In an effort to save some $$, I'm afraid I may have really gotten myself into a fix. Earlier this year, I booked my husband and I two one-one way business class tickets with Lufthansa from Austin to Dublin, and booked separate economy tickets back to the states with Delta. We booked Lufthansa with a combo of Chase points and cash. Unfortunately. we had to cancel our trip about a month ahead but were able to receive travel credits for both legs of the trip. I am now trying to rebook a flight with the outgoing ticket credit from Lufthansa and have been told that the new tickets must be one-way business class tickets in both of our names. Not a problem, except that the price of a one way ticket from the US to Europe on Lufthansa has doubled. I've search almost every Lufthansa destination in Europe and am not finding any one way tickets less than $5000. I've pleaded with Chase and Lufthansa to let us use the credit towards two round trip business class tickets, which are a fraction of the one-way cost, but to no avail. Does anyone know if the price of Lufthansa one-way tickets from the US to Europe ever drops this time of year (fall)? Also, has anyone ever successfully used a Lufthansa one-way flight credit to rebook a round trip ticket, and if so, how??? I'm heartsick over loosing the credit, but paying an additional $5000 for a one way ticket just isn't in the cards.
Posted by
San Diego, California
5614 posts
I'd set up Google Flights price alerts and track the price fluctuations. Did you indicate how far out you are from your intended trip? Is this a last minute escapee or do you have months?
I found some really decent business class fares for next spring, (and booked them), and as my alerts are still active, have noticed crazy price fluctuations.
Good luck and I'm so sorry!
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
Thst's rotten. I haven't heard about such a restrictive rule for using flight credits. Have you looked to see whether this has been discussed on the Flyer Talk forum or TripAdvisor?
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden
997 posts
That's really too bad. OK, this might not make sense, but have you tried calling back Lufthansa again, in the US? I have found their US - time zone (maybe not physically in the US) operators to be really helpful. I've had a problem with UA not wanting to put me on a later flight, two agents said NO, the third one said OF COURSE he would help! And Lufthansa gave me a seat assignment when the details on the reservation said not possible.
I would call with a planned alternative, don't tell them the history, just ask to change it, good luck!
Posted by
SF Bay Area, CA, USA
226 posts
This is rotten. You can go to Google and search Elliott.orgr dnd Lufthansa Corporate Contacts and send an email to the addresses listed. Its lucrative that you cannot use $5000 for a round trip which is a good price. I thought travel credits can be used anyway and you just pay the fare difference. Having Trip Insurance may have helped you if you cancelled due to a medical reason or Cancel for any reason.
Truth be told I would much rather have the $5000 back on my credit card so I can rebook on any airline roundtrip in Business Class. I never opt for a travel voucher if it's money I paid and book a ticket that can be refunded. Even if I have to pay $100 to get the rest back on my card it's better than a paper voucher..
The only airline vouchers I use are the ones airlines give for volunteering.
It's a scam to be told sorry you can only use it one way. $5000 should be good towards a roundtrip as Lufthansa has your money and they should not dictate how you spend it. Having a Premium Credit Card like AMEX Platinum at $550 per year plus $125 authorized user may save you in the end as maybe they could get Lufthansa to reimburse you even $3000 to your credit card and $2000 in. Voucher for Premium Economy for another trip and extend the validity date.
Wow Lufthansa knows how to lose loya customers.