Lufthansa is Europe's largest airline group — and while they generally have fewer disruptions than low-cost carriers, when things go wrong, the same EU261 rights apply. Here's how to claim from Lufthansa specifically.
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As a German-registered airline, all Lufthansa flights are covered by EU261:
| Flight Distance | Delay | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | 3+ hours | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km | 3+ hours | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km (EU to non-EU) | 4+ hours | €600 |
Lufthansa operates many long-haul flights (Frankfurt/Munich to US, Asia, etc.). These fall in the €600 bracket for delays over 4 hours — the highest compensation tier.
Lufthansa operates regional flights through subsidiaries:
- Lufthansa CityLine — fully covered by EU261
- Eurowings — separate airline, but also EU261-covered
- Discover Airlines (formerly Eurowings Discover) — Lufthansa subsidiary, fully covered
All use the Lufthansa claims process, but you may see different operating carriers on your booking.
Send a formal claim letter to:
Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Feedback Management
60473 Frankfurt, Germany
Include:
- Flight number, date, booking reference
- Delay duration and reason
- Compensation amount claimed
- EU261 legal reference
- Bank account details
Enter your flight details — we handle the rest.
Lufthansa frequently cites technical issues for delays. As with all airlines, this is generally not an extraordinary circumstance. Aircraft maintenance is the airline's responsibility.
However: Lufthansa sometimes provides more specific explanations than budget airlines — which can actually help you challenge the claim if the detail reveals it's a normal maintenance issue.
Lufthansa sometimes uses "operational reasons" without specifics. This is not a valid reason for denying compensation.
What to do: Ask for specifics. If they can't provide detail, the rejection is invalid.
Lufthansa has had frequent strikes:
- Pilot strikes (Vereinigung Cockpit)
- Ground staff strikes (ver.di)
- Cabin crew strikes (UFO)
| Strike Type | Extraordinary? |
|---|---|
| Lufthansa's own pilots | ❌ Usually no (airline's labour dispute) |
| Lufthansa ground staff | ❌ Usually no |
| Airport ground crew (third party) | ✅ Usually yes |
| ATC strike | ✅ Yes |
Important: German courts have generally ruled that an airline's own staff strikes are not extraordinary circumstances — the airline is responsible for managing labour relations.
Lufthansa sells connecting flights (unlike Ryanair). If your first Lufthansa flight is delayed and you miss your connection:
Example: Frankfurt → Munich (delayed 2 hours) → connecting flight to Tokyo missed, arrived 5 hours late → €600 (based on total delay and distance).
Status passengers sometimes get better immediate service (lounge access, rebooking priority) during disruptions — but EU261 compensation is the same regardless of status. A Senator and a economy passenger on the same delayed flight get the same €250/€400/€600.
Lufthansa is German-registered. The German limitation period is 3 years (per German civil law).
However, if your flight departed from or arrived in another EU country, that country's limitation period may apply:
| Departure/Arrival Country | Time Limit |
|---|---|
| Germany | 3 years |
| UK | 6 years |
| France | 5 years |
| Spain | 5 years |
| Italy | 2 years |
When in doubt, file sooner rather than later.
Lufthansa is generally more professional than budget airlines — but they still reject 35-45% of valid claims. We know how to push back.
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Flagship carrier, same rules. Don't let the brand prestige intimidate you out of your rights.