Lufthansa Denied Boarding Compensation

Were you denied boarding by Lufthansa even though you had a valid ticket?

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If you were refused entry onto your Lufthansa flight against your will, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 — plus care and assistance at the airport.

Check compensation     

What is denied boarding?

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Denied boarding happens when an airline refuses to let you board a flight you have a confirmed ticket for, despite arriving at the airport and checking in on time.

This often happens because of:

• Overbooking (selling more tickets than seats available)
• Aircraft changes resulting in fewer available seats
• Operational mismanagement

If the denial was Lufthansa’s decision and not your fault, you may be entitled to both compensation and assistance.

When are you entitled to denied boarding compensation from Lufthansa?

Under EU Regulation 261/2004, you can claim compensation if:

• You had a valid booking and checked in on time
• Boarding was denied against your will
• The flight departed from the EU, or was operated by an EU airline arriving in the EU
• The denial wasn’t due to extraordinary circumstances or your own conduct (e.g., missing documents)

Lufthansa denied boarding: what are your care rights at the airport?

If you’re denied boarding, the Lufthansa must immediately offer you:

• Meals and refreshments
• Access to phone calls or email
• Hotel accommodation if you must wait overnight
• Transport between the hotel and airport

These rights apply regardless of the reason for denied boarding.

More about Lufthansa 

Lufthansa is Germany’s flag carrier and a foundational member of the Star Alliance. As of 2025, the Lufthansa Group served approximately 131 million passengers in 2024, making it the second-largest European airline by passenger numbers. In that year, the Group achieved a record revenue of €37.6 billion, though operating profit (Adjusted EBIT) declined to €1.6 billion.

Despite its scale and legacy, Lufthansa also faces notable operational disruptions. In 2024, it had a cancellation rate near 2.9%, one of the highest among European legacy carriers. Delay rates were similarly elevated, with approximately 27% of its flights delayed—averaging around 50 minutes per delay.

These figures reveal that even major established airlines like Lufthansa are not immune to systemic pressures—meaning you may well be eligible for compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004.