Lufthansa travelers beware - racist experience of an Indian traveler

[tennisluvr]

I was one of the unfortunate ‘Indian’ passengers on the LH 440 flight from Frankfurt to Houston on Sept 11th. The flight travelled from Frankfurt to Frankfurt on Sept 11th due to oil leakage issue and in order to save their costs, they put 500+ passengers through a lot of inconvenience. I was traveling from Delhi to Frankfurt (8 hour flight) with a 3 hour layover at Frankfurt airport only to board this unfortunate flight. We left Frankfurt around 10am and returned at 4.30pm.

On landing back in Frankfurt, I was one of the 500 people waiting in line to speak to a Lufthansa Service Associate. Even though they had enough notice (4.5 hours when the pilot decided to turn around from Iceland back to Frankfurt), there was absolutely no planning by the Lufthansa representatives. You don’t want to stand in line after spending 20 hours traveling. However, there was no option and I had to wait in line. While waiting in line, I tried speaking with a service associate who was segregating business and first class customers with the economy class, I asked him why it’s taking so long and what are our possible options, are we getting a different flight or are we flying tomorrow etc., he spoke rudely with me and asked me to just wait in line and talk to service associates at the counter. When I told him that will take a long time and if he has any information he should share with everyone waiting, he said just stand in line and wait.

There were 7 service associates catering to 500+ passengers when there were vacant spots that could have been occupied by 5 other service associates to speed up the process. Instead, when their shift ended at 6 the associates conveniently left for home. An elderly white lady who had been waiting with us went to ask the Lufthansa staff for more associates and took pictures of the staff who were being rude to her. The staff in turn called the police! The police confronted her and instead of helping her and the rest of us took the airlines side. We were standing in line since 4.30pm and this happened around 7.30pm. At around 8.30pm, I was finally able to speak with the associate (she didn’t wear a name badge unlike the others but she can be described as an elderly woman with green glasses and an extremely rude disposition). I was able to get the same flight for Sept 12th, however, when I asked for hotel accommodation, I was told that because I do not hold a valid Schengen visa I cannot get a hotel for my overnight stay at the airport and that I should have a visa if I am in Germany. When I questioned that and explained to her that I do not need a visa if I am taking a connecting flight from Germany she casually told me "No hotel for you in that case". I informed them of the one hotel at one of the airport terminals which did not require a visa and I was informed it is not for singles like me. They will first give it to couples/ families with children/ other passengers and then if there is any left, they will ‘consider’ me which would be around 10-11pm. I looked around and didn’t see any families waiting in line so asked her to provide me with the hotel. She said something in German to the associate sitting next to her (J. Green) and refused to provide me with the hotel. When I asked her where I should sleep for the night, I was informed I should sleep on the floor like the rest of the people in my country and that they would offer me a blanket and pillow. By then, I had realised this is a lost cause and she will not provide me with any hotel. When I asked for meal vouchers, she said come back in 2 hours. This conversation happened between 8.30-8.50pm and she wanted me to wait until 10.30-10.50 to get some food. I explained to her that I was tired and traveling for the last 20 hours and cannot wait another 2 hours only for the meal coupons! On 'requesting' for my entitlement, I got one 10 euro dinner coupon stamped for 11th Sept and one 10 Euro breakfast coupon stamped again for 11th Sept. When I asked if the breakfast coupon will be valid on 12th Sept since it had a 11th Sept date stamped on it, I was told by her ‘yes it will work, I can’t change the date on the stamp’. I again explained to her that all I want to know is if the coupon will work on 12th as 11th Sept had already almost ended and I wanted to at least know if I could use the breakfast coupon. She told me rudely that it would. I gave up and left from there.

I booked that hotel at the airport for USD 288 and went to Gate Z. I checked in to the hotel and then when I asked the hotel for the nearest restaurants I was told the restaurants shut by 9pm and it was already 9.45pm. The associate was planning to give me the meal coupon by 10.30pm (I wonder what she was thinking – I am sure she knew no restaurants would be open at that time). While I was having this conversation with the receptionist I saw 1 couple and 1 single walk in to check in (they were standing behind me in the line). When I asked them if they got the room, I was told yes the airline gave it to them. They were ‘Non Indians’. I couldn’t believe my ears. By this time, I had no energy! I paid for my room. I didn’t have a place to eat and I was mistreated by the Lufthansa staff. Next morning, I tried using the breakfast coupon and as expected, it didn’t work as I was told it expired on 11th Sept. I wasn’t surprised. I boarded my flight and was given the last seat next to the loo.

I am a frequent traveller and I have never been treated this way by any other airline. I often use Lufthansa but I would now ensure that I get it banned by my firm so that no other Indian has to go through what I did. #racistlufthansa#rudelufthansa #inhumanlufthansa #inconsideratelufthansa

I think Lufthansa should take off the “Indian” advertisement that they play on their airlines claiming to be as Indian as Indians #moreindianthanyouthink

As per law, I am entitled to 600EUR cash compensation, plus hotels, plus meal vouchers, per EU261 while all I got was a 20 Euro meal coupon which was useless for me.

Thank you for this experience Lufthansa!

 

[tennisluvr]

As posted and shared on Facebook. 

[BostonBullodu]

malli lufthansa lo deal vasthe eh post rasinode egiri ganthesi ticket book chesukuntadu.. 

[tennisluvr]

 story too long unte I will shorten it: 

1) Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Houston had an oil leak and so was called back to Frankfurt when it was mid air over Iceland. 

2) Airport ticket agents were very unhelpful and rude towards Indian passengers and although one Indian passenger was entitled to a room and food, she was given expired coupons and no room. 

3) When asked for the room she got a response "You can sleep on the floor since that's how your people in India sleep". 

4) Now she's taking it up with the company to take action on the racist employee. 

End of story. 

Beware of traveling via Lufthansa. 

[tennisluvr]

1 minute ago, BostonBullodu said:

malli lufthansa lo deal vasthe eh post rasinode egiri ganthesi ticket book chesukuntadu.. 

I never traveled through Lufthansa or for that matter any European airline company. 

Always Emirates or Etihad. 

[princeofheaven]

3 minutes ago, tennisluvr said:

I was one of the unfortunate ‘Indian’ passengers on the LH 440 flight from Frankfurt to Houston on Sept 11th. The flight travelled from Frankfurt to Frankfurt on Sept 11th due to oil leakage issue and in order to save their costs, they put 500+ passengers through a lot of inconvenience. I was traveling from Delhi to Frankfurt (8 hour flight) with a 3 hour layover at Frankfurt airport only to board this unfortunate flight. We left Frankfurt around 10am and returned at 4.30pm.

On landing back in Frankfurt, I was one of the 500 people waiting in line to speak to a Lufthansa Service Associate. Even though they had enough notice (4.5 hours when the pilot decided to turn around from Iceland back to Frankfurt), there was absolutely no planning by the Lufthansa representatives. You don’t want to stand in line after spending 20 hours traveling. However, there was no option and I had to wait in line. While waiting in line, I tried speaking with a service associate who was segregating business and first class customers with the economy class, I asked him why it’s taking so long and what are our possible options, are we getting a different flight or are we flying tomorrow etc., he spoke rudely with me and asked me to just wait in line and talk to service associates at the counter. When I told him that will take a long time and if he has any information he should share with everyone waiting, he said just stand in line and wait.

There were 7 service associates catering to 500+ passengers when there were vacant spots that could have been occupied by 5 other service associates to speed up the process. Instead, when their shift ended at 6 the associates conveniently left for home. An elderly white lady who had been waiting with us went to ask the Lufthansa staff for more associates and took pictures of the staff who were being rude to her. The staff in turn called the police! The police confronted her and instead of helping her and the rest of us took the airlines side. We were standing in line since 4.30pm and this happened around 7.30pm. At around 8.30pm, I was finally able to speak with the associate (she didn’t wear a name badge unlike the others but she can be described as an elderly woman with green glasses and an extremely rude disposition). I was able to get the same flight for Sept 12th, however, when I asked for hotel accommodation, I was told that because I do not hold a valid Schengen visa I cannot get a hotel for my overnight stay at the airport and that I should have a visa if I am in Germany. When I questioned that and explained to her that I do not need a visa if I am taking a connecting flight from Germany she casually told me "No hotel for you in that case". I informed them of the one hotel at one of the airport terminals which did not require a visa and I was informed it is not for singles like me. They will first give it to couples/ families with children/ other passengers and then if there is any left, they will ‘consider’ me which would be around 10-11pm. I looked around and didn’t see any families waiting in line so asked her to provide me with the hotel. She said something in German to the associate sitting next to her (J. Green) and refused to provide me with the hotel. When I asked her where I should sleep for the night, I was informed I should sleep on the floor like the rest of the people in my country and that they would offer me a blanket and pillow. By then, I had realised this is a lost cause and she will not provide me with any hotel. When I asked for meal vouchers, she said come back in 2 hours. This conversation happened between 8.30-8.50pm and she wanted me to wait until 10.30-10.50 to get some food. I explained to her that I was tired and traveling for the last 20 hours and cannot wait another 2 hours only for the meal coupons! On 'requesting' for my entitlement, I got one 10 euro dinner coupon stamped for 11th Sept and one 10 Euro breakfast coupon stamped again for 11th Sept. When I asked if the breakfast coupon will be valid on 12th Sept since it had a 11th Sept date stamped on it, I was told by her ‘yes it will work, I can’t change the date on the stamp’. I again explained to her that all I want to know is if the coupon will work on 12th as 11th Sept had already almost ended and I wanted to at least know if I could use the breakfast coupon. She told me rudely that it would. I gave up and left from there.

I booked that hotel at the airport for USD 288 and went to Gate Z. I checked in to the hotel and then when I asked the hotel for the nearest restaurants I was told the restaurants shut by 9pm and it was already 9.45pm. The associate was planning to give me the meal coupon by 10.30pm (I wonder what she was thinking – I am sure she knew no restaurants would be open at that time). While I was having this conversation with the receptionist I saw 1 couple and 1 single walk in to check in (they were standing behind me in the line). When I asked them if they got the room, I was told yes the airline gave it to them. They were ‘Non Indians’. I couldn’t believe my ears. By this time, I had no energy! I paid for my room. I didn’t have a place to eat and I was mistreated by the Lufthansa staff. Next morning, I tried using the breakfast coupon and as expected, it didn’t work as I was told it expired on 11th Sept. I wasn’t surprised. I boarded my flight and was given the last seat next to the loo.

I am a frequent traveller and I have never been treated this way by any other airline. I often use Lufthansa but I would now ensure that I get it banned by my firm so that no other Indian has to go through what I did. #racistlufthansa#rudelufthansa #inhumanlufthansa #inconsideratelufthansa

I think Lufthansa should take off the “Indian” advertisement that they play on their airlines claiming to be as Indian as Indians #moreindianthanyouthink

As per law, I am entitled to 600EUR cash compensation, plus hotels, plus meal vouchers, per EU261 while all I got was a 20 Euro meal coupon which was useless for me.

Thank you for this experience Lufthansa!

anduke i prefer emirates etihad first class service and immigration in Dubai itself , never go through l**da europe countries

[tennisluvr]

1 minute ago, BostonBullodu said:

malli lufthansa lo deal vasthe eh post rasinode egiri ganthesi ticket book chesukuntadu.. 

I doubt that, some might but most won't. Plus it's good to bring attention to such cases, just like how United was brought into picture earlier this year for their mistreatment of the Asian customer. 

[tennisluvr]

Just now, princeofheaven said:

anduke i prefer emirates etihad first class service and immigration in Dubai itself , never go through l**da europe countries

Good point. I do the same as well. 

[tennisluvr]

As a precautionary measure always make sure you have a Schengen tourist visa even if it's an additional expense when traveling via European nations. 

Might come handy in these type of situations. 

[Spartan]

never travel on European Flights period.

[tennisluvr]

Just now, Spartan said:

never travel on European Flights period.

[BostonBullodu]

1 minute ago, tennisluvr said:

As a precautionary measure always make sure you have a Schengen tourist visa even if it's an additional expense when traveling via European nations. 

Might come handy in these type of situations. 

ademanna canada visa antha easy naa

in person attend avvali kada with flight ticket, hotel confirmation etc... 

[phatposts]

4 minutes ago, BostonBullodu said:

malli lufthansa lo deal vasthe eh post rasinode egiri ganthesi ticket book chesukuntadu.. 

Avasaram undi last min lo book chesukunte Lufthansa vaadu evvadi daggara aina double triple rates gunjutadu. Adi kaadu ikkada point. 

 

[princeofheaven]

Just now, tennisluvr said:

As a precautionary measure always make sure you have a Schengen tourist visa even if it's an additional expense when traveling via European nations. 

Might come handy in these type of situations. 

canada uk laga schengen visa ekkuva validity ivvaru man, german embassy gadu aithe too much nee ticket dates batti istadu and also pakka stamping undali etc. 

[tennisluvr]

Just now, BostonBullodu said:

ademanna canada visa antha easy naa

in person attend avvali kada with flight ticket, hotel confirmation etc... 

No idea bro