The pilots who are members of the Vereinigung Cockpit union are to walk out between 2nd and 4th April in a three-day strike over pay and working conditions.
How bad is it? Over 3400 flights appear to be cancelled already according to the Lufthansa website. Germanwings will also be hit hard by the strike, with the airline preparing a backup timetable during the strike period.
Only 500 short- and long-haul flights will operated, with over 425,000 passengers are expected to be affected by the action.
Flights operated by Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa CityLine and Swiss International Air Lines are not affected, nor are flights for Germanwings operated by Eurowings.
If you’ve got an inkling if you’re affected, check your booking – now.
The options on the table aren’t that good either.
- Passengers travelling within Germany on domestic segments on cancelled flights can switch to train travel by Deutsche Bahn.
- If you’re on a Lufthansa/SWISS/Austrian Airlines or Brussels Airlines ticket for flights on April 2nd – April 4th, 2014 from/to/via Germany, and whose flights are not cancelled, are also permitted to rebook their flight once free of charge, provided that:
– the ticket was issued on/before March 28th, 2014
– the new travel date is on/before September 30th, 2014
– the original ticket class remains
– all other fare conditions are adhered to - Refunds are also available
Unlike the previous strike, other carriers who operate into Germany are not affected – the last strike affected ground handling only. This means that Lufthansa’s competitors can get a look in (even giving Air Berlin a bit of a boost – who have got a sign-up promotion running at the moment).
I hope you’re not affected during this action. If you are and can rebook – do it as soon as possible. Or else, it will be a long three days when the strike hits.
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