Lufthansa Flight Delay Compensation

Lufthansa flight delay compensation.

How to claim for delayed flight? And how much can you get?

In Europe, air passengers are protected against flight delays, flight cancellations and denied boarding. With the latter it applies only to overbookings. No matter your nationality, age, price of your ticket or whether or not you have travel insurance, the law protects you. And airlines, including Lufthansa, have to follow these laws. How to claim compensation for a delayed flight?

One of the options is to let professionals deal with this.

Or, you can pursue flight delay compensation on your own.

1. Lufthansa Flight Delay Compensation: EU Regulations

Overall, the EU flight delay compensation rules are simple.

If your flight arrived late, and it’s due to airline’s fault, you are entitled to receive compensation from the airline. This applies to all Lufthansa flight delays of 3+ hours, last-minute cancellations and denied boarding. If you reach your destination 3+ hours later than scheduled, and it is due to Lufthansa’s fault, you can get flight delay compensation from Lufthansa.

If you’re flying to or from Europe, your flight is delayed for 3 or more hours, and the delay is due to the fault of Lufthansa, you are eligible to compensation of up to €600. If your flight is with a non-EU airline (Qatar Airways, Thai Airways, etc.), it applies only to flights departing from the EU.

Could you be entitled to Lufthansa flight delay compensation?

Yes, if:

• It’s a 3+ hour delay;
• It’s a delay due to the fault of Lufthansa;
• Flight is to/from the EU, EEA, UK.

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.

1.1 Extraordinary Circumstances

There are situations when you aren’t eligible for compensation. 

Flights delayed due to “extraordinary circumstances” are not eligible to compensation. 

What are “extraordinary circumstances”? These are situations which are considered out of airlines’ control. Bad weather, natural disaster, national strike, terrorism threat, security issues are extraordinary circumstances. All of these events are beyond the control of airlines. If your Lufthansa flight has been delayed because of extraordinary circumstances, can’t get Lufthansa flight delay compensation.

What about strikes? Because some strikes aren’t considered extraordinary circumstances. If it’s a Lufthansa staff strike, and that causes delay, you might be entitled to compensation. If it’s a strike unrelated to the airline, it’s considered an extraordinary circumstance.

One more thing to remember is that not always airlines are telling the real reason for delay. That’s why when in doubt, double check what you’re told.

To avoid paying compensation, airlines often don’t tell the real reason behind the delay. If your flight has been delayed due to technical problems, the airline might tell you that it was due to  extraordinary circumstances. Even though technical problems aren’t extraordinary circumstances. One of the options, how you can check the information that you are being given, is to file a claim with a flight compensation company. They will check your flight on your behalf. And if, in fact, the airline was not telling the truth, they will request compensation on your behalf. Our partners can do that for you.

Just fill in the claim form. See the link below.

1.2 How to Calculate the Delay Time?

What really matters is the time of arrival to your destination.

Especially if you have a connecting flight. See how much later you arrive at your final destination. Do not calculate the delay for each individual flight leg. 

Flight delay time is calculated based on the actual time of arrival to your destination, specifically, when the doors of the airplane are opened. If the doors are opened 3 or more hours after the original arrival time, you can get compensation. Keep in mind that you can’t calculate the delay time based on the time of departure.

1.3 Right to Care

In Europe, you have a right to care.

Your flight is delayed, and you are stuck at the airport waiting until your delayed flight departs. In the EU, EEA and UK, you have a right to receive certain services from the airline. For free. As long as the waiting time at the airport is at least 3 hours. This also applies to cancellations and overbooking. With European airlines like Lufthansa it applies to all their flights.

Lufthansa must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If the flight is delayed overnight, you should be offered accommodation and transportation from and to the airport as well. In Europe all passengers are eligible for this type of care from the airline.

2. How to Claim Lufthansa Compensation For Delayed Flight?

How to claim flight delay compensation Lufthansa owes you?

There are two ways you can do it online.

One of the options is to contact Lufthansa yourself. It’s not hassle-free, but it’s doable. Use the feedback and contact form on the website of Lufthansa. Fill in the form with all the necessary information and submit the claim. Note that this process may take a few months. Be prepared to send a few more messages. Be ready for negotiations. Make sure you have all the necessary information about your flight, including the reason why your flight was delayed, and how long the delay was.

The more information you have, the better for you.

The second option is — legal representation.

It’s the easiest of the two options.

It’s also hassle-free. All you have to do is to fill in a compensation claim form. That’s it. The rest is done on your behalf. By a team of professionals. Our partners offer such services.

Read more:

• How to Claim Lufthansa Compensation?
• Lufthansa Missed Connection Compensation
• Your Lufthansa Compensation Claim Is Denied. Now What?
• Your Lufthansa Flight Is Delayed. Should You Wait at Home?

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

How long does it take to get Lufthansa flight delay compensation?

No matter how you proceed, it isn’t a short process. 

Until 2020, it was more or less 2-3 month long process. Now, however, there are more situations when it takes longer than this. Especially if you make a claim yourself (without the help of flight compensation company) and the airline decides to ignore or reject your claim. 

That’s also one of the main reasons why many choose to work with flight compensation companies — because it’s hassle-free, and the success rate is higher. Our partners offer such services.

3. How Much Can You Claim?

The compensation amount is fixed and range from €250 to €600.

How to calculate your Lufthansa delayed flight compensation?

Use this simple flight delay compensation calculator.

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Lufthansa Voucher Refund or Cash?

You might be offered a voucher or coupon instead of compensation.

Majority of airlines were offering coupons during the COVID crisis. 

Keep in mind that you don’t have to accept vouchers, coupons, discount codes, miles or anything else. Compensation and refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer. These are the laws in the European Union (and EEA and the UK as well).

Compensations we are talking about in this article have to be paid to your bank card.

Lufthansa Flight Delay Compensation: FAQ

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Lufthansa flight delay compensation? Do you still have questions about Lufthansa compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.