Lufthansa delayed flight: how to claim your compensation
Lufthansa is Germany's flag carrier and the leading European group (with SWISS, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings). All these airlines are EU-licensed and fully covered by Regulation (EC) 261/2004.
Lufthansa Group: who is the operating carrier?
Lufthansa Group includes several subsidiaries. Compensation is owed by the operating carrier, not the marketing brand. Check your boarding pass:
- Lufthansa (LH): main brand, Frankfurt/Munich hubs
- SWISS (LX): Switzerland (EU equivalent for EC 261 by treaty)
- Austrian Airlines (OS): Vienna hub
- Brussels Airlines (SN): Brussels hub, strong Africa network
- Eurowings (EW): low-cost, German/European
- Lufthansa CityLine (CL): regional
Each handles its own claims, but all are EU airlines and EC 261 applies regardless.
Lufthansa compensation amounts
| Lufthansa route | Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt ↔ Paris/Madrid/Rome | ≤ 1 500 km | €250 |
| Frankfurt ↔ Athens/Casablanca/Cairo | 1,500-3 500 km | €400 |
| Frankfurt ↔ Lagos/Johannesburg/Bangkok | > 3 500 km | €600 |
Lufthansa strikes: clear case law
Lufthansa has been hit by major pilot strikes (Vereinigung Cockpit) and cabin crew strikes (UFO) repeatedly. These are NOT extraordinary circumstances per the CJEU's Krüsemann ruling (April 2018):
- Internal staff strikes are part of the airline's normal business risk
- The airline retains social negotiation responsibility
- German courts have applied this consistently against Lufthansa
So if you were stranded by a Lufthansa pilot strike, full compensation is due.
The most common Lufthansa defenses
- "Technical issue" — Wallentin-Hermann: not extraordinary unless hidden manufacturing defect. Defeated in 90% of cases.
- "Aircraft change for safety" — depends on the exact reason. If swapped for normal maintenance, not extraordinary.
- "Slot allocation by ATC" — only valid if it's an actual ATC strike or closure, not routine peak-hour traffic.
- "Operational disruption from previous flight" — internal scheduling risk, not extraordinary.
Brussels Airlines: strong Africa network
Brussels Airlines (Lufthansa Group) operates major Brussels-Africa routes: Dakar, Kinshasa, Yaoundé, Douala, Abidjan, Cotonou, Ouagadougou, Banjul, Lomé, Conakry, Freetown, Monrovia, Luanda, Entebbe, Kigali. All flights >3 500 km = €600 per passenger.
Claim process against Lufthansa
- Online form at lufthansa.com/customer-feedback or via the app (faster).
- Required documents: PNR, boarding pass, IBAN, ID.
- Wait 30 days: Lufthansa typically responds within 3-6 weeks, often with a counter-offer (50% of the amount).
- Refuse the partial offer: if EC 261 conditions are met, demand the full amount.
- If refused: escalate to the German LBA (Luftfahrt-Bundesamt) or use a specialist service.
Statute of limitations: 3 years in Germany
In Germany, the limitation period is 3 years, running from year-end of the flight. For a flight in March 2022, you have until 31 December 2025 to claim. For a flight in November 2023, until 31 December 2026. Beyond: time-barred.
How Robin des Airs helps
We file in the most favourable jurisdiction (departure country or German jurisdiction). We have direct experience with Lufthansa Group's standard defenses. 25% commission only on success.
Related: KLM delayed flight, Extraordinary circumstances.