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Reasons to trust AirAdvisor with your flight problems
We have handled more than 10,500 Lufthansa flight delay and cancellation claims.
Over €4,200,000 in compensation has been paid out to our clients.
Overall, more than 450,000 clients have trusted AirAdvisor with their flight claims over the last 8 years.
We all hope that our trips will go smoothly, without any problems along the way, but flight delays and cancellations can and do happen all the time, even with Lufthansa. In a recent example, Lufthansa ground crew strikes on February 7 and 8, 2024, caused major travel disruptions over 2 days. According to CNN, a company spokesperson commented that
between 80% and 90% of Lufthansa flights could be disrupted Thursday and Friday, impacting more than 200,000 passengers.
That's why it's good to know what you can do about Lufthansa flight cancellations and Lufthansa flight delays today, so you're ready to deal with these issues in the future.
If your flight does get delayed, cancelled, or interrupted, we’ll take you through:
- Your passenger rights.
- How to make a Lufthansa claim for delay.
- Lufthansa flight cancellation rules, including compensation.
- How we can make the whole process super easy.
Early claims have an 72% higher chance of payoutAct now before your claim expires.Check Your Flight
Your Passenger Rights When Your Lufthansa Flight Was Cancelled or Delayed
What is Lufthansa EU261 Compensation?
As a European airline, Lufthansa is bound by the compensation guidelines set out in regulation EU261. This ensures fair remuneration for all interrupted passengers, subject to certain conditions, which we will cover.
Generally, Lufthansa EU261 compensation ranges from €250 to €600, based on the length of your flight.
After the split from the EU, the UK also put in place a similar regulation called UK261 that offers the same protections up to £520 per passenger.
Lufthansa flight interruptions can come in a few different ways. Here’s a quick summary of instances where you can claim Lufthansa flight compensation:
- Flight delays - You can claim Lufthansa delay reimbursement with the help of EU 261 2004 in situations where your flight was delayed for three hours or longer.
- Flight cancellations - Passengers can claim EU261 compensation for flight cancellations when the flight was cancelled by Lufthansa. Refunds are also possible in this case.
- Denied boarding - You can also request Lufthansa EU261 compensation in situations of overbooking. This occurs when the airline sells too many tickets for your flight and you are not allowed to board the flight.
- Missed connections - If you have a delayed flight, you might fail to arrive in time for a connection later in your journey. In this situation, passengers are also protected by EC Regulation 261.
What Lufthansa Flights Are Covered by EU261?
Since Lufthansa is EU-based, the airline’s flights that either start or end in the EU are eligible, assuming the other conditions are met. The only time when a flight is not eligible is in the rare case when it both departs and arrives at destinations outside the EU.
With UK261, although Lufthansa isn’t based in the UK, flights that depart from and arrive to a UK airport are also eligible for a compensation claim.
To further clarify, here are a few examples related to Lufthansa flight delays:
Departure Airport | Arrival Airport | EU261 Eligible? | Maximum Compensation (based on flight distance) |
Yes | €250 (450km) | ||
Yes | €400 (1,980km) | ||
Yes | €600* (6,400km) |
* Note that some airlines try to cut this amount in half for shorter delays, but at AirAdvisor, we always shoot for the maximum of €600.
Lufthansa Delayed Flight Compensation
The minimum delay time at your destination required to trigger flight delay compensation is three hours. Anything less and compensation is not required.
The amount of EU261 compensation is determined by the total flight distance and breaks down as follows:
- All flights under 1,500km - Up to €250 per person.
- Internal EU flights over 1,500km - Up to €400 per person.
- Non-internal EU flights between 1,500 and 3,500km - Up to €400 per person.
- International flights over 3,500km - Up to €600 per person.
Our compensation calculator can help you get the most accurate information for your next claim.
Let AirAdvisor Help You Claim Flight Delay Compensation.Check Your Flight
Are Lufthansa Flights Delayed Often?
According to data published by Eurocontrol, Lufthansa flight delays are a little more common than the average. In 2023, 70% of the airline’s flights arrived on time compared to the European network’s average of 71%.
An interesting difference is that Lufthansa was actually above average for flight departure punctuality in 2023 at 79%. The average was 77% and this anomaly can be attributed to things like in-flight issues, problems with air traffic control, and the overall business of the major German airports causing landing delays.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Additionally, the eligibility for EU261 compensation for Lufthansa delays (and cancellations) hinges on the cause of the interruption. If the airline is responsible or could have taken steps to prevent the delay, they are on the hook for EU261 compensation.
On the other hand, if the disruption is the result of something beyond Lufthansa’s control, it’s considered “extraordinary circumstances,” and no compensation is necessary.
Some common extraordinary circumstances include severe or unsafe weather, air traffic control issues, non-airline strikes, and security threats.
Lufthansa Flight Cancellation Compensation: When Are They Liable?
Usually, when a Lufthansa flight is cancelled, even if the cause is due to extraordinary circumstances, the airline should try to get you a seat on the next available flight. They should also take any necessary steps to get you to your destination as soon as possible, and it's up to you to decide if you want to accept a seat on another plane or go through the Lufthansa complaints process and request a Lufthansa delay refund or cancellation refund.
In most situations, you will be eligible for a full ticket refund, a Lufthansa voucher refund, credit, compensation, or alternative flights, but it all depends on the circumstances in question.
Lufthansa cancelled flight compensation is possible when the airline cancels your trip with fewer than 14 days’ notice.
Other than monetary compensation, Lufthansa is required to keep passengers comfortable during delays or while waiting for a new flight. This is called the right to care and can include meals and other refreshments, access to communication to re-arrange your plans, and overnight accommodation plus airport transfers if your flight departs the following day. Here’s a summary:
Flight Distance | 1,500km or less (all) | 1,500km or more (EU) | 1,500km to 3,500km (international) | 3,500km or more (international) |
Airport Delay Time | 2+ hours | 3+ hours | 3+ hours | 4+ hours |
We can help you find out what you're entitled to and assist you in claiming up to €600 for every ticketed passenger affected.
We work on a No-Win, No-Fee basisAirAdvisor is happy to help with your claim, so you can avoid the stress of dealing with airlines and complicated laws.Check Your Flight
Lufthansa Flight Refund Policy
It's important to understand the difference between a refund and compensation for flights. A refund is when the airline pays you back in full for failing to provide the service you paid for, while compensation exists to balance the inconveniences and added costs you may suffer because of delays and other issues.
In some situations, you might be eligible for both a Lufthansa cancelled flight refund and compensation. For example, if the airline cancels your flight on the day you were due to travel and can't get you on another flight, you can request a refund and compensation. But don’t forget that compensation is only possible if the interruption is not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Types of Ticket Refunds
After filling in a Lufthansa refund form, you can usually get your Lufthansa ticket refund in different ways. You could have the payment refunded in cash to your account or choose credit. You may also be offered a Lufthansa compensation voucher, but we strongly recommend rejecting vouchers from the German airline, because they can be quite hard to use and may expire before your next planned flight.
How to Fill Out a Lufthansa EU261 Claim Form
To make a claim for EU 261 compensation from Lufthansa, you'll need to complete the relevant form. This can be done on the official Lufthansa website, and it involves filling in various pages and providing information and evidence to support your claim.
This can be quite a complicated process, and it's easy to make a mistake. That's why we recommend using the AirAdvisor site to make your claim instead, as our experts can help to ensure that you get the indemnification you deserve without any hassle.
However, we recommend you submit a claim form directly with Lufthansa first, as this is what UK law now requires, and only after that to submit a claim with AirAdvisor. We require evidence of prior direct submission (screenshot and airline reference number sent by Lufthansa to your email).
Also, note that you should allow Lufthansa 30 days to respond to your complaint first before AirAdvisor can step in. This passenger unfriendly rule is a result of a Lufthansa court precedent in English court, aiming to discourage passengers from seeking justice with professional service providers.
The good thing is that it’s really simple to fill out our EC261 Lufthansa compensation claim form. All you have to do is click on our Check Compensation tool and then tell us a little bit about your flight. You'll be asked for simple info, like the departure airport, destination, and the type of disruption you experienced.
Once you've provided the relevant details, our experts will start to work on your case and help you claim reimbursement with the airline. We can do the hard work for you and give you the best chance of a proper payout.
What To Do if the Lufthansa EU261 Claim Form Isn’t Working
Since the law requires you to persevere with Lufthansa, even if the claim form isn’t working, you’ll need to figure out the issue. Read any error messages carefully and check back regularly for fixes. Contact Lufthansa customer support if the form is malfunctioning for more than 24 hours.
If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 in compensationCheck Your Flight
Steps to Take for Lufthansa Delays and Cancellations
- Find a representative of the carrier at the airport and speak with them to learn more about the Lufthansa cancellation or delay. What is the cause?
- Put together as much evidence as you can to support your Lufthansa compensation claim.
- Use our compensation calculator to see how much Lufthansa flight delay compensation or even Lufthansa missed connection compensation you’re eligible for.
Common Questions: Lufthansa Compensation Claims and Refunds
How long does it take for Lufthansa to refund?
Usually, all refunds will be processed within seven days after you contact Lufthansa. From the day of your flight, you have three years to write your Lufthansa compensation email and claim compensation.
Does Lufthansa compensate you if you've experienced a delayed or cancelled flight?
If you've experienced a delayed Lufthansa flight of 3 hours or more you are likely entitled to claim compensation. This is as long as the delay was not caused by extraordinary circumstances (delay reasons outside Lufthansa’s control).
How to claim compensation for Lufthansa flight delays and cancellations?
Check out our online compensation calculator to learn more about how much compensation you could claim. The AirAdvisor team can help you get the Lufthansa flight compensation you deserve, and we operate on a strictly no-win, no-fee basis, so you won't have to pay a penny until we've successfully resolved your claim.
How to find out about Lufthansa cancelled flights today?
Look on airport or airline websites to find out about the latest cancelled or delayed flights from this carrier.
Does Lufthansa compensate you if you're denied boarding?
Yes, If you've been denied boarding because of overbooked flights departing from or arriving at a European airport you are entitled to compensation.
Should Lufthansa compensate under EU261 for strikes?
No, EU261 doesn't usually cover flight problems caused by strikes. Worker strikes fall into the category of "extraordinary circumstances," which prevents airlines like Lufthansa from having to pay. However, in the case of a Lufthansa strike, you could be owed indemnity.
