Lufthansa compensation: how to claim
Lufthansa is registered in Germany, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Registered in
- Germany (EU carrier)
- Main bases
- Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC)
- Typical first response
- About 42 days
- Time limit where it is based
- 3 years (Germany)
Lufthansa is registered in Germany, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because Lufthansa is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
How Lufthansa handles claims
German limitation runs to the END of the third calendar year after the flight, not three years to the day. A flight in February 2023 is claimable until 31 December 2026, which is far longer than most passengers assume.
Lufthansa is a frequent user of the air-traffic-control and weather exemptions at Frankfurt and Munich. Both hubs publish operational data, and both are busy enough that other carriers flying at the same time is a checkable counter-argument.
They have historically resisted claims from third-party claims companies more firmly than claims sent by the passenger directly. A letter in your own name avoids that argument entirely.
The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt is the German national enforcement body. Germany also has a well-used conciliation body, the Schlichtungsstelle für den öffentlichen Personenverkehr (SÖP), which is free and often faster than court.
What a delay on Lufthansa is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt (FRA) → Munich (MUC) | 300 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Frankfurt (FRA) → Paris (CDG) | 449 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Frankfurt (FRA) → Barcelona (BCN) | 1,094 km | EU261 | €250 |
| Frankfurt (FRA) → Rome (FCO) | 959 km | EU261 | €250 |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Lufthansa, by what happened
- Lufthansa: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Lufthansa: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Lufthansa: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Lufthansa: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Lufthansa flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Lufthansa yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Lufthansa: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Lufthansa?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Lufthansa is registered in Germany, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
Does Lufthansa have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Lufthansa?
In Germany, where Lufthansa is based, the limit is 3 years, counted from the END of the calendar year in which the flight took place — a January 2023 flight runs until 31 December 2026. You can usually also claim where your flight departed or arrived, which may give you longer — for example six years in England and Wales.
Where do I send a claim to Lufthansa?
Lufthansa takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Customer Relations, 60546 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Lufthansa flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.