Lufthansa strike compensation nightmare
Looking for a bit of advice/insight on compensation etc regarding my previous flights cancelled due to the April strikes.
Had outbound flights from Glasgow to Tokyo via Frankfurt cancelled due to the strike action on April 16th. The Frankfurt to Tokyo flight also included a seat upgrade to extra legroom.
These flights were cancelled on the 14th and Lufthansa rebooked us onto Glasgow to London Heathrow (British Airways) then London to Tokyo (All Nippon Airways) flights leaving later on the same day.
However when check-in opened 24 hours before for these flights, the British Airways flight GLA-LHR disappeared from the app. Online chat with BA explained that our names were listed as on the flight roster, however Lufthansa had subsequently refused to issue British Airways with the ticket to provide to us, meaning we effectively had no booking for this flight.
Due to the massive queue with Lufthansa online chat they were entirely unhelpful to the situation, meaning in order to make the LHR to Tokyo flight, I had to book 2 tickets onto the same BA flight that Lufthansa had not issued a ticket for at my own expense. In addition, the All Nippon Airways flight from LHR to Tokyo did not have the seat upgrade we had paid for for the original Frankfurt - Tokyo leg.
Return flights Tokyo to Glasgow via Frankfurt were unaffected.
Following the trip, compensation claims were lodged with Lufthansa for
Compensation for the cancellation of Glasgow to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Tokyo flights for 2 people.
Refund for the seat upgrade from the Frankfurt to Tokyo flight that was not transferred to the LHR to Tokyo Flight.
Reimbursement for the additional flights I purchased from Glasgow to London to make the rebooked flight after they failed to provide a first leg.
Lufthansa today have responded saying we are not eligible for any refunds, compensation or reimbursement as the cancellations did not fall under "gross negligence" on Lufthansa's part.
If anyone has any insight on this it would be much appreciated!
TL:DR
Glasgow to Tokyo via Frankfurt flights cancelled due to strike, Lufthansa only rebooked us onto one leg of the journey from London Heathrow to Tokyo, had to pay for additional flights from Glasgow to London to make rebooked flight to Japan, seat upgrade options not transferred to new flights, Lufthansa saying they owe us nothing