‘I was flabbergasted’: Airline expects passenger who is stranded due to heavy snowfall to pay for the change in flight, passenger refuses

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    "The airline expected me to pay for being stranded!"
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    Flights disruptions compliance M OC There has been a heavy snowfall in Southern Germany this weekend and all flights have been canceled for days. It has been
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    impossible to contact the customer service for some time, many people have been stranded in Munich. I am one of those people. I was supposed to go to Hamburg to visit someone for the weekend. Since there is no way in or out of Munich (trains are also stopped), I
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    was just trying to enjoy the weekend here while waiting for my flight back on Monday evening. However, my flight back was from Hamburg to Munich, then connecting to my city. This of course would mean they would expect me to board in Hamburg,
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    otherwise my ticket wouldn't be valid in Munich. I thus decide to try calling the customer service to ask to board in Munich only. At the 24th call of the day (having had only 1 answer previously telling me they cannot do anything on the phone and I have
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    to go to the airport, which was impossible to reach except with a 200€ Uber ride!), I manage to get someone on the line and I explain my issue. Me: "...so you see, I am happy to just cancel the Hamburg to
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    Munich leg and keep the ticket from Munich to my city only!" Agent: "Ok, let's check this, can I put you briefly on hold?" I agree, I am put on hold for another 5 minutes, then the agent comes back on the line.
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    Agent: "Ok, great, since this is a change on your flight, you would need you pay for this." Me, not sure if I heard correctly: "Sorry, did you just say I would need to pay for it?!"
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    Agent: "Yes, we cannot make a change on flight departure airport without a fee." Me, flabbergasted: "Oh, ok then, since that's the case, I will keep my original flight instead! However, I haven't reached my destination yet... So instead you
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    can get me on a rebooked flight to Hamburg today so I can take the flight back from Hamburg tomorrow!" Agent is silent on the line for a few seconds. Me: "There are no flights to Hamburg, right?"
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    Agent: "...right." Me: "Ah! Exactly. So you see the issue." Another brief silence from the agent. Then I'm asked to be put on hold again. When they come back, a note has been added to
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    my request that the ticket was issued without payment, and I am supposed to leave directly from Munich tomorrow :) (Please send your good vibes for the flight to actually be scheduled tomorrow!)
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    RealUltimate Papo · 9 hr. ago Great result. Sometimes, logic and reason flies in the face of corporate policy Thankfully the worker(s) realised this as well. Makes life a lot easier for all of us
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    ilalla OP. 9 hr. ago Yes indeed! I felt bad for the agent because for sure they had a lot of enraged people calling in these past few days. However, I thought I was making it easy for them, no need to find an additional flight! I was glad to see we could come to an agreement in the end.
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    havereddit 4 hr. ago Very smart. Just keep a level head and explain what you think is a 'logical' solution, and it will often go in your favor. ✩ Vote Reply Share
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    throwawayforUX 7 hr. ago They'd both have to get you to Hamburg, and then they wouldn't have your seat to give to one of the other people needing to be rescheduled TO Munich.
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    I'm really surprised they made it work. I would have expected to be offered a standby seat to MUC that only might get you there in time for your flight back. Or to be put on hold for 23 hours... Vote Reply Share
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    Shadow Dragon8685 13 hr. ago Good luck on actually getting that flight home! 4 Vote Reply Share
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    ilalla OP. 7 hr. ago Thank you! Flight for today is canceled, now let's hope for tomorrow... Vote Reply Share
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    ShadowDragon8685 7 hr. ago Oh........ You might have to make your way home by rail or even car. Is the airline that attended stranded you at least responsible for keeping you in a hotel room?
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    ilalla OP · 6 hr. ago If I could make it by rail, I would! But trains are canceled too. I can't drive that distance unfortunately, but might try a bus. I'd rather avoid spending additional money if I'm not
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    sure the service will work, though... They said they would refund us our hotels. They couldn't find one for us all on the first night, so they asked us to find one ourselves. I had
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    one booked for the first night, then got the spare keys for a friend's apartment while they were out of town! So luckily I am good on that front :) Reply Share ✩ Vote Vote

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