You did everything right here and still got stuck paying because the airlines can’t talk to each other.
LOT cancels, rebooks you onto two non aligned carriers, and suddenly your Star Alliance Gold benefits basically evaporate mid journey. Singapore checking the bag through but not issuing the Condor boarding pass is where this all went sideways. Once Condor sees a bag without their own fee record, they treat it like a brand new charge, status or not.
The €250 threat of “pay or don’t fly” is especially brutal when you’re already airside and under time pressure. That’s not really a choice.
Realistically, I would go after LOT first since they caused the reroute and confirmed free checked bags in writing. They’re the ones who put you on a ticket where baggage agreements clearly weren’t handled properly. Condor is unlikely to refund anything since, like you said, they have zero obligation to honor Star Alliance perks.
Document everything, keep the rebooking email showing free bags, and file a formal complaint with LOT asking for reimbursement. If that fails, credit card dispute may honestly be your strongest leverage.
Situations like this are exactly why people hate involuntary rebookings across alliances. The passenger always pays for the gaps.
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