“When will it really be summer again?” entertainer Rudi Carrell once sang. The current continuation of the hit could be: “a summer in which we are really annoyed”. Because: “It’s going to be chaotic, it’s going to be full – and it’s going to be expensive,” Frank Plasberg opens his ARD Monday talk “Hard but fair”. The topic is perfectly placed. The first big holiday wave has just survived the Pentecost holidays – although the word should be taken seriously. Quite a few stood quite a lot: on the freeways, on overcrowded trains, at overwhelmed airports.
Corona is history. That’s what many people whisper in their guts. And the attitude towards life? You have to be allowed to do it again, you want to treat yourself again. As someone looking forward to the holiday puts it, who is asked about “Hard but fair” on the street: “The main thing is that you get somewhere else – if I have to, I’ll run down there.” Running isn’t all that unlikely. Hundreds of flights have already been canceled for this summer, 900 in July alone, by Lufthansa alone. A Cause? staff shortage. Lufthansa has reduced its workforce by 24 percent within two Corona years.
Another reason? The overloaded security checkpoints. “Of course, the long queues are a horror,” admits Matthias von Randow. The general manager of the Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry will attract many arrows on this television evening. Incidentally, von Randow does not find the inspectors underpaid. After all, the unskilled are paid “not so badly” in comparison to employees after a three-year apprenticeship.
Moderator Frank Plasberg repeatedly attacks the lobbyists. “I don’t understand why you want to sell me as a preparation if you cancel flights,” Plasberg asks about flight cancellations. Matthias von Randow doesn’t find that so dramatic. “830,000 flights leave Germany – one percent,” the aviation representative replied. And Plasberg adds: “Flying is an adventure holiday,” complains the moderator.
In the constant tussle between these two opponents, the other talk guests become extras. Author Amelie Fried reveals that she would prefer to switch to the new electric car for the holiday trip. “The increase in prices is accepted,” says Ute Dallmeier, member of the executive committee of the German Travel Association. The journalist Dirk Schümer finds one reason for this in a very personally felt shortage after three years of pandemic: “Get out now, do something quickly – the clock is ticking.” Mood…”
In terms of content, the Greens member of the Bundestag, Claudia Müller, does not have too much to contribute. The moderator Plasberg is more impressed by their function: “You are the federal government’s tourism officer – which is not everything!” So the discussion quickly turned back to flying – and to Matthias von Randow. There’s obviously a lot of trouble about flying.
Example: School trip to Rome. The flight home is canceled by the airline. Only three children get the offer to rebook. The group goes back by train and bus. At the request of “Hart aber fair”, the children are to be reimbursed an amount of 250 euros each. Generously? “No,” replies consumer advocate Wolfgang Schuldzinski, “just exactly what they’re entitled to.”
The board of directors of the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center draws attention to a special feature when traveling. Flights are paid for in advance, often months in advance. If the airline then cancels the departure, the customer again has to wait a long time for his money. “This is a nuisance on top”, comments the consumer advocate.
“Hart aber fair” presents an aid for the angry almost vacationer in the program. NRW consumer protection has developed the “Flugärger” complaints app. This makes it easier for all those who are abandoned at airports. The data is queried, the compensation payment is calculated immediately – and can be requested from the airline with a click. “I like everything that facilitates communication with the airline,” says Matthias von Randow. At some point even Frank Plasberg regrets the lobbyists: “It’s a bit unfair – you get everything!” And then the moderator says goodbye until August for the summer break – on to new travel troubles?
