Your Lufthansa compensation claim is denied.
Dealing with Lufthansa compensation claims on your own can be frustrating, especially if you’re not sure if you’re eligible. So, what should you do next if your claim is rejected? Is it worth to pursue compensation? Absolutely! You can always hire a flight compensation firm to handle it for you. But remember, that’s not your only option.
You can continue to advocate for your rights independently.
Your Lufthansa Compensation Claim Is Denied. Now What?
What to do if your Lufthansa compensation claim is denied?
There are alternative methods to obtain compensation from Lufthansa.
However, before progressing further, you should review the relevant legislation and reexamine your rights. Are you even entitled to flight compensation?
1. Collaborating with Flight Compensation Companies
The most straightforward approach is to collaborate with a flight compensation company.
To claim your compensation, simply complete an online form and provide copies of your boarding pass and passport. After signing the claim, you can leave the rest to the company. No need to communicate with Lufthansa anymore.
If any additional inquiries require your input, the flight compensation company will contact you. Keep in mind that flight compensation companies usually charge around 25-45% of the compensation amount.
Our partners provide such services.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
How much does it cost?
Usually, the cost equates to about 25 to 45 per cent of the compensation. The remainder is forwarded to you. If you aren’t getting compensation, you don’t have to pay. Make sure to check the fees before agreeing to collaborate with a flight compensation company.
Read more:
- How to Claim Lufthansa Compensation?
- Your Lufthansa Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?
2. Approaching the NEB of the Country of Your Flight’s Origin
Collaborating with a flight compensation firm isn’t the only option.
If you’ve tried reaching out to the airline directly and either got rejected or received no response, your next step is to contact the NEB (National Enforcement Bodies). This service is free, but it’s not as simple as working with a flight compensation company and can take a while. Usually, they take at least 2 months to process your compensation request.
The largest disadvantage — a favourable response to your application doesn’t ensure that you will be compensated. Lufthansa may still reject the claim.
You can locate a list of the National Enforcement Bodies here.
The National Enforcement Bodies assist passengers in the event of denied boarding, flight delay or cancellation, as well as enforce the regulation Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and make sure passengers are treated according to these rules.
3. Taking the Case to Court
If your Lufthansa compensation claim is denied, you can take legal action.
It is highly recommended to obtain a favourable verdict from the NEB in advance. This ruling can greatly strengthen your case against the airline.
This option, though complex, is highly effective. Before filing your complaint in court, make sure your claim is legitimate. Take a look at your rights and build your argument. Then, you can confidently determine if going to court is the right choice. If you have an NEB ruling that confirms your eligibility for compensation, include it with your court documents.
Be aware, that legal proceedings will have costs.
Extraordinary Circumstances
Often, airlines skirt around providing the accurate reason for rejecting your claim.
They offer only vague explanations.
They are quick to label almost any situation as “extraordinary circumstances”.
This common practice is easily understandable – airlines avoid compensating passengers because it doesn’t generate profit. They take advantage of the fact that most passengers are not fully aware of their rights. So, be cautious when this term is used.
According to EU regulation 261/2004, airlines are absolved from the obligation to compensate for flight disruptions caused by extraordinary circumstances. These exceptional situations encompass severe weather conditions, political unrest, security issues, airport staff strikes (but not airline staff strikes), and hidden manufacturing defects. Precisely, only hidden manufacturing defects qualify as extraordinary circumstances. Most mechanical issues fall under the airline’s liability.
Furthermore, adverse weather conditions are not always considered extraordinary circumstances. Weather patterns, such as winter snowfall, can usually be predicted unless snow is uncommon in the area. In such cases, the airline is responsible for making appropriate arrangements to maintain punctual flight operations.
Ascertain the actual cause of the delay or cancellation.
It is important.
When Can You Get Flight Compensation From Lufthansa?
In several scenarios, you may be legally entitled to seek flight compensation from Lufthansa.
These circumstances encompass flight delays, last-minute flight cancellations, and cases where boarding is denied as a result of overbooking.
1. Flight Delays
As outlined in EU regulation 261/2004, passengers have the right to compensation if their flight reaches the destination with a delay exceeding three hours. This delay must be the airline’s fault.
The exact amount of compensation is determined by the length of the delay and the distance covered by the flight. For instance, if your flight from Frankfurt to London, a journey less than 1,500km, arrives four hours after the scheduled time, you may claim up to €250 as compensation.
Read more: Lufthansa Flight Delay Compensation
2. Flight Cancellations
You are also entitled to compensation when your flight is cancelled without at least a 14-day advance notice. As long as this cancellation is due to the airline’s fault.
The compensation amount depends on the flight distance and the delay in reaching your destination. For example, if your flight from Frankfurt to New York (a long-distance flight of over 3,500km) gets cancelled without sufficient notice, resulting in a delay of more than four hours on a replacement flight, you may be eligible for up to €600 in compensation.
Keep in mind that you may also opt for a full Lufthansa refund, instead of an alternative flight.
Read more: Lufthansa Flight Cancellation Compensation
3. Denied Boarding Due to Overbooking
Overbooking is a common practice among airlines in anticipation of no-show passengers.
If you face boarding denial due to overbooking and you do not voluntarily surrender your seat, you qualify for compensation.
The amount of compensation is based on the distance of your flight. For example, if you’re flying from Berlin to Madrid, which is a distance between 1,500km and 3,500km, and you’re denied boarding due to overbooking, you can claim €400 as compensation if you arrive at your destination more than three hours late.
Read more: Lufthansa Denied Boarding Compensation
What is your experience with Lufthansa’s compensation claims? Do you have first-hand experience of denied Lufthansa compensation claims? Did you take the case to NEB or court?