Lufthansa Loses German High Court Skiplagging Case, Revises Conditions of

Lufthansa has suffered a notable legal setback in Germany, with the Bundesgerichtshof (BGH), the country's highest court, ruling against the airline in a high-profile skiplagging case. The BGH declared that airlines are not entitled to issue additional charges or debit memos to passengers who skip flight segments, provided the segment omission was due to a genuine emergency. This landmark decision clarifies the legal boundaries surrounding passenger conduct and airline punitive measures within the German jurisdiction.

The ruling directly impacts Lufthansa, necessitating immediate revisions to its Conditions of Carriage (COC) to align with the court's interpretation. This case highlights the ongoing tension between airlines and passengers over the practice of skiplagging, where travelers intentionally disembark at a layover city rather than their final booked destination, often to secure lower fares. While airlines typically consider such actions a breach of contract, the German court's judgment introduces a critical exception for emergency situations, potentially setting a precedent for similar disputes in other European Union nations.