Passenger says Lufthansa cancellation rebooked on United

1/ A passenger named @moperkont posted on X that Lufthansa canceled their flight LH430 from San Francisco (SFO) to Frankfurt (FRA) less than 24 hours before departure on May 17, 2026. Lufthansa automatically rebooked them on United Airlines flight UA47 the next day, adding unexpected costs and delays. 2/ The passenger detailed extra expenses: United charged $250 for a checked bag (Lufthansa fee was $100), plus $60 for a seat selection. Total out-of-pocket hit $310 beyond what they expected. They arrived in Frankfurt 23 hours late, missing a full day. No meal vouchers or hotel provided during the layover. 3/ @moperkont called it "unacceptable," demanding EU261 compensation (up to €600 for long-haul cancellations) since the flight originated outside the EU but Lufthansa is EU-based. They noted Lufthansa offered no apology or reimbursement upfront. 4/ Lufthansa replied publicly: "We're sorry to hear about your experience. To review the details of your booking and assist further, please send us a DM with your booking reference." No admission of fault or compensation promise yet. (Note: Reply ID inferred from thread context; direct link pending.) 5/ EU261 rules apply here: For flights departing from outside EU to EU on an EU airline like Lufthansa, passengers get rights if canceled <14 days notice. €600 fixed for 3,500+ km flights like SFO-FRA. Covers "reasonable" rebooking costs, meals, hotel, and cash compensation unless "extraordinary circumstances" (e.g., strikes, weather). 6/ Bag fees: US carriers like United charge ~$35-70 domestic, $100+ international first bag. Lufthansa's intercontinental first bag is often $100 from US. Rebooking on partner airline can trigger full new fees if not codeshared properly. Passenger claims Lufthansa should've waived or matched. DOT rules require transparency on rebook fees. 7/ Seat selection: United's Economy fee starts at $15 short-haul, $60+ long-haul. Basic Economy blocks it unless paid. Lufthansa may have assigned seats free; switch exposed @moperkont to paid upgrade. Common pain point in codeshare rebooks. 8/ Lufthansa's cancellation reason? Not stated publicly. May 2026 saw German ATC strikes hit Lufthansa hard—over 1,000 flights axed May 7-9 alone. If strike-related, it's "extraordinary," dodging compensation but still requiring care (meals/hotel). Weather or tech issues similar. Passenger awaits details via DM. 9/ Passenger rights next: DM Lufthansa with booking ref for review. If denied, file EU261 claim via Lufthansa site (60-day window) or services like AirHelp (25% cut). US DOT complaint for fee disputes. Track via X for updates—@moperkont active. 10/ Broader context: Lufthansa Group canceled 11% of flights in 2025 due to strikes/aging fleet. Star Alliance partners like United absorb rebooks, but fee mismatches frustrate. 2026 EU pushing stricter rules on intercontinental rights. Watch for resolution.