Lufthansa Flight Cancelled: Your EU261 Rights
Lufthansa is the largest airline group in Europe, operating under Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines. When any Lufthansa Group airline cancels your flight, EU261 entitles you to up to 600 euros. Here is how to claim it.
Lufthansa Group and EU261
Lufthansa Group includes Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings. All are EU carriers and all are fully covered by EU261 on every flight they operate, whether departing from or arriving at EU airports.
One claim, multiple brands. If your flight was marketed as Lufthansa but operated by Swiss or Austrian, you should claim from the operating carrier. Check your boarding pass or booking confirmation for the actual operating airline.
Compensation Amounts
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Short-haul (up to 1,500 km): €250 per person.
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Medium-haul (1,500 to 3,500 km): €400 per person.
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Long-haul (over 3,500 km): €600 per person.
Lufthansa operates extensive transatlantic routes from Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC). Most US routes fall in the over-3,500 km category, meaning €600 per person. A family of four on a cancelled Frankfurt to New York flight could claim €2,400. Read our EU261 guide for complete details on distance-based amounts.
How to File Your Claim
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Visit lufthansa.com and navigate to "Feedback" or "EU261 Claim" under Customer Relations.
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Enter your booking reference, flight number, and travel date.
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Cite EU Regulation 261/2004 by name and state the specific compensation amount.
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If your flight was operated by Swiss, Austrian, or Brussels Airlines, file with that carrier's website instead.
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Keep a copy of your submission and allow 6 to 8 weeks for a response.
German Courts and EU261
Germany has a 3-year limitation period for EU261 claims, which is shorter than the UK's 6 years. If your Lufthansa flight departed from Germany, you have 3 years from the date of the disruption to file. German courts have been generally passenger-friendly in EU261 cases, and several landmark rulings have expanded passenger rights.
German small claims courts (Amtsgericht) handle EU261 cases regularly. If Lufthansa refuses your claim and you filed within the 3-year limit, a court claim is a viable option. Many passengers have won EU261 cases against Lufthansa in German courts.
Escalation
If Lufthansa rejects your claim, escalate to the German Federal Aviation Office (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) or the NEB in the departure country. For flights from Frankfurt or Munich, the German authority handles complaints. These agencies are free and can compel Lufthansa to pay. You can also check your flight with TravelStacks for an eligibility assessment.