Lufthansa schedule change – tight connection

[Sandydoc]

I have flights booked with Lufthansa for Feb half-term. The booked outbound flight was LHR to FRA with a 1.5hr connection before onwards to AUH.
Due to a schedule change the connection is now 1hr. This includes a change of terminal with 3 kids in tow.
I am being offered no alternatives (other than with a significant change of date which would not fit with work/bookings etc).
There are multiple other options bookable via the lufthansa website for LHR to AUH on the same day. They have a different routing eg via Zurich or Brussels. Customer services say they can’t see any options available on their systems and there is nothing they can do.
Obvious the cost of flights has jumped up since I booked so cancelling for a refund and rebooking is not a great option…
Any suggestions of how to try and take this forwards?
Would you just prepare for the dash and hope for the best?
Thanks

[JDB]

@Sandydoc – if the schedule change still leaves you within the minimum connection time, Lufthansa has no statutory obligations to change anything for you, so it’s a matter of goodwill if you can persuade them to make your journey a bit easier.

[Blair Waldorf Salad]

How are you having to change terminals at FRA? LH operate solely from T1 there. I would suggest when seeking a goodwill change to limit yourself to LH options only. And maybe be flexible and consider flights to DXB too. I expect LH flies twice a day to DXB from FRA, and probably once from MUC. I’d go with those possibilities first. Normally the advice here is rightly to not sob story an airline. But in your case I think the fact you have kids in tow might be worth noting.

[Lady London]

I have always wondered what is the position of a passenger with permanent or temporary mobility difficulties if they turn out not to be able to make it through the airport in time to make a connection that might exactly conform to MCT but they simply do not reach their connecting gate in time to board. Particularly at airports where regular travellers know MCT hasn’t really been enough for quite a lot of flights. I would include LHR and FRA in my list of those airports.

If you have any mobility issues I’d mention them to LH, try to get them to annotate on the PNR, and detect if they are willing to rebook you to a later flight still from FRA which sounds like the most they would do at this point.

Agents will probably take the view that it’ll be dealt with at the airport on the day if you misconnect… even if this could theoretically mean you having to shell out for an overnight at one of the uninspiring collection of hotels at FRA and reclaim if the next ex-FRA turns out to be the following day.

[SamG]

this is the most simple connection you can get at Frankfurt, there will be no security or immigration. As long as you leave London on time then you’ll have no issue

[kjt]

I would call Lufthansa and explain your concerns . Unless it’s the first flight of the day the should be plenty of earlier flights.
I have had a number of itinerary changes over the years with LH and found their agents to be very helpful .

[Sandydoc]

Thanks all for the replies.
The flight to FRA from LHR is the first of the day, so can’t get an earlier one.
The reason for the terminal change is that the onward flight (booked via Lufthansa) is with Etihad.
Perfectly happy to include alternative routings or DXB but the agent said they can only offer what the computer says and ‘computer says no’.

I guess I’ll have to play it by ear in the day…

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Airlines are pretty strict on enforcing their MCTs which have been set after who knows after many years of experience and data.

If LH have set it as an hour to do this then they expect the vast majority of passenger to be able to make the connection.

Only if there is another schedule change that takes the connection below MCT will they consider rebooking on a proactive basis.

The only advice I can give @Sandydock is to check the FRA site for the terminal map and connection process so they know where they are going and how to get there on the day.

[Matt]

Worth checking what the MCT is, just in case LH are wrong here, but if it’s an hour or less then just go with it – you’ll almost certainly be fine.

It would be worth looking at what alternatives you could take from FRA if you get there too late for your connection – check Google Flights that morning when you’re in LHR for what options are selling enough seats for your group. That way you might be a little ahead of the game if it comes to being re-booked.

[SamG]

From what I can tell that isn’t a valid connection

**-EY II GLSUP CDS DL – N/A 01SEP22 – INF
**-EY II 1.20 CDS N/A – ** ALL – AUH
**-EY II 1.20 ALL – AUH

MCT is 80 mins to Ethiad and I can’t see that they’re selling a same day connection to the morning flight now. Based on personal experience I don’t think you’d make a T1-T2 connection in 60 minutes either.

I do find their call centre to be quite useless unfortunately. Perhaps just leave it a while, they do have systems that scan for misconnects and it may rebook you. The solutions look like either via Brussels if you want a day flight otherwise try get them to reroute you via Munich on the evening flight as it’s an easier connecting experience.

[SamG]

there is via Zurich on morning flights too just noticed before I closed the window – painful 0600 flight though!!

[John]

SamG wrote:

this is the most simple connection you can get at Frankfurt, there will be no security or immigration. As long as you leave London on time then you’ll have no issue

Only if you land at Z. Otherwise you get to choose between either security or immigration, or both!

[SamG]

John wrote:

SamG wrote:

this is the most simple connection you can get at Frankfurt, there will be no security or immigration. As long as you leave London on time then you’ll have no issue

Only if you land at Z. Otherwise you get to choose between either security or immigration, or both!

Don’t forget a few busses in the mix!! I meant relatively – indeed there are few simple connections at Frankfurt, usually an awful place to connect and Lufthansa MCTs are usually unrealistic

[Sandydoc]

Thanks for this. That was my feeling. It was possible to purchase this route before Etihad changed their schedule. Now the option has disappeared for all dates, which implies to me that the route is invalidated.
What you have stated above is a bit over my head. Can you explain the detail. Perhaps I will try writing to Lufthansa to force them in to a written response. Thanks

[SamG]

Each combination of airlines and routes at a specific airport has a specific “Minimum Connection Time (MCT) allowed. Which at Frankfurt for Lufthansa to Ethiad is 80 minutes.

I’d call in again and tell the agent (escalate to a supervisor if required) that the minimum connection time is now not being met and you need to be rebooked. Tell them your preferred routing – you can just search on lufthansa.com for this and write down the timings/flight numbers prior to calling (I’d go either via Zurich if you want a day flight or via Munich for a night flight).

I suspect why it isn’t being picked up is the Lufthansa to Lufthansa MCT is a lot lower and you’re book on an LH flight number to Abu Dhabi so it isn’t immediately obvious/being missed by the rebooking robots.

[Sandydoc]

Thanks Sam

I called back armed with this information and they were able to re-route via Brussels instead.

BW

Matt

[SamG]

Great news ! Hopefully no further issues 🙂

[owjey]

Sorry to hijack the thread a little, but since we’re on the topic of connecting at FRA, I’m now becoming a little concerned. I’m flying BLL-FRA-EWR in November and returning BOS-FRA-BLL (all Lufthansa). The outbound connecting time is 1hr 25mins. I could have chosen other (better) options, but I really, REALLY wanted to be on the 747, so… The flight from BLL arrives at T1 and that’s where the flight to EWR departs from, too. With my knowledge of FRA, I felt that would be okay. I also assured my worried mum, who’s taking her first flight to the US, that it was no problem at all etc. etc. But was I being overconfident?

[Sandydoc]

Now that the flights have been changed, I have the option in the app to upgrade to business for £51 each.
I know that the in-flight product is very unexciting (economy seats- middle blocked).
£51 sounds not too bad for priority check-in/security lane, lounge access (united lounge is open from 5am).

Any other considerations? Will it make life easier if the LHR to Brussels flight is obviously delayed leaving LHR such that we wouldn’t make our connection to AUH?

Thanks

[SamG]

owjey wrote:

Sorry to hijack the thread a little, but since we’re on the topic of connecting at FRA, I’m now becoming a little concerned. I’m flying BLL-FRA-EWR in November and returning BOS-FRA-BLL (all Lufthansa). The outbound connecting time is 1hr 25mins. I could have chosen other (better) options, but I really, REALLY wanted to be on the 747, so… The flight from BLL arrives at T1 and that’s where the flight to EWR departs from, too. With my knowledge of FRA, I felt that would be okay. I also assured my worried mum, who’s taking her first flight to the US, that it was no problem at all etc. etc. But was I being overconfident?

There is a good thread about connecting at FRA on Flyertalk which I found quite useful. But essentially on the ground you just check which gate you’re going from (likely Z) and follow the signs. You should clear immigration but not need to do security and 1hr 25 should be more than enough time all being well!

[owjey]

@SamG Thank you, that’s a great help!

[The real Swiss Tony]

@Sandydoc I doubt the upgrade is worth it. You don’t want to go to the UA lounge at T2 if you’re on Brussels airlines as they will leave from the main terminal not the satellite, so that’s an extra 30 mins of walking.