Flight compensation Germanwings:
London — Hamburg

Legal right to compensation: Germanwings flight between London and Hamburg

If your trip departing from London Heathrow Airport and arriving at Hamburg Airport operated by Germanwings was disrupted, you are not alone against the airline.

By taking off from London Heathrow Airport, you are protected by the EU's legal framework. The distance of 745 km determines your legal compensation level.

Why are you entitled to 250 €?

The European Regulation EC 261/2004 is very strict regarding air passenger rights. The amount of fixed compensation does not depend on the price of your ticket, but only on the flight distance.

The case law of the CJEU has strengthened these rights over the years, transforming Regulation 261/2004 into an effective shield against abuses by carriers like Germanwings.

How to know if the flight Germanwings London - Hamburg is eligible?

Check your actual arrival time at Hamburg. If Germanwings made you wait more than three hours on the tarmac at Hamburg Airport, your claim is legitimate.

Upgrading or downgrading does not change your right to 250 € if the initial incident is qualified under Regulation 261.

What are the conditions for Germanwings to compensate you?

• Delay at arrival: You arrived with more than 3 hours delay at Hamburg.
• Cancellation: The airline cancelled the flight less than 14 days before departure.
• Overbooking: You were denied boarding against your will at London airport.
• Airline responsibility: The problem must be attributable to Germanwings (technical problem, sick crew, scheduling...).

The impact of a strike on your Germanwings compensation

Don't be fooled by Germanwings's vague terms: a 'wildcat' or declared strike remains the management responsibility of the company.

Even if 250 € is not payable due to an external strike at London, assistance (meals/hotel) remains mandatory for Germanwings.

What are your rights at London airport in case of prolonged wait?

During these long hours of waiting in the London Heathrow Airport terminal, know that the airline has a legal obligation to take care of you. This includes catering, but also the possibility of making two telephone calls or sending emails for free.

In the case of a flight postponement until the next day, the regulation stipulates that hotel accommodation and transfers from and to London Heathrow Airport airport are entirely the responsibility of the air carrier.

Steps: how to get your 250 € from Germanwings?

It is strongly recommended to keep your Germanwings boarding pass and any communication relating to the delay suffered at London Heathrow Airport airport. These documents will be vital for your case.

If you don't have the time or the desire to engage in long email exchanges, delegating your claim to lawyers is the most effective solution to see your 250 € arrive in your bank account.

How long does it take to get the 250 € compensation?

Patience is often the watchword. Airlines receive thousands of requests weekly and processing your file for the flight from London to Hamburg Airport can drag on if you don't follow up.

A collective action on the Germanwings flight from London can also be a way to get your funds faster.

What to do faced with silence or refusal from the airline?

Don't take Germanwings's email for granted claiming that the airport was blocked by snow without checking official reports.

In the last instance, it is the summons to court that often unlocks the payment. The company Germanwings will always prefer to compromise and pay the 250 € rather than incur additional legal costs for a lost cause in court.