Your Guide on Compensation from Lufthansa for Overbooked Flights
If you were involuntarily denied boarding a Lufthansa flight, you could get as much as $2,150 in compensation!
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Lufthansa Overbooking: What it Means for Passengers
Lufthansa, like most airlines, will regularly oversell flights to ensure that each route is being flown at full capacity. While this works well for increasing profits, it can backfire when too many passengers arrive for boarding. So, to help manage the situation, Lufthansa will begin the boarding denial process.
Lufthansa Voluntary Denied Boarding
Before the airline refuses boarding to any passenger against their will, they’ll first ask if anyone is interested in surrendering their seat in exchange for a compensation package. These offerings usually start small and become more generous as the flight gets closer to departure. Also, they are usually open to negotiation.
Voluntary denied boarding packages can include:
- A new flight to your destination or a full ticket refund
- Vouchers for meals and lodging as well as related transport, if needed
- Cash, travel vouchers, and other perks like lounge access or seat upgrades.
Involuntary Denied Boarding
If Lufthansa can’t get enough volunteers, they must begin choosing passengers for involuntarily denied boarding. You have a greater chance of being bumped if:
- You don’t have a seat assignment
- You check-in and arrive at the gate late
- You’re an economy class passenger with the least expensive seat.
- You do not have frequent flyer or loyalty status.
If you’re chosen by the airline to involuntarily give up your seat, you are entitled to:
- A new flight to your destination or a full ticket refund
- Cash compensation up to $2,150, which you should receive immediately
If you were involuntarily downgraded to a lower seating class on your rebooked flight, you will be reimbursed for the difference in fare price, but if you are upgraded, you don’t have to pay the difference.
What to Do if You’re Denied Boarding with Lufthansa
1. Find out why it happened
Lufthansa should give you a statement, outlining why you were refused boarding and the approximate compensation total. Keep this document because if you don’t receive your payout, you’ll need to file a claim.
2. Choose a new flight or a refund
Ask about a new flight to your destination. You do have the option to request a refund as well.
3. Ask for meals and lodging
If you choose to be rebooked and you have a while to wait at the airport, ask for meal or hotel vouchers, especially for overnight delays.
4. Avoid vouchers
Airlines like to push travel vouchers in place of cash, but by law, you’re entitled to cash.
Lufthansa Denied Boarding Compensation Amounts
Lufthansa is a German airline, but when they depart from an American airport, they must abide by the air passenger rights laws established by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The law states that passengers denied boarding because of overbooking must be compensated based on how late they arrive at their final destination.
Length of the Delay | Compensation Payout |
Arrive within an hour of your original arrival time | None |
Arrive between 1-4 hours of your original arrival time | 200% of one-way fare or up to $1,075, whichever is lower |
Arrive over 4 hours later than your original arrival time | 400% of one-way fare or up to $2,150 whichever is lower |
Lufthansa Routes Frequently Overbooked
In general, busy routes are more frequently oversold, as are flights that operate during peak travel seasons like summer and winter holidays. For Lufthansa, some of the busiest routes from the US include:
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Munich Airport (MUC)
- Denver International Airport (DEN) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
When Compensation for Denied Boarding Doesn’t Apply
You will not receive compensation from Lufthansa if you were denied boarding because of the following reasons.
- You were intoxicated.
- You were interfering with or not following the instructions of the flight crew.
- You were displaying unruly behavior towards the crew and other passengers.
- You were denied boarding because of other reasons aside from overbooking.
Need Help with a Claim?
If you’ve been bumped from a flight and need help getting compensated, AirAdvisor is happy to assist. We’ve been protecting air passengers’ rights since 2017, and our legal team has a 98% win rate for airline compensation claims. See if your flight is eligible by entering your basic flight details into our free compensation checker.
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