Underwhelming reply from Eurowings

[Mattg]

I submitted a question to Eurowings via their online contact form around two weeks ago. The question was about United Gold member benefits when flying with Eurowings, and specifically about access to Lufthansa lounges for United members when travelling on a Eurowings 'Basic' fare.

This was the response I just received:

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your inquiry to Eurowings.

More information about drone carriage provided below:

To transport quadrocopters (drones), a few special specifics have to be taken into consideration. Normally this kind of gear is operated with powerful lithium-batteries. For an evaluation, the nominal output of such a battery – measured in Wh (watt-hour) – is important, but not the indications like watt (W) or ampere-hour (Ah).

All lithium-batteries up to a nominal output of 100 Wh are allowed to be transported for personal usage:

• · Installed in the device (e.g. in the remote control or within the quadrocopter/drone).
• · Supplied with a short circuit fuse.
• · The device needs to be switched off and must be secured against accidental start-up.
• · Transport preferably in the hand luggage, but also possible as checked luggage.

Spare-batteries:

• · Individually boxed and secured against a short circuit (e.g. in a LiPo Safety Bag).
• · Only allowed in the hand luggage.

Additional information for batteries with a nominal output of more than 100 Wh (up to 160 Wh max.):

• · The permission of the airline needs to be obtained.
• · Only two batteries per person are allowed.

Lithium-batteries with a nominal output of more than 160 Wh are not allowed to be carried in the luggage and can only be transported via a shipping company or as freight in the airplane.

Quadrocopters or drones need to be packed safely or be transported in a respective case. When carrying in the cabin, the hand luggage measures, as well as when transporting as checked luggage, the maximum weight shall not be exceeded.

Finally, we kindly advise that the security check at the airport might take more time due to the specialty of these devices.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

The overview of our service numbers you will find here:

https://www.eurowings.com/en/4u/company/contact.html

Best regards

i.V. der Eurowings GmbH

Nice to see that they actually read my question!

I did take up their invitation to contact them again with my further questions...

 

[Daver6]

Why is there no face palm emoji?

 

[kermatu]

Hilarious!

 

[Mattg]

So, I responded that they hadn't addressed my question, and now just got this reply:

We apologize for the wrong information given.

We regret to inform you that United Airlines Premier Gold Members do not have any benefits when traveling with Eurowings.

Thank you for understanding.

So, they've apologised for giving wrong information, then once again given me wrong information. [Insert face palm emoji here!]

FWIW, United Premier Gold members are entitled to lounge access, priority check-in and security fast-track when flying on United. I know this because I've flown them more than half a dozen times in the last six months. It also says so on United's website!

https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/mileageplus/earn-miles/airline-partners/eurowings.html

 

[Happy Dude]

Ah.... so why ask the question if you know the answer?

 

[Mattg]

Ah.... so why ask the question if you know the answer?

I didn't post here the exact question, but it was whether lounge access is available to UA Gold members if you buy a EW "basic" ticket. This information is not provided online.

As some background, when flying Eurowings you're only allowed into the lounge with a (more expensive) "smart" or "best" fare if you have Lufthansa status, but there used to be an exception for people with United or ANA status whereby you could use the Lufthansa Senator lounge on a "basic" ticket. The last time I used this benefit (at the end of last year) the lounge dragon said there may be a rule change in the new year, but I couldn't find any info about it online. Hence my question.

The answer that there are no benefits for United members flying Eurowings is simply wrong and doesn't address my actual question. I'm still none the wiser as I also asked United, and their reply was to ask Eurowings as they had no idea.