Do I get a refund if my Lufthansa flight is Cancelled?
Yes, Lufthansa tries its best to provide its passengers with the best facilities available. However, certain situations are beyond the airline's control, and they may have to cancel the flight. If this happens to you, remember you can always apply for a refund. The airline may not even charge you the cancelation fee under these circumstances. But before applying for a refund on your canceled flight, you must go through the airline's policies.
Lufthansa's Refund Policy for Canceled Flights
Lufthansa has a clear policy regarding refunds for canceled flights, which aligns with European Union regulations. Here are the refund policies of the airline:
1. Full Refund Eligibility:
- If Lufthansa cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund of the ticket price. According to the Lufthansa cancellation policy, this applies regardless of the reason for the cancellation, whether it's due to operational issues, weather conditions, or other factors.
- The refund includes all parts of the ticket, including taxes and fees. If you've purchased additional services, such as baggage fees or seat selection, those fees should also be refunded.
2. Rebooking Options:
- In addition to a refund, Lufthansa typically offers the option to rebook on an alternative flight at no extra charge. This can be particularly useful if you still wish to complete your journey and there is another suitable flight available. You can choose to rebook for the next available flight or select a later date that suits you better.
- If the rebooking option does not work for you or there are no suitable flights available, you can still opt for a refund.
3. Compensation:
- If your flight is canceled and you were notified less than 14 days before the scheduled departure, you might be entitled to additional compensation. The compensation amount varies depending on the flight distance and the delay caused by the cancellation.
- This compensation is separate from the refund of your ticket and is intended to cover the inconvenience caused by the cancellation.
4. Conditions for Refund:
- The refund is applicable if the flight cancellation is within Lufthansa's control. However, in situations considered extraordinary circumstances (like extreme weather or air traffic control strikes), additional compensation may not be applicable, though you would still receive a refund for the canceled flight
Procedure for Obtaining a Refund
To ensure you receive your refund promptly, you should follow the steps outlined below:
1. Requesting a Refund Online:
- If your Lufthansa flight has been canceled, the easiest and quickest way to request a refund is through the Lufthansa website. Go to the 'My Bookings' section, log in with your booking reference and last name, and select the flight you want to cancel.
- After selecting the canceled flight, you will be given the option to request a refund. Go by the instructions mention and complete the refund request.
- Get a confirmation email, once you complete the request process. Lufthansa generally processes refunds within 7 to 10 business days, though it might take longer for the amount to reflect in your account, depending on your payment method.
2. Requesting a Refund via Customer Service:
- If you prefer or encounter issues online, you can contact Lufthansa's customer service directly to request a refund. This can be done by calling their customer service number, available on the Lufthansa website.
- When contacting customer service, be ready to provide your booking reference, flight details, and the reason for the refund request. The customer service representative will guide you through the process and confirm the details of your refund.
- You will receive an email confirmation of your refund request, and the processing time remains similar to that of an online request.
3. Monitoring the Refund Process:
- After requesting a refund, it's important to monitor the process. Keep track of the confirmation emails and any communication from Lufthansa.
4. When booking through a third party:
- If the passenger has booked their ticket through a third party and not directly from the airline's official website. Under these circumstances, they will have to reach out to the airline's agent to request the flight cancelation. They will further have to contact their agent only for any query regarding the refund or compensation for flight cancelation.
Conclusion
Understand the policies and your options when the airline cancels the flight. Lufthansa even offered compensation to its passengers for the inconvenience they had to go through due to flight cancelation, but not to all the passengers. It heavily depends on the situation in which your flight has been canceled. Read the information above and learn the policies regarding flight cancellation.
