FlyerOwed

Lufthansa delay & cancellation compensation: how to claim

Last reviewed: November 2026

In a nutshell

If your Lufthansa flight arrived 3+ hours late, was cancelled at short notice or you were bumped, you may be owed up to €600 (or £520) per passenger. You can claim directly from the airline, without a claims company taking a cut.

Check your flight free in 60 seconds

See if you're likely owed compensation, how much, and the time limit. If you are, get a ready-to-send claim letter for £9.99 / €11.99 / $14.99 per booking. You keep 100%.

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Which Lufthansa flights are covered?

Lufthansa is licensed in Germany, so it's an EU airline. EU rules (EU261) cover its flights departing from the EU AND its flights arriving in the EU from elsewhere. UK rules (UK261) also cover its flights departing from or arriving in the UK.

How much you could claim

You need to reach your final destination 3 hours or more late, or have your flight cancelled with less than 14 days' notice, or be refused boarding against your will, and the cause mustn't be genuinely extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather or air traffic control restrictions.

  • Up to 1,500 km: €250 (EU rules) / £220 (UK rules) per passenger
  • 1,500–3,500 km: €400 / £350
  • Over 3,500 km: €600 / £520 (half if you arrived 3–4 hours late)

If Lufthansa refuses or doesn't reply

  • UK flights: Lufthansa is listed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority as a member of Schlichtung Reise & Verkehr (German scheme the CAA lists for this airline), a free independent dispute scheme. You can use it after the airline's final response, or 8 weeks after complaining.
  • EU flights: complain to the national enforcement body of the country the flight departed from (for flights from Germany: Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA)).
  • Last resort: small claims court in the country of departure or arrival.

Your letter in English and German

Our claim letter is written in English, and you can also get it in German at no extra cost.

Find out if you're owed compensation

See if you're likely owed compensation, how much, and the time limit. If you are, get a ready-to-send claim letter for £9.99 / €11.99 / $14.99 per booking. You keep 100%.

Check my flight free →

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FlyerOwed is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to Lufthansa. The airline's name is used only to describe passengers' rights. General information, not legal advice.