Help! Compensation/ refund for cancelled flight.

Hi everyone!

So back in Nov 2025, I booked two tickets from SFO-FRA-Madrid for 3/12/2026. The first leg from SFO-Frankfurt was with United Airlines and the second leg FRA-Madrid was with Lufthansa.

Long story short, I received an email from Lufthansa on 3/11 informing me of the Vereinigung Cockpit union strike(their pilots) for 3/12-3/13 and they ended up cancelling my flight. Lufthansa later rebooked me for 3/14 with an arrival to Madrid at midnight leading to 3/16. I asked them to rebook me on a few different flights that were still leaving the same day but had different layover locations, and they told me no even after telling them that I can see there are seats available online. We had plans to be in Madrid from 3/14-3/16 only for a Real Madrid game that we paid a lot more than I am proud of. This was a once in a life time experience for us so we definitely splurged for really good seats. Eventually, I just told the CS gal to just refund me the tickets since she “COULD NOT” book me on a same day or next flight. I ended up booking new tickets for the same day SFO-IST-Madrid through Turkish airlines and now had a long layover in Istanbul. I went on the trip and had an amazing time, luckily no more issues.

Fast forward 3 weeks later, I still have not received a refund or any communication from United or Lufthansa. I sent a follow up email asking for an update and included receipts for accommodations and transportation costs incurred from the cancellation. It is also my understanding that we qualify for compensation under EU regulation 261. With the cost of the original tickets, new flights, extra hotel and food/transportation I am nearly out $4500. Considering they cancelled the flight within 24 hours of departure and refusing to rebook me on a sooner yet comparable flight, is my ask for a refund and compensation irrational?