Lufthansa passenger rights:compensation, reimbursement and care
Delay, cancellation, missed connection or denied boarding with Lufthansa? EU passenger-rights rules may provide rerouting, reimbursement, care and compensation up to €600 per passenger.
Your rights depend on departure, destination, disruption, the airline operating the flight and the actual cause of the incident.
Lufthansa passenger rights go beyond compensation
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 protects passengers affected by cancellation, long delay or denied boarding on a covered flight.
Depending on the event, you may combine an option to continue or abandon the journey, care while waiting and fixed compensation.
Fixed compensation can be €250, €400 or €600 depending on distance and the conditions of the disruption.
Which Lufthansa rights apply to your problem?
Each disruption has specific conditions, but several rights can apply together.
Delayed flight
At certain thresholds Lufthansa must provide care. A three-hour final delay may qualify for compensation.
Cancelled flight
You may choose reimbursement or rerouting, with potential compensation depending on notice and cause.
Denied boarding
After involuntary overbooking, rerouting, care and compensation may be due.
A missed connection is generally assessed using the complete booking and the delay reached at the final destination.
How much can you claim from Lufthansa?
Fixed compensation mainly depends on the covered journey distance, not the ticket price.
Certain short flights affected by delay, cancellation or denied boarding.
Intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and other medium-distance journeys.
Certain long-haul flights covered by the Regulation.
A 50% reduction may apply in certain rerouting or long-haul delay situations. The exact journey must be used for calculation.
How do you determine your Lufthansa rights?
Three checks help avoid mistakes about compensation and responsibility.
Record every segment, final destination, booking reference and original schedule.
Note delay, cancellation, denied boarding or missed connection and the stated reason.
Keep final arrival, accepted rerouting, expenses and when you were informed.
Which Lufthansa flights are covered by EU passenger rights?
As Lufthansa is an EU airline, protection can cover many departures and arrivals.
Departure from the EU
A flight leaving the EU, EEA or Switzerland may be covered regardless of destination.
Arrival in the EU
A Lufthansa flight from a third country into the EU may be covered because Lufthansa is an EU carrier.
Codeshare
Identify the airline actually operating the flight to direct the claim correctly.
What should be checked before a Lufthansa claim?
Protected flight
The journey falls within the territorial and personal scope of the rules.
Confirmed reservation
You held a valid ticket and met the applicable presentation conditions.
Threshold met
Final delay, cancellation notice or denied-boarding conditions meet the relevant criteria.
No valid exemption
Lufthansa cannot prove unavoidable extraordinary circumstances despite reasonable measures.
What are extraordinary circumstances?
Fixed compensation may not be payable if Lufthansa proves an external event that could not have been avoided despite all reasonable measures.
An ordinary technical defect, late rotation or organisational issue is not automatically extraordinary. A generic reason should be verified.
What should Lufthansa provide while you wait?
Care depends on waiting time, flight distance and whether an overnight stay is needed.
Meals and refreshments
Reasonable care proportionate to the waiting time may be due.
Communications
Two communications may be offered.
Hotel
Accommodation may be necessary when departure moves to the next day.
Transport
Reasonable travel between airport and hotel may also be covered.
Keep itemised receipts when Lufthansa does not provide care. Expenses should be necessary, reasonable and linked to the disruption.
What evidence should you keep to exercise your rights?
A complete case connects the booking, disruption, final arrival and expenses.
Ticket, single reference and every journey segment.
Keep the original and replacement-flight passes.
Delay or cancellation notices and stated reason.
Meals, hotel, transport and other necessary expenses.
How should you prepare a Lufthansa claim?
Identify the carrier
Check the flight and airline shown as “operated by”.
Describe the disruption
Provide schedules, offered solution and final arrival.
Gather evidence
Add booking, boarding passes, messages and receipts.
Calculate each right
Assess reimbursement, care, expenses and compensation separately.
Fly Claim charges a 30% fee including tax only when your claim succeeds.
FAQ about Lufthansa passenger rights
What are my rights if Lufthansa delays my flight?
Care may be due according to the wait, and compensation may apply when final arrival is at least three hours late, subject to the other conditions.
What must Lufthansa offer after cancellation?
Lufthansa must offer the required reimbursement or rerouting options and appropriate care. Compensation may apply in addition.
Can I claim up to €600?
Yes. Certain covered journeys over 3,500 km may qualify for €600; €250 and €400 apply to other distance bands.
What are my rights after a missed connection?
On one booking, delay at the last airport is generally decisive. Lufthansa should normally offer rerouting and care.
What happens after overbooking?
If boarding is denied involuntarily without a valid personal reason, rerouting, care and compensation may be due.
Do extraordinary circumstances remove every right?
No. They may exclude fixed compensation, but reimbursement, rerouting and care can remain due.
How much does Fly Claim cost?
There is no fee to start. A 30% fee including tax applies only if the claim succeeds.
Check all your rights and compensation up to €600
Enter your flight, itinerary and disruption to start the assessment.
No upfront fee. A 30% fee including tax applies only if successful.