Lufthansa flight delay compensation: up to €600 under EC261
A qualifying Lufthansa delay can lead to EC261 compensation of €250, €400 or up to €600 per passenger. The flight must be covered, the final arrival delay generally needs to reach three hours, and fixed compensation can be unavailable where Lufthansa establishes qualifying extraordinary circumstances. Care and reimbursement rights are separate.
Check the specific flight →How much compensation could be due?
Fixed compensation is only one part of passenger rights. The applicable regime, flight distance, final arrival delay, disruption cause and any rerouting can change the amount or remove fixed compensation entirely.
| Flight distance / route | Reference amount |
|---|---|
| 1,500 km or less | €250 |
| Intra-EU over 1,500 km, or other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km | €400 |
| Other flights over 3,500 km | Up to €600 |
For long-haul EC261 delays, the amount can depend on the arrival delay and may be reduced in some rerouting situations. Extraordinary circumstances can also remove fixed compensation.
Three hours at the final destination is the key delay threshold
Lufthansa's passenger-rights guidance separates waiting-time assistance from the fixed-compensation assessment. For a standard delay claim, final arrival time is central rather than the departure delay shown at the gate.
Coverage, operating carrier, final arrival delay and the reason for the disruption all matter before any fixed payment can be supported.
- Keep the booking confirmation and operating flight number.
- Record the actual arrival time at the final destination.
- Keep Lufthansa's written explanation of the disruption where available.
Lufthansa publishes €250, €400 and €600 compensation bands
Lufthansa's current passenger-rights guidance lists €250 for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km and for longer intra-European flights, and €600 for flights over 3,500 km when the applicable legal conditions are satisfied.
Rerouting can permit a 50% reduction in specified circumstances, so the replacement itinerary and actual arrival time matter.
Extraordinary circumstances can change the compensation result
Air traffic control restrictions, severe weather, security events and other external causes can affect fixed compensation. The airline still needs to connect the defence to the actual disruption, and a flight-specific assessment is safer than assuming a whole airport event produces the same outcome for every passenger.
Meals, hotel accommodation and reimbursement are separate
Significant delays can create care obligations such as meals and refreshments and, where necessary, hotel accommodation. A delay of more than five hours can also make reimbursement relevant if the passenger decides not to continue the journey.
Keep itemised receipts when reasonable care is not supplied directly.
Prepare the facts before submitting a Lufthansa claim
A useful claim file includes the booking, operating flight details, actual arrival time, airline messages about the cause, any rerouting and reasonable expense receipts. Those facts are also what AeroDue uses to avoid giving a generic result.
Official sources used for this guide
This page separates general editorial guidance from AeroDue's flight-specific checker. The sources below support the legal or operational framework described here.
Airline guidance
Official guidance
Related AeroDue guidance
Flight delay rights
Start with the broader disruption guide if you need the general framework before checking a specific flight.
Passenger rights
See how AeroDue keeps compensation, refunds, care and eligible expenses separate.
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