What a flight!

Germany

Flight compensation in Germany

Germany has the deepest body of EU261 case law in Europe, and most of it has gone the passenger's way on technical faults and crew problems.

Which flights are covered

Departures from any German airport, whatever the airline, and arrivals into Germany on an EU carrier. Lufthansa, Eurowings, Condor and Ryanair dominate the claim volume.

Two free escalation routes

  • söp — the independent arbitration scheme for transport passengers. Free, online, and airlines usually comply with its proposals.
  • Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA) — the enforcement body, which polices compliance rather than deciding your individual payout.

söp is the faster route for getting paid; the LBA matters when an airline systematically refuses.

Deadlines

Three years, counted from the end of the calendar year in which the flight took place. A flight in March 2024 is therefore claimable until 31 December 2027.

Quick answer

Germany has the deepest body of EU261 case law in Europe, and most of it has gone the passenger's way on technical faults and crew problems.

Country
Germany
Main rule
EU261
Compensation
€250–€600 per passenger
Escalation body
Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA)
Typical claim deadline
Generally 3 years from year-end

Domande frequenti

What is söp and does it cost anything?
It is Germany's passenger arbitration body. It is free for passengers and handles EU261 disputes directly.
Will a German court accept an English claim letter?
Airlines will. For court proceedings a German translation is expected.
How far back can I go?
Three years, measured from the end of the flight's calendar year.

Primary sources

Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.