EU261 · LH
Lufthansa flight compensation
Mixed short and long-haul. Long-haul cases route to AirHelp.
Typical amounts
€250 / £220 · €400 / £350 · €600 / £520
Set by distance under Art 7(1), per passenger.
Regulator
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt
Free escalation if the airline refuses or ignores you.
Registered in
Germany
Relevant to arrivals into the EU or UK from outside.
Where to send it
Online form; söp conciliation is the recognised German escalation route.
What they tend to argue
- Long-haul refusals are more likely to be litigated — the Article 7(2) halving on 3–4 hour arrivals is worth checking on every offer.
- Germany's three-year limit runs to the end of the calendar year, which is more generous than passengers expect.
Claim it yourself first
- Write to Lufthansa quoting the article. “I am claiming under Article 7 for a delayed arrival on [flight] on [date].” Free, and you keep the whole amount. Use the template.
- Give them 28 days and diary the deadline.
- Refuse a voucher offered in place of cash.
- Escalate free to Luftfahrt-Bundesamt if they refuse.
- Only then consider a claims service.
Long-haul refusals are the ones most likely to need legal follow-through. Doing it yourself costs nothing and keeps the full amount — use a service once you have hit a wall.
Questions
How much compensation can I claim from Lufthansa?
The amount depends on flight distance, not on the airline and not on your fare. Lufthansa routes typically fall in the €250 / £220 · €400 / £350 · €600 / £520 range under Article 7.
How do I claim compensation from Lufthansa?
Online form; söp conciliation is the recognised German escalation route. Write first, quoting Article 7 and your flight number, and allow 28 days before escalating to Luftfahrt-Bundesamt.
Which regulator covers Lufthansa?
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt. You can also complain to the enforcement body of the country you departed from.