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.

Check your Lufthansa flight in 30 seconds — free, no account

What went wrong?

1/4

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

    Or ask a specialist to file it for you

    If you would rather not deal with the airline yourself, our partner Compensair can file the claim for you on a no-win-no-fee basis. SubRadar never takes a cut of your compensation.

    See the specialist option →

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

Find forgotten Lufthansa claims in your inbox

SubRadar scans Gmail and Outlook for Lufthansa booking confirmations from the past 3 years and surfaces potential EU261 claims.

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