Lufthansa: what to check and what to do next.

Before you send a request

Record what happened in your own words. Keep the itinerary, payment receipts and the airline’s explanation. Separate a refund of a charge from reimbursement of an expense and from statutory compensation: qualifying for one does not settle the others.

Check the airline that actually operated the affected flight. A logo on your ticket does not by itself establish the operating company or governing law. Act promptly on baggage problems; initial reporting and a later written claim can have different time limits.

Delay

For qualifying EU-covered delays, request meals and communications; an overnight wait can include hotel and transfers.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited EU notice; applicability and exceptions still require review.

Provision: Delays

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Care thresholds depend on flight distance; fixed compensation is a separate question.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU passenger-rights notice

Cancellation

For a qualifying EU-covered cancellation, ask for rerouting or reimbursement plus necessary care.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited EU notice; applicability and exceptions still require review.

Provision: Cancellation

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Cancellation notice and extraordinary circumstances affect compensation separately from assistance.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU passenger-rights notice

Denied boarding

For qualifying involuntary oversales denial, request rerouting, assistance and compensation review.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited EU notice; applicability and exceptions still require review.

Provision: Overbooking

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Confirmed booking, check-in and the denial reason matter; volunteering and valid safety/document refusals differ.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU passenger-rights notice

Downgrade

For an EU-covered downgrade, request the applicable distance-based share of the affected segment price.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited EU notice; applicability and exceptions still require review.

Provision: Downgrade

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Purchased versus flown cabin and segment distance are needed; a seat change alone is not a cabin downgrade.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU passenger-rights notice

Refund dispute

After a qualifying EU cancellation or sufficiently long delay, ask about reimbursement if you abandon the journey.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited EU notice; applicability and exceptions still require review.

Provision: Delays; Cancellation

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Completed travel and rerouting choices affect reimbursement; this is not an automatic refund for every delay.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU passenger-rights notice

Meals and accommodation

Request reasonable food, necessary overnight accommodation and airport transfers for a qualifying EU disruption.

Scope: EU-related journeys under the cited EU notice; applicability and exceptions still require review.

Provision: Delays; Overbooking; Cancellation

Next step: Keep the itinerary and receipts; ask the airline to review this provision.

• Waiting thresholds and necessity apply. Choosing a later date for personal convenience can end airline-paid care.
• Mandatory law can provide additional rights; this summary is not a payment guarantee.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-15 · Published EU passenger-rights notice

Missed connection

For a connection disrupted by Lufthansa’s cancellation or significant delay, Lufthansa offers free rebooking to the same destination and travel class, subject to availability.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Short-notice disruptions — rebooking

Next step: Check the app or My bookings for replacement travel; ask the transfer desk if the connection is not resolved.

• Protected through-bookings differ from separate tickets. Partner-operated flights and voluntary route changes need their own review.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Missing paid extras

If an operational change prevents Lufthansa from providing your paid seat category, the advance-seat fee is refundable. A seat-number change alone may not qualify.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Operational changes — cancellation and refund

Next step: Contact the Lufthansa Service Center with the seat receipt and replacement category.

• This covers paid advance seats; exit-row eligibility, voluntary rebooking and complimentary upgrades have separate exclusions.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Voucher dispute

Lufthansa provides a refund route for a ticket converted into a Flight Value Voucher that you no longer want to use.

Scope: Lufthansa Flight Value Vouchers only; no cash-out promise for all voucher products.

Provision: Flight Value Voucher refund

Next step: Use its Flight Value Voucher refund process with the original ticket and voucher details.

• Flight Value Vouchers differ from gift cards, discount codes and other credits. The underlying ticket and voucher record determine the refund.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Delayed baggage

Report a missing bag to Lufthansa immediately, ideally before leaving the airport. Keep the PIR; the tracing service arranges onward delivery once it is found.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Delayed baggage — immediate reporting, delivery and essentials

Next step: Update your delivery address and claim reasonable essential purchases with receipts.

• Report to the final operating airline where applicable. Online reporting has airport/time limits; expenses must be minimized and assessed.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Lost baggage

Lufthansa’s loss process requires a timely delay report and contents list. If the bag remains missing for more than 21 days, request compensation for the proven loss.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Delayed bag beyond21 days — loss compensation

Next step: Complete the contents list in the baggage tracker and keep proof of ownership and value.

• The detailed search list opens after five days. Liability limits are ceilings, not automatic payments; do not buy a full replacement wardrobe on that assumption.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Damaged baggage

Report checked-bag damage to Lufthansa immediately, no later than 7 days after receiving the bag. Keep the written confirmation and reference number.

Scope: Check the cited policy’s route, operator, booking and travel-date conditions.

Provision: Damaged baggage — reporting and handling

Next step: Use its damaged-baggage reporting route; keep the bag, photos and purchase details for assessment.

• Report to the responsible operating airline; a delayed bag discovered damaged still needs a timely damage report.
• Published conditions and mandatory law apply; payment is not guaranteed.

Official Lufthansa source ↗ · Checked 2026-10-17 · Official published source checked 2026-10-17

Keep your request clear

Ask for the specific remedy supported by your records, attach copies rather than irreplaceable originals, and keep your submission confirmation. If an airline declines, save its reason before choosing an escalation route. Do not send full credit-redemption codes or account passwords to CoinTravel.

General policy information, not legal advice or an eligibility decision. Published terms may have changed and may differ from those on your travel date. Applicable law may provide additional rights. No payment is guaranteed.