Lufthansa flight compensation for infants and children.
Are infants eligible for flight delay or cancellation compensation?
Yes. Infants can get flight compensation. Even if your infant is travelling on your lap and doesn’t have a seat of their own, they are still entitled to compensation as you do. If your flight is disrupted due to the airline’s fault, both you and your child, regardless of age, are entitled to compensation. The law makes sure that everyone is treated fairly, and that the compensation amounts are the same for everyone.
Keep reading to learn about your family’s air passenger rights.
1. Lufthansa Flight Compensation for Infants and Children: EU Regulations
When talking about Lufthansa flight compensation for infants and children, your baby or child can get compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled due to the airline’s fault. This includes cases of being involuntarily denied boarding as well.
Your child is eligible for up to 600 euros, no matter how old they are.
Yes, your child can get the same compensation as you.
This applies even if your baby is travelling without their own seat, as they have the same rights as adults. When flying with European airlines, including Lufthansa, every passenger is protected.
Why are lap infants eligible for compensation? Because that’s the rule in Europe. If you paid any fee for your baby’s ticket and the flight was significantly delayed or cancelled, they are entitled to compensation from the airline. Even if it’s only a small part of the full ticket price, compensation should be paid fully when due.
Children, babies, and lap infants receive the same compensation amount as adults.
1.1 What Types of Lufthansa Compensation Are Children Entitled To?
Kids are eligible for the same compensation as adults.
In Europe, there are three main types of compensation:
- Flight delay compensation – if your flight is delayed by more than 3 hours due to the airline’s fault;
- Flight cancellation compensation – if your flight is cancelled within 0-14 days before departure due to the airline’s fault;
- Denied boarding compensation – if you are denied boarding against your will because of overbooking.
To learn more about these compensation types, click on the provided links.
In all cases, you can receive up to 600 euros per passenger.
Your child can receive up to 600 euros, too.
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
2. How to Claim Lufthansa Compensation for a Baby?
There are two ways to claim Lufthansa flight compensation for infants and children.
To get flight compensation, you have two choices: contact the airline straight away or use a flight compensation service. The second option is easier.
When seeking compensation for a baby or child, you should use the same procedure as you would for an adult. When travelling with your family, one person can make a claim for the whole family. The best thing is that this one person does not need to be one of the travellers.
- When reaching out to the airline directly, make sure you have all your documents ready. Be ready to explain clearly what happened and why you think you’re entitled to compensation. Airlines might try to deny your claim or lower your rightful compensation, so it’s important to know your rights and keep going for what you are owed.
- Alternatively, a flight compensation company can save you time and hassle by handling all the communication with the airline for you. We recommend seeking compensation through a flight compensation company.
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.
2.1 How Long Does It Take to Receive Flight Compensation?
Often, this process takes a minimum of 2-3 months.
If it becomes necessary to escalate the issue to a national enforcement body or go to court, this can add at least a few more months to the timeline, sometimes up to 6 months or longer. Many people prefer to seek assistance from flight compensation companies instead of dealing with the airline directly because of these long wait periods.
3. Lufthansa Flight Compensation Amount for Babies and Adults
Lufthansa flight compensation for babies and kids is the same as for adults – €250, €400, or €600 based on the flight distance.
The compensation applies to each individual. If your family of four is on the same flight, every person is entitled to the same compensation amount.
Here’s how you can figure out the compensation amount (per person):
When your destination is within the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
When your destination is outside the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
€600
If the distance of your flight is more than 3,500 km
3.1 Lufthansa Voucher as Compensation. Can You Request Monetary Compensation?
As an alternative to compensation, you and your family may be given a voucher.
Remember, you’re not required to accept vouchers or coupons unless you choose to. Generally, in the EU and UK, airlines must provide compensation and refunds in cash or through a bank transfer.
4. Extraordinary Circumstances: Can Your Baby Get Compensation from Lufthansa?
There are times when you and your child won’t be eligible for compensation.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled because of bad weather or security issues, you won’t get EU flight compensation from Lufthansa. When it comes to airport strikes, they are not all viewed equally. If it’s a Lufthansa staff strike, it’s their responsibility and fault. If it’s an airport staff strike, it’s seen as an extraordinary circumstance.
Also, remember that airlines might not always be fully transparent.
When in doubt, always verify the information you’re given.
For example, aircraft technical issues are usually not counted as extraordinary, unless there’s a hidden manufacturing defect. If your flight is delayed or cancelled due to technical issues, you have the right to ask for compensation. Or, you can get help from a flight compensation company to make sure you’re not being misinformed. These companies can check your flight details and file for compensation on your behalf.
Simply complete our claim form, and our partners will handle the rest for you.
5. Right to Care for Babies and Children
Infants and children also have the right to care.
If you and your children are ever stuck at the airport, there are regulations to help you out. EU Regulation 261/2004 provides protections for travellers facing long delays, cancellations, and denied boarding.
Airlines must offer care if your wait lasts more than three hours in the airport.
If your Lufthansa flight is delayed, cancelled or overbooked, the airline has to give you free meals and drinks based on how long you wait. If you need to spend the night, Lufthansa has to arrange free accommodation and transport to and from the hotel.
The entire family can get food and a free hotel stay.
Have questions about Lufthansa flight compensation for infants and children? Feel free to ask in the comments below.
Featured photo by Wemerson Santana from Pexels