Lufthansa flight delay and cancellation compensation
If Lufthansa delayed you 3 or more hours or cancelled your flight with less than 14 days notice, and it was within Lufthansa's control, you can claim 250 to 600 euro under EU261. You also get care rights (meals, and a hotel if stranded overnight) during long delays. Lufthansa often cites extraordinary circumstances, but many refusals can be challenged. The easiest route is Compensair, a free check on a no-win-no-fee basis. Rules verified July 8, 2026.
Lufthansa is an EU airline, so EU261 applies to all its departures from the EU and to its flights into the EU. The rule gives fixed cash compensation for long delays, cancellations and denied boarding within the airline's control, on top of care during the disruption. Here is how much and how to claim.
How much Lufthansa owes
When your Lufthansa flight qualifies
- Delay: you arrived at your final destination 3 or more hours late.
- Cancellation: Lufthansa told you less than 14 days before departure.
- Denied boarding: you were bumped from an overbooked flight.
- Fault: the cause was within Lufthansa's control (a technical fault or own-staff strike usually counts; air traffic control strikes or severe weather do not).
- Care rights: during long delays you are also owed meals, communication and, if stranded overnight, a hotel and transfers.
Claim it: our pick
Our pick to claim against Lufthansa: Compensair
No-win-no-fee EU261 claim service
No win, no fee
If Lufthansa delayed you 3 or more hours, cancelled with under 14 days notice, or denied you boarding for reasons within its control, you can claim 250 to 600 euro under EU261. Compensair checks your Lufthansa flight for free and, if eligible, handles the claim and escalation. You pay nothing up front; its success fee is about 30 percent, with an extra 10 percent only if legal action is needed. Checked July 8, 2026.
Pros
- Free Lufthansa eligibility check, no upfront cost
- Handles the airline paperwork and escalation for you
- Claims the full EU261 amount where eligible
- Rated about 4.6/5 on Trustpilot (attributed)
Cons
- Success fee about 30 percent (plus 10 percent if legal action needed)
- Payouts can take time if Lufthansa disputes the claim
- Only worthwhile if the disruption was within Lufthansa control
Best for: Lufthansa passengers who want the compensation without handling the claim themselves.
Claiming directly vs using a service
Lufthansa has its own online compensation form, and claiming yourself costs nothing: provide your booking reference, flight number and the scheduled versus actual arrival times, citing EU261. If it refuses wrongly you can escalate to the German aviation authority or an ADR body, or go to court. That can be slow, especially when the airline argues extraordinary circumstances. A no-win-no-fee service like Compensair handles the fight for a share of the payout.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Lufthansa delay compensation?
Under EU261 the amount depends on distance: 250 euro for flights up to 1,500 km, 400 euro for 1,500 to 3,500 km, and 600 euro for over 3,500 km, when you arrive 3 or more hours late or the flight is cancelled and Lufthansa is at fault. It is a fixed amount per passenger, not linked to the ticket price.
When is a Lufthansa flight eligible for compensation?
When you arrive 3 or more hours late, the flight is cancelled with less than 14 days notice, or you are denied boarding, and the cause was within Lufthansa control. As an EU airline, Lufthansa is covered by EU261 on all its EU departures and on flights into the EU.
What are my Lufthansa care rights during a delay?
Beyond cash compensation, EU261 gives you care during long delays: free meals and refreshments appropriate to the wait, two phone calls or internet access, and, if an overnight stay is needed, hotel accommodation and transfers. These apply even when the delay is caused by extraordinary circumstances.
Can I claim if Lufthansa blames a strike?
It depends who struck. Strikes by Lufthansa’s own staff are generally within the airline’s control, so compensation is usually due, while external air traffic control or airport strikes are extraordinary and exempt. Airlines often cite strikes broadly, so a refusal is worth challenging.
See our full EU and UK flight compensation guide or check British Airways and Air France compensation.