Urgent advice needed reg flight refund

[Bedtimeforever]

Hey all. Just a quick question and thought I’d ask on here as I’ve seen some great advice on various different things.

DM booked a flight to visit her Parents in September. Everything fine, however, her DF has suddenly been rushed into hospital. She has had to book an emergency flight now costing £1100, as her previously booked flight was costing around £1700 to change (summer holidays!!).

To cancel the September flight, she would be entitled to £177 refund of total ticket price (£600). I want to know, would there be any other options for her with that flight before cancelling completely. I mean anything like changing destination, within the next 12 months or anything like that? I am trying to get through but it just cuts me off. It is Lufthansa for reference. Just want to know what our options are really, before going ahead and cancelling.

Thanks in advance!

Isn’t this something covered by insurance? What does her policy say?

Otherwise, Lufthansa haven’t offered free changes for the last few months - so check when the ticket was booked and what the T&C’s said at the times.

She's booked an additional journey - she could still use the tickets for September.

I don't think any travel policy would cover needing to bring flights forward 3 months rather than cancel/move them nearer the date of departure due to illness of one of the travelling party or their dependents.

Do you not forsee using the existing tickets at all in September?

Unfortunately no. That ticket was booked for beginning September, and her return date of the new flights is 16th August. So highly doubt she will travel back again two weeks later due to the journey time (15 hours one way). And looks like we will have to suck it up and take the £177 refund.

Wouldn't have minded using it for myself for a flight to Dubai if I could! 🙊

But why can’t she claim on her insurance? Or at least ask if they would cover part of the cost? Most standard policies include cancellation / changes to your trip due to a first degree relative or a dependant taken ill.

But that's generally in the few days running up to the original date of departure.

OP's situation is that they are taking a new, additional earlier flight, the later trip could still be done.

Does the airline fly anywhere else that you could transfer the tickets over?

If I'd booked cheap, lower season tickets to say, America, then decided that I had to go in high season, when the tickets were double the price, and nothing at all was changing about the circumstances of the later, more expensive, pre-booked trip except that I didn't want to go any more, then I think you'd just have to swallow the price difference/massive cancellation fee.

Yeah @Fuuuuuckit that’s what I thought. I would most definitely ask Lufthansa if I could transfer the tickets over to a new destination, if I could get through to them! But meanwhile, thanks for your help. I kind of knew it would be a matter of sucking it up, but just thought I’d ask on here to make sure anyways.