EU261 · LufthansaUpdated July 2026

Lufthansa Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Claim Up to €600 Under EU261

Lufthansa is Germany's flagship carrier — and like all EU carriers, it's legally required to pay fixed EU261 compensation when flights are significantly delayed or cancelled. Long-haul intercontinental routes (Frankfurt–New York, Munich–Tokyo) qualify for the maximum €600 per person.

German law: 3-year claim window

Under German statute of limitations, Lufthansa EU261 claims can be filed up to 3 years after the flight date. A delayed Lufthansa flight from 2023 may still be claimable.

Am I eligible?

Flight departed from an EU/UK airport (any airline)
Flight arrived at an EU/UK airport operated by Lufthansa or a Lufthansa Group carrier
Arrival delay of 3 hours or more (measured at gate, not departure)
Cancellation notified less than 14 days before departure
Denied boarding due to overbooking
Delay caused by genuine extraordinary circumstances (e.g. ATC strikes, severe weather declared by airport)
Technical issues — this is NOT extraordinary circumstances under EU261

Compensation amounts

Flight distanceExample routesCompensation
Under 1,500 kmFrankfurt–London, Munich–Paris€250
1,500–3,500 kmFrankfurt–Cairo, Munich–Dubai€400
Over 3,500 kmFrankfurt–New York, Munich–Tokyo€600

How to file your Lufthansa EU261 claim

  1. 1

    Submit via Lufthansa's online portal

    Lufthansa has a customer relations form. Include your booking reference, flight number, and a description of the disruption. They typically respond within 4–6 weeks.

    Lufthansa EU261 portal →
  2. 2

    Escalate to SÖP or Luftfahrt-Bundesamt

    If Lufthansa denies or doesn't respond, escalate to the Schlichtungsstelle für den öffentlichen Personenverkehr (SÖP) — Germany's public transport arbitration body. Free and binding.

    SÖP arbitration (Germany) →
  3. 3

    Use a flight compensation service

    AirHelp specialises in Lufthansa claims including long-haul routes. No upfront cost — they take ~25% only when they win for you.

    Check via AirHelp →

Lufthansa denial tactics to watch for

  • Citing "ATC restrictions" as extraordinary circumstances — valid only for genuine national ATC strikes, not normal congestion
  • Technical issues on aircraft — established case law confirms this is NOT extraordinary circumstances
  • Offering Miles & More points instead of cash — you can insist on cash compensation
  • Sending a generic "extraordinary circumstances" rejection — demand a specific written explanation

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