What passenger rights are covered under the EC261 Regulation?
EC Regulation 261/2004 safeguards travellers holding valid tickets and booking confirmations, flying either from or to a European airport.
This rule applies to every passenger, whether they are on package tours, flying with budget airlines, or on business trips. It protects passengers from flight issues such as delays, cancellations, or being denied boarding, granting compensation of up to €600 per person under specific situations.
Apart from that, you also have the right to care from the airline if you have to wait for an extended period at the airport.
What Is EC261 Regulation?
The EC261 Regulation is a European Union law that defines the rights of air passengers during flight disruptions. It was established to protect travellers’ interests and ensure they get fair treatment from airlines. Thanks to this law, if there are issues with your flight, in many cases, you are entitled to flight compensation.
The amount of compensation you can get depends on how far your flight is.
Does EC261 still apply in the UK? Yes, it does.
Eligibility Criteria for Lufthansa Flight Compensation
With Lufthansa, the rule applies to all flights that either depart from or arrive at a European airport.
For non-European airlines (airlines registered outside Europe), these rules only apply when the flight departs from a European airport.
Make sure you have a confirmed booking and check in on time.
You can claim flight compensation from Lufthansa if:
- Your flight is delayed by 3 hours or more.
- Your flight is cancelled within 14 days of departure.
- Your flight is overbooked, and you’re refused boarding.
Keep in mind, that it has to be the airline’s fault.
In this situation, being a non-European doesn’t affect your right to compensation from Lufthansa. The ticket price also doesn’t matter.
How Much Is Flight Compensation? (EC261 Regulation)
The compensation you could get depends on the distance of your flight. The following list details the different amounts of compensation according to the EC261 regulation:
- For flights up to 1,500 kilometres: €250
- For flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometres: €400
- For flights over 3,500 kilometres: €600
In addition to these basic compensation amounts, you may also be able to claim any extra costs you had because of the flight disruption, such as hotel stays or alternative transportation costs. However, these costs need to be reasonable and directly related to the flight delay or cancellation.
The amounts are the same for all air passengers, including infants.
To start your compensation claim, please fill out our claim form. A team of experts will review your information and decide if you qualify for compensation under EC261 regulations.
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.
Read more:
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.
Rights of Passengers in Case of Flight Delay with Lufthansa
Passengers experiencing flight delays are protected by EU Regulation 261/2004.
This includes getting information about the delay, receiving free meals and drinks based on the length of the delay, and having access to communication facilities.
If the delay lasts a long time, you might be entitled to free accommodation.
Short Flight Delay vs. Long Flight Delay
For delays of three hours or more, passengers are entitled to care, including meals, beverages, communication options, and overnight accommodation if necessary.
Passengers might be eligible for compensation for flight delays of three hours or more, depending on the cause of the delay.
You can get compensation if your Lufthansa flight gets to its destination more than three hours late for reasons the airline can control, like technical issues or staffing problems (including Lufthansa staff strikes).
Flight delays under three hours are considered short delays. For these shorter delays, there are no specific rules about what the airline has to offer passengers.
Rights of Passengers in Case of Flight Cancellation with Lufthansa
If your flight is cancelled, you must be given the option of either a refund or reroute. You can pick the option that works best for you.
- A full refund from Lufthansa paid directly to your bank account.
- New flight arrangements or flights to your destination (Lufthansa or another airline).
You are also entitled to compensation for the cancellation unless it is caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control and if your flight is cancelled more than 2 weeks before the time of departure.
Flight Cancellation Refund vs Cancellation Compensation
These are two different things.
You are entitled to a refund whenever an airline cancels your flight.
You have the option to choose either a refund or a rebooked flight.
Sometimes, you are also eligible for flight cancellation compensation. You can claim compensation from Lufthansa if the flight is cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled arrival date and the airline is at fault.
- You can choose to get a refund.
- AND receive compensation (if your flight qualifies).
Rights of Passengers in Case of Flight Overbooking/Denied Boarding with Lufthansa
Passengers who are denied boarding because of overbooking are entitled to either an alternative flight or a refund of their ticket cost.
- A new flight or a full refund.
- Compensation for denied boarding (if you didn’t agree to give up your seat).
- Immediate compensation (if you voluntarily give up your seat and Lufthansa is providing immediate compensation to volunteers).
If you volunteer to give up your seat, you cannot claim European denied boarding compensation. However, if you didn’t volunteer but were still denied boarding, you can claim European denied boarding compensation.
You Have a Right to Care From Lufthansa
In all these scenarios, you also have a right to care from Lufthansa.
You are entitled to this right if your flight is either delayed, cancelled, or overbooked.
Anytime you have to wait longer than anticipated, you are entitled to this right.
- If the delay is three hours or more, you have a right to receive free meals, refreshments, and communication access (this includes any of the following: email, phone calls, and internet).
- If the delay extends overnight, you have a right to free hotel accommodation.
Is Lufthansa Covered by EU Regulation 261/2004?
Yes, Lufthansa flights are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004.
This is because Lufthansa is a European airline.
For non-European airlines, these regulations apply only to flights departing from European airports. For example, when flying with American Airlines, you are entitled to these rights only on flights departing from European countries.
Read more: Key Differences Between the Montreal Convention and EC261