QUALIFY IT
Involuntary or voluntary?
If your client was asked to give up the seat and accepted a deal, they take the agreed benefits instead of Article 7 compensation. If they were simply refused boarding on a confirmed booking with timely check-in, the money is owed.
Establish which happened, in writing, the same day.
THE MONEY
What is it worth?
€250
Under 1,500 km
€400
1,500–3,500 km
€600
Over 3,500 km
Per passenger — payable immediately under Article 4(3).
Full band with no delay-based reduction: €250 under 1,500 km, €400 to 3,500 km, €600 beyond.
THE PUSHBACK
What Lufthansa will say
Expect the language of "rebooking" rather than denied boarding. The label the airline uses does not decide the legal question; the refusal of a confirmed seat does.
Weather, ATC, and staffing arguments are irrelevant here. Article 4 has no such defence.
THE EDGE
What’s specific to Lufthansa
Lufthansa oversells the Frankfurt long-haul banks hardest — the €600 band is where its denied-boarding claims live.
söp conciliation is free after a refusal, and denied-boarding cases are among the simplest to win there because the defence list is empty.
Germany’s three-year year-end limitation applies here too — sooner than the UK regime agents may be used to.
Reading this as the passenger, not the agent? The plain-English version for your own trip: bumped from a flight — your rights. If Lufthansa has cancelled your own flight: Lufthansa cancelled your flight? What you're owed.
THE PLAY
How do you file it?
Record involuntary versus voluntary the same day, in writing.
Claim Article 4(3) compensation, Article 8 refund or re-routing, and Article 9 care together.
Escalate to söp if refused.
FLYING IT YOURSELF?
Check what Lufthansa owes you — free, two minutes. $39 only if the airline pays.
Check my flight →TRAVEL AGENTS · Forward the booking and this claim is prepared for you. Start watching client flights →
AGENTS ASK
Questions agents ask
Does an oversold flight count as extraordinary circumstances?
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No. Overselling is a commercial decision and Article 4 has no extraordinary-circumstances defence anyway.
They accepted a voucher at the gate — is the claim gone?
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If they volunteered for an agreed package, they take that instead. If they were told to stand down, the compensation is owed.
Is the money payable immediately?
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Yes — Article 4(3) makes compensation payable at the point of denied boarding.
Do they also get a hotel?
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Article 9 care applies while they wait for the re-route, including meals and accommodation where needed.
How long do we have to claim?
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Three years from the end of the year of the flight in Germany.
The law this guide is written against: EC261 full text (EUR-Lex) · UK261 full text (legislation.gov.uk)
General information for travel professionals, not legal advice. Compensation depends on the facts of each disruption and the airline’s evidence. MyAirAdvocate prepares claims; it does not represent passengers and takes no percentage of any compensation.