My Frankfurt connection was missed by 40 minutes and I arrived a day late. What am I owed?

The delay counted is the one at your final destination, so an overnight rebooking on a long-haul route typically sits in the €600 band.

Does it matter that the second leg was on a partner airline?

What matters is that both legs were in one booking and the operating carrier's departure or arrival brings the flight into scope. Address the claim to the carrier that operated the disrupted leg.

Lufthansa offered miles instead of cash. Should I take them?

Only if you value the miles above the cash. You are entitled to the euro amount, and accepting an alternative usually settles the claim.

Airline guide

Lufthansa compensation

Lufthansa's hub model means most disruptions involve a connection — and that is where the largest claims come from, because the delay is measured to your final destination.

Quick answer

Lufthansa's hub model means most disruptions involve a connection — and that is where the largest claims come from, because the delay is measured to your final destination.

Airline: Lufthansa
Main hub: Frankfurt
Potential compensation: €250–€600 per passenger
Route coverage: EU departures; EU-airline arrivals

Does Lufthansa have to pay?

Lufthansa flies from EU and EEA airports, so EC Regulation 261/2004 applies to those departures regardless of where the flight is going. Frankfurt and Munich feed long-haul routes across the Atlantic and to Asia, so the €600 band is frequently in play. Most of those routes fall in the €250 band, with longer ones reaching €400.

What usually decides the claim

One booking with a missed connection is judged on total arrival delay, not the length of the first delay.
Long-haul arrivals 3-4 hours late may be paid at half the €600 band.
Lufthansa pilot and cabin crew strikes are the airline's own labour dispute, which courts have generally not treated as extraordinary.
Technical defects found during routine maintenance do not excuse payment; a hidden manufacturer defect can.

How to send your claim

Lufthansa accepts claims through its online feedback and compensation form, and by post to its Frankfurt customer relations address. Include both flight numbers when a connection was involved, and state the arrival delay at the final destination.

If they refuse

Airlines often reject a first claim with a one-line reference to extraordinary circumstances. Ask them to state the specific cause and the reasonable measures they took. If the answer is unconvincing or none arrives within 14 days, escalate to the national enforcement body in the country of departure — for Frankfurt-based flights that is the regulator of that state — or to an approved alternative dispute resolution scheme.

Common questions

My Frankfurt connection was missed by 40 minutes and I arrived a day late. What am I owed?: The delay counted is the one at your final destination, so an overnight rebooking on a long-haul route typically sits in the €600 band.
Does it matter that the second leg was on a partner airline?: What matters is that both legs were in one booking and the operating carrier's departure or arrival brings the flight into scope. Address the claim to the carrier that operated the disrupted leg.
Lufthansa offered miles instead of cash. Should I take them?: Only if you value the miles above the cash. You are entitled to the euro amount, and accepting an alternative usually settles the claim.

Primary sources

Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — EUR-Lex
Air passenger rights in the EU — European Commission
Lufthansa official claim information — Lufthansa