info:
The cabin crew strike at Frankfurt airport (FRA) called by the Independent Flight Attendants Organization (UFO) on Friday, 31 August 2012, has ended. Currently, Lufthansa does not have any knowledge of further strike action. However, the union may call to labor measures again at short notice. I got this from Lufthansa's website. Just to clarify, Lufthansa did offer a 3 1/2 % raise...Union wants 5%.

Flight attendants have one of the toughest jobs imaginable. Crazy schedules, angry passengers (most people are not happy when flying and some take it out on staff), tight spaces, and really low pay for what they do. I know it's tough because airlines are the most profitable businesses around, but if Luftansa has had increasing profits without giving raises to their hardest workers, well, I don't blame them for striking.

"...No raise in 3 years. So what..." Great attitude your Majesty. Let them all eat cake! With that kind of attitude everyone will become serfs.
I have always had a great experience with Lufthansa. Just came back right before the strike and all cabin staff were cheerful and very attentive. People in this line of work have a very tough job and deserve to get fair and equitable pay raises. If Lufthansa is making a profit they should share the wealth with the people who most personally represent their corporation on the front lines.

Sarah, I totally agree with you that flight attendants have extremely difficult jobs. However, I don't know where you get the idea that airlines are one of the most profitable businesses. They are anything but, at least in the US. I can't speak to Lufthansa; I'm not familiar with their financials. I will note that companies have to make a certain profit to stay in business - shareholders demand it. Everyone who sells a stock or a mutual fund because the returns aren't good enough - and everyone who buys the absolutely cheapest flight ticket they can find - makes it very difficult for the airlines to pay their employees more money. Could they pay their executives less? Maybe, but would they still be able to attract people to take those positions? It's a difficult industry. And it won't save enough money to make a big difference in the pay of low level employees because there are too many of them. No easy answers is all I'm trying to say. But I do sympathize with the flight attendants.

I'm not sure, but I think Sarah may be missing a "not" in her sentence as the phrase, "I know it's tough because airlines are the most profitable businesses around," is followed by a dependent clause, "but if Luftansa has had increasing profits without giving raises to their hardest workers, well, I don't blame them for striking," which makes more sense with the "not." At any rate, that's the sentence I would make based on Jo's comments re Lufthansa profitability. Sure, raises have been very low for most people these days, but good companies that are making money are valuing their staff and understanding that costs still continue to climb even in a "deep recession." My rent went up 10% this year. My raise was 3%. That's not a good indicator of a happy financial future, but at least I got a small raise. Let's remember that usually there are two kinds of raises--cost of living and merit. If you do your job satisfactorily, you get the former. If you out perform your colleagues you'll probably get the latter too. I'm really sorry for the people affected by this strike. I've been there as I suffered through a Air Canada strike on one of my UK trips in the 90's. Not fun. Pam

If I understand the press correctly the primary bone of contention is the increased use of temporary staff to replace regular employed cabin crew.

Will the double stuff is a nervous twitch, I backspace and correct letters but don't bother with periods and commas because they don't reallly affect the message.

And as for the "let them eat cake" .. my point is MANY people are working at jobs for many years and do not get raises. Its not a right. Its nice if you do get raises, but no employer owes them to you, you have to choice of leaving and getting a higher paid job, point is that is usually not a good option and in some sectors the wages are about the same regardless of company or employer.
It would be nice if every employer could give you a raise every year.. but many cannot. I have no idea what the situation with Lufthansa in specific is , but I just think this attitude of "you owe me" is baloney.

Ah, yes, that favorite tactic of many US companies, hire temporaries, don't pay them benefits, but then squawk when we try for alternative healthcare plans. Did you know that nearly 50% of the faculty teaching at US colleges and universities are adjunct or part time faculty. My industry, publishing is not immune to this either, with publishers using freelance development editors, designers, proof-readers etc. I remember when the term "contract employee" was a rare thing. I have to admit, that I'm a bit uneasy about the notion of temporary staff being someone I depend on in an airplane emergency.

"There is a website that ranks customer satisfaction with airlines.. Lufthansa does not rank well" Customer satisfaction with the airline, and customer satisfaction with the flight attendants are two different things. Skytrax uses an objective audit rather than subjective passenger reviews to determine airline star rating. It lists the level of "Cabin Staff Service". I compared "Interaction with PAX" on "Economy Long Haul" for thirteen transatlantic airlines. Lufthansa's rating was 2½-stars out of four. Four American flag airlines (UAL, USAir, Delta, and American) had a 2-star rating. Of eight European Flag airlines, SAS, Iberia, and Alitalia also had 2-star rating. Air France and Swiss Int'l shared 2½-star ratings with Lufthansa. Only Air Lingus (3-stars) and British Air (3½-stars), among the 13 I checked, had a higher rating. Air Canada had a 2-star rating. Overall, all four American flag airlines as well as Alitalia, Iberia, SAS, Air Canada, and Air Lingus are 3-star rated airlines. British Air, Air France, Swiss Int'l and Lufthansa are 4-star rated airlines. For customer reviews, only Swiss Int'l (7.2) and Aer Lingus (7.0) had higher ratings than Lufthansas (6.0).

Wow,, the airline I use is three star,, and rates highly in most areas. Airtransat,, flew with them a few times now and their prices beat Air Canada or any of those other major airlines.

Why did everyone survive in Montreal when the Air France flight slid off the runway? Trained, seasoned PERMANENT cabin crew. Nuf said.

And I have to ask, and don't care if it's off topic:
"...you have to choice of leaving and getting a higher paid job" Really?? Where???

Ah, yes, that favorite tactic of many US companies, And the United States gets drawn into a topic it is not a part of.

Thanks for clarifying, Pam. I feel sure you're right - I shouldn't have read Sarah's response so quickly. I'm not crazy about hiring part time workers without benefits and temporary workers either.

Strikes at different times of the day today in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich.

Whoops, yes I meant to say "airlines are NOT the most profitable businesses". Typing too fast!

I'll side-step the labor battle being fought here, but here's a report from the field- no problems flying from Helsinki to Frankfurt on Lufthansa yesterday. As I understand it, Lufthansa's cabin crews belong to several different unions, and only one is currently on strike. So, the strike only affects certain routes. Luckily, my flight went off without a hitch.

Looks like it's getting worse, not better. Friday it will be all airports.
While I understand wanting better working conditions, it's frustrating when your vacation is getting closer and closer and you can't DO anything about it. Other than try to book other tickets ( wishing I had a money tree in the back yard!) What are the rules/laws regarding flight crews? While I appreciate their service, and in an emergency, I'm sure they are essential - can the airlines fly with reduced crews? "Airline passengers face the prospect of widespread disruptions at German airports later this week, after the union representing Deutsche Lufthansa AG'sflight attendants called on cabin crews to strike nationwide Friday as part of a dispute over wages and working conditions. The announcement came after Lufthansa canceled about 370 flights Tuesday amid a second day of rolling walkouts. Germany's UFO labor union staged eight-hour strikes by flight attendants at airports in Frankfurt and Berlin on Tuesday, and an 11-hour stoppage in Munich. UFO Chairman Nicoley Baublies said the next strike is scheduled to start at midnight Thursday and last 24 hours, and would be the first time the union has called a nationwide strike for Lufthansa cabin employees. Lufthansa, the nation's biggest airline, serves eight airports in Germany, according to the carrier's website. "

I don't know any specifics but I do know Lufthansa's union is divided into domestic (Germany) and International. Cabin crew manning is determined by a government agency similar to ours (FAA)and the minimum crew is usually at
least 3 but it depends on the size of the aircraft. Larger jets (international)require 8-12.

Lufthansa flight attendant union will strike on Friday, September 7. Check with the Lufthansa website to see if your flight is cancelled.
Go to www.lufthansa.com then to cancelled to check your flight.

We fly on Lufthansa Sept 11 from Washington DC (Dulles) to Frankfort. I was just on the phone with United, as I used FF miles for this vacation trip. I was told to wait until Monday and call back. Seems they are striking 24 hours and then moving on. Just enough to totally mess everything up for a few days. Best I could do was rebook from Dulles to Frankfort on United, then decide what to do when I arrived in Germany at 7AM. Either my Lufthansa flight to Italy would be OK, or I'd be stuck. Then I'd just take a train within Europe. I've decided to wait it out and see if they strike on Monday into Tuesday. If they do, I might be screwed. We have a bike vacation planned, starting on Sept 14. so hoping for the best, my fingers and toes are crossed. I do not expect them to settle the strike by then, but I hope they aren't on strike that day. Of course,then I have to figure out what to do about my return trip on Sept 25.

Its been announced that a settlement has been reached.

Nigel...THANKS FOR THE GREAT NEWS! We fly LH on Tuesday...so worried our long planned vacation was going to turn into a stressful event.