Here’s an unusual case with an equally unusual resolution. It involves two Lufthansa passengers, and FDA-approved portable oxygen concentrator and EU airline passenger law.
Lufthansa
After Ursula Maul’s husband passes away suddenly, she tries to get a refund for his nonrefundable ticket. But neither her online agency, nor her airline, will help her. Does she have any other options?
Christianna Kreiss thought she would be flying to India with her family a few weeks ago. Instead, she spent hours in Pittsburgh, trying to sort out a messy airline reservation that involved Air Canada, Lufthansa and Orbitz.
Melinda McGowan had to cancel her European vacation late last year because of a medical emergency. When she tried to rebook her tickets through Lufthansa, an airline representative quoted her a fare differential of $388, which seemed like a lot at the time.
Even though EU 261, Europe’s strict consumer law for air travelers, has an exception for what are called “extraordinary” circumstances, Europe’s big carriers made a big deal about not invoking that clause when the cloud of volcanic ash spread across their airspace earlier this month.
Joshua Smith’s fiancee spends an extra day in Athens after her airline forces her to recheck her luggage. Whose fault is this snafu? Her online agent’s? The airline’s? Or hers? And what, if anything, can be done about it?
Megan Gallardo cancels her flight because of a death in the family, and her online agent suggests she may get a refund. But more than a year and countless letters and faxes later, there’s no sign of her $303. What gives?
Here’s an important footnote to the airline industry’s year from hell. A closer look at the Transportation Department’s 2007 report card shows some carriers were likelier to lose your luggage, deny you boarding, get you to your destination late and provoke a written complaint. And some airlines were above it all.
Elliott is consumer advocate 
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