Navigating travel complications and unexpected expenses has become a significant challenge in our increasingly mobile world. However, many travelers aren’t aware that they’re entitled to compensation for delayed, flights under EC Regulation 261/2004. With numerous companies across Europe deploying their legal expertise to secure these compensations, finding the best flight compensation company can feel overwhelming. It’s crucial to remember that the most advertised companies are not necessarily the most reputable or effective. Through comprehensive research, we’ve curated a list of what we consider the 10 best flight compensation companies to help passengers make informed decision and meet their specific needs.
Our Top 3 Flight Compensation Companies of 2024
Our Picks
- Skycop: Best Overall
- AirHelp: Most Popular
- ClaimCompass: Best Value
- Flight-Delayed.co.uk: Easiest to Use
- Refundmore: Most Reliable
- ClaimFlights: Best for Frequent Users
- Flightright: Most Versatile
- FairPlane: Best for Customer Service
- FlightClaimEU: Best Usability
- AirAdvisor: Smoothest Interface
Flight Compensation Companies Reviewed
1. Skycop.com
Ranks #1 out of 34 flight compensation companies
Overall, Skycop provides a lot of information and a streamlined process for getting compensation from airlines. They pride themselves on getting people the money that they are owed, and their customer service and amount of people that they have successfully served provides a tangible reflection of this passion. Skycop has a very informative and secure website that explains the process and what it may entail very well. Their staff and willing to work through several months of claims and negotiations to get results, and past customers say they do this patiently and graciously. Skycop provides all the information you need to decide if you want to use their company to claim compensation from airlines. They have low commissions, but they put plenty of time and effort into the process that would otherwise take months of further disruption to your life and schedule. They make it worth it to open a claim and begin the process to see if you can get anything back your disrupted travel experience.
Claim your compensation with Skycop here
or Read our full Skycop review
2. Airhelp.com
Ranks #2 out of 34 flight compensation companies
AirHelp claims to be the leading travel compensation site for airline cancellations, delays, and overbooking. They have been reviewed on over 70,000 occasions and have maintained a rating above 9/10, which is impressive for any business. Their compensation amounts are higher than other airline compensation sites while maintaining the industry standard 35% success fee, which is completely risk free. It’s clear that the team members at AirHelp are knowledgeable, and on their “About Us” page, potential customers can see and learn a bit about who will be managing their claim. With such a soundtrack record, AirHelp will deliver exceptional service and provide the most compensation possible, all while customers sit back and let the team take all of the time out of the claim process. Also, when airlines deal with individual customer claims, they are less likely to compensate on time and are more willing to let the issue go to court. However, when they are repeatedly dealing with a renowned airline compensation firm, such as AirHelp, airlines will be more willing to compensate quickly.
Claim your compensation with AirHelp here
or Read our full AirHelp review
3. Claimcompass.eu
Ranks #3 out of 34 flight compensation companies
ClaimCompass is a professional and efficient company in the business of flight compensation. They are very highly reviewed on their website and generally applauded for being efficient, communicative, and overall an easy and effective service. Sometimes people are skeptical of the process of flight compensation, but ClaimCompass makes it easy to feel like you are getting the money you deserve with little hassle or headache.
ClaimCompass is responsive and will work as quickly as possible to get the claim and compensation taken care of. Some reviewers mention receiving compensation in as little as two weeks. While each case is highly variable, ClaimCompass seems to have a faster turnaround time than other companies. In addition, they are available to interact with customers in many languages, so they can offer their services to a large percentage of the people who are flying within the European Union under these regulations.
Overall, ClaimCompass works efficiently on behalf of the passenger and has staff with immense knowledge of the airline industry and regulations. They provide plenty of information, including ratings on each airline’s flight compensation tendencies, so the customer has a good idea of what they are getting into. Furthermore, the more claims they can win, the more money they will make, so they are pretty motivated to bring you the money you deserve to compensate for a bad flight experience in the European Union.
Claim your compensation with ClaimCompass here
or Read our full ClaimCompass review
4. Flight-delayed.co.uk
Ranks #4 out of 34 flight compensation companies
Overall, Flight-Delayed is a good choice of airline compensation sites. They do not have the highest volume, but that may mean more meaningful interaction with team members. Their high reviews and near-perfect success rate speak for their professionalism. And at the least, their website is a good resource for learning about what rights customers have in cases of egregious airline conduct. As usual, you can count on Flight-Delayed to not waste your money because they only take 29% of what the airline agrees to compensate, making each claim valuable to them. Reliability is by far their most vital asset. Unfortunately, flight cancellations and delays happen frequently, so having a good airline compensation team is important. And while it can be challenging to choose an airline compensation provider when there are so many, Flight-Delayed will offer each of its customers reliability and experience. If you can look past the lack of telephone correspondence and trust that Flight-Delayed will do all they can to win your compensation, then when you submit your claim through the team at Flight-Delayed, you can sit back and know that sometime within the next year, your money will be rolling in.
Claim your compensation with Flight-Delayed here
or Read our full Flight-Delayed review
5. Refundmore.com
Ranks #5 out of 34 flight compensation companies
Refundmore.com has more than 25 legal experts on their team who specialize in European air passenger law, working directly with the airline to help you get compensation for delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flights, as well as lost luggage, missed connections, and additional expenses. Their website is easy to use, with only three steps from start to finish. First, you enter your information to see if you are entitled to compensation, open a case if you are, then wait for your payment.
Refundmore.com charges a commission for each case they win, with a maximum fee of 30 percent, depending on the case’s complexity. If your case goes to trial, they will charge an additional 15 percent fee. You do not have to pay if you do not win your claim against the airline, so it’s in Refundmore.com best interest to deliver the best service possible.
Refundmore.com has more with 2,300 reviews on TrustPilot with an average rating of 4.8/5 stars. Customers report being happy with the support they received. They shared they avoided all the hassle by partnering with Refundmore.com while winning their case.
Claim your compensation with RefundMore here
or Read our full RefundMore review
6. Claimflights.co.uk
Ranks #6 out of 34 flight compensation companies
Overall, ClaimFlights looks like an exceptional compensation service. They fight on behalf of their clients based on European laws to get the compensation their customers deserve. They service an excellent seventy nine airlines and forty airports across three continents. This global reach is a plus for any potential clients because it offers a vast number of both airlines and airports that could be covered under their claim. While their global reach goes as far as North American and Asian companies, the only problem is that claims can only be made on claims that either took off or landed in a European Union country. In addition, they do not speak all the different languages of the countries they service, so if the customer does not speak another language, such as English or German, it will be hard for them to use the service. They have an almost 100% success rate and work on a “No Win, No Fee” basis with no hidden costs, which means it is free to use if you do not receive any compensation. They have 9.7 out of 10 stars on TrustPilot. ClaimFlights is a good option for customers seeking compensation from a much wider travel area than just within the UK or significant European countries.
Claim your compensation with ClaimFlights here
or Read our full ClaimFlights review
7. Flightright.com
Ranks #7 out of 34 flight compensation companies
FlightRight is a successful company that fights for travelers who have lost money, time, and peace of mind due to problems with air travel. These problems could be as simple as a delay of over three hours to as large as a flight cancelation or overbooking. Any one of these experiences can waste a lot of traveler’s time and lead to other missed flights, reservations, or important events they are trying to get to. Flightright fights on behalf of the customers to get these funds back. They have a 99% success rate in fighting the airlines on behalf of the clients, with the possibility of fighting these claims up to six years after the traveler’s flight. They have excellent reviews from notable sources such as the Wall Street Journal, NBC News, the Boston Globe, and the Daily Telegraph, as well as many satisfied customers. They also work on behalf of their customers with a large selection of airlines and airports as long as the flight either took off or landed within a country in the European Union. The span of FlightRight’s reach in the airline world gives the opportunity to many customers to receive the compensations they deserve without having to fight the airlines themselves.
Claim your compensation with FlightRight here
or Read our full FlightRight review
8. Fairplane.co.uk
Ranks #8 out of 34 flight compensation companies
With its dedicated lawyers, researchers, and experts, FairPlane gives you the best chance of success when it comes to your airline compensation claim. They are able to do this thanks to their ability to compile data on flight plans, weather data, and other necessary things to help with your claim. They claim to have a near perfect success guarantee which aligns with the overwhelmingly positive response.
Their website is user friendly and spells everything out in easy to understand terms. It tells you how much you are paying, how long it takes, and any caveats you need to take not of. While this branch is only located in the United Kingdom, the FairPlane company covers many European airlines and countries.
FairPlane also stays with the client every single step of the way, making sure they are informed of their claim status, as well as making the process easier in every way. They contact the airline directly and work with them and the law to get the best result possible. They have only been in the game a few years, but they have proved that they have the know-how, the resources, and the support of others to help clients get the compensation for the delayed flight and cancellation they are owed. It may take a little while to get your claim settled, but they will do whatever is necessary to get it to you, and you will only be charged if your claim is successful.
Claim your compensation with FairPlane here
or Read our full FairPlane review
9. Flightclaimeu.com
Ranks #9 out of 34 flight compensation companies
Since FlightClaimEU is a part of CCN Aviation, they have access to resources that other flight compensation companies may not. They have their own supply of legal counsel and lawyers who can help you receive any compensation you may be owed due to a delayed or cancelled flight. Through their claims process, they make sure to be thorough and provide any necessary information that may help you receive compensation.
Not only do they deal with delayed and canceled flight claims, but FlightClaimEU also has a baggage claim service and a tax claim service. Through these, you can earn extra compensation by declaring any baggage or luggage lost during a flight as well as using unused tickets due to a delayed or cancelled flight for a tax break.
The claims resolution time for FlightClaimEU is a little faster than other places, which gets you any possible compensation more quickly, and they will only charge you if they win the claims. That being said, they do not guarantee that you will receive any compensation, but due to their positive reviews of handling claims, it is likely that if you are owed by the airlines, you will get compensated.
Their website is easy to use and provides answers to any questions you may have, including how to file a claim and the steps it takes to process it. They also provide extra information about all their services. FlightClaimEU differentiates itself thanks to the additional services and extra efforts they take to give you any compensation you may be owed.
Claim your compensation with FlightClaimEU here
or Read our full FlightClaimEU review
10. Airadvisor.com
Ranks #10 out of 34 flight compensation companies
AirAdvisor is a standard airline compensation provider. They’ve helped over a thousand clients receive compensation for flight delays and cancellations issues. Their website is easy to navigate, and their FAQ answers seem concise and informative. Their success fee is nothing lofty but rather an industry standard 25%, taken after the case is won. With a success rate of 98%, most clients can feel assured that by choosing AirAdvisor they will almost certainly receive some amount of compensation. Since compensation ranges EUR 250-600, potential clients can quickly calculate how much AirAdvisor will compensate them. Although wait times for compensation can seem lengthy, being between roughly 2 months to a year, this is mainly due to the laws around when compensation must be dulled out by airlines and less to do with the AirAdvisor team. While it would be nice for AirAdvisor to expand their scope of customers to include more EU languages, the five they offer are still inclusive compared to other airline compensation companies. Overall, choosing AirAdvisor would be a wise choice for anyone looking for an average sized payout at very little risk of losing their case.
Claim your compensation with AirAdvisor here
or Read our full AirAdvisor review
OUR EXPERTS HAVE TESTED 34 CLAIM COMPANIES
Other Companies Taken Into Consideration
We reviewed 34 companies before selecting 10 best flight compensation companies. That means many others were close but did not quite make the top list. These companies are still good for some, just not all, of our customers. For example, they may speak a few languages or even just one language. That is very limiting to their potential customers. Also, they could be limited in their jurisdiction and in what countries they help their customers. These companies are not worse than the others. They just did not meet all the qualifications that we looked for when choosing the top ten for our customers. However, they would still be a great choice if they fit your needs.
11. Claimair.com
Ranks #11 out of 34 flight compensation companies
Claimair.com is a flight compensation company based in Prague, Czech Republic. They use global legal frameworks signed by more than 100 countries to guide their work. As long as your delay occurred in the EU – even if it’s not an EU-based airline – you are eligible for compensation.
Filling out their form takes just two minutes. Simply enter your information, including personal details and flight information. Claimair.com will contact you if your case is accepted and begin negotiations with the airline on your behalf. If needed, they will take your case to court, and you only pay if they win.
Claimair.com takes a 25 percent commission on all cases. Most customers receive their compensation within 13 weeks, though some can take longer depending on the complexity of your case. Claimair.com keeps you informed as updates are available, and with a 90% success rate, the odds are in your favor to receive a settlement.
Claimair.com has a 4.2 rating on TrustPilot, with more than 144 customers raving about the great service. They were pleased with the high level of customer service and quick resolution, helping get them the money they are entitled to.
Claim your compensation with ClaimAir here
or Read our full ClaimAir review
12. Bottonline.co.uk
Ranks #12 out of 34 flight compensation companies
BottOnline is a compensation company that fights to earn many different types of compensation for their customers. These compensations can come as a result of cycling accident claims, car accident claims, holiday claims, bounty data breach claims, and consumer claims, in addition to their flight compensation claim section. They work fast and hard for their customers. They boast that 50% of their claims are completed within 30 days, and if they have not heard from airline companies within 30 days, they issue court proceedings on behalf of their customers. Their website does not offer a live chat option, but it is very easy to navigate, provides a wealth of information for the customer, and is mobile friendly.
BottOnline provides a flat rate chart, so their customers know just how much they will be paying for BottOnline services which end up being 25% commission plus VAT plus an additional administration fee of 23 Euros. They have average reviews on TrustPilot but are rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Feefo based on over 8000 reviews. In addition, BottOnline can fight claims on behalf of their customers on any flight that either landed in or departed from an airport that was located within the EU. Overall, although they only speak English which limits the number of customers they can help, they seem like a strong, reputable company that fights hard for their customers and provides a wealth of speedy services.
Claim your compensation with BottOnline here
or Read our full BottOnline review
Pick the Best Flight Compensation Company and Get up to 600€
Our 10 best flight compensation companies list only includes companies that we feel are the best at providing for their customers. We carefully researched many aspects of each company, including but not limited to the languages they speak, where they are located, how long they have been in business, their customer reviews, what airports and airlines they work with, and many more. We used these categories to provide our customers with a list of the best companies that provided the most resources for their customers, had the best success rates, and who we believed would best suit the needs of the greatest number of our customers.
Criteria
- Cost/Fee: One crucial feature that we compared across all companies was the cost to their customers and their success fee. The standard price for most companies was 30% commission on money earned plus Value Added Tax, while some charged service charges per application and others set a larger percentage. Our readers needed to know how much it would cost them to use each service.
- Languages spoke: Another important feature was what languages the companies spoke. For companies that offer services to many different countries within the EU, it is important they speak a vast number of languages.
- Customer reviews: Customer reviews were a valuable part of our rating because they gave us an idea of actual customer experiences with the company. Sometimes it is hard to tell if the company actually follows through on its shiny website promises, so reading genuine reviews from real customers allowed us to see what customers liked about the company, what they loved, what they didn’t like, and additional information about the companies that were not provided on the website like average compensation time.
- Average Compensation time: Customers want to know how soon they will receive their compensation rather than waiting for some undisclosed amount of time for the company to fight on their behalf. They also want to know how well the company will keep them updated on the proceedings and the status of their case. Most company websites gave an average compensation time of 8-12 weeks, while customer reviews revealed they often took much longer.
- Resources they offer the customer: Many company websites also provide other resources to their customers, such as a calculator so they can approximate the compensation they will receive, a blog to keep them updated on the latest flight news, a place to educate themselves on their air passenger rights and communication options such as a live chat option on their website. These companies had higher customer satisfaction because they met more of their customer needs.
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
⭐How much are you entitled to claim?
Cancelled or delayed flight compensations are issued in different amounts, dependent upon the flight distance: 250€, 400€, and 600€.
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✅Up to 1500 km
Passengers on flights up to 1500 km can receive up to 250€ compensation.
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✅From 1500 km to 3500 km
If the distance was from 1500 km to 3500 km long, you qualify for up to 400€ compensation.
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✅More than 3500 km
If your flight was over 3500 km in length, your compensation could be as high as 600€.
You can calculate your distance and compensation here:
✔️When are you entitled to flight compensation?
EC Regulation Number 261/2004 establishes standard rules for passenger compensation aid for disrupted flights in the European Union countries. These rules state that passengers can expect compensation if their flight was departing or arriving in the EU and was delayed due to the airline’s fault. Compensation is given to a passenger who has experienced a delay of more than 3 hours. A flight delay, in general, can be any delay, but in order to qualify for compensation, the delay must put you at your final destination more than 3 hours late. A cancelled flight is considered eligible for compensation if it was cancelled less than 14 days before the scheduled departure date. Bellow, you will find the most common airline faults:
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✔️Airplane technical issues
Suppose the airplane has mechanical or technical issues, such as faulty landing gear or questionable control systems. In that case, the aircraft is considered to have technical errors and is not safe to proceed with the flight.
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✔️Airplane rotation
Rotation situations involve the plane arriving late from its previous destination. This situation offsets the time it departs on its following scheduled flight route.
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✔️Operational issues
Operational issues can include anything having to do with the planning of the flight. That typically involves route planning, but it could consist of other technicalities that affect the plane’s operation.
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✔️Other
The law provides some level of flexibility here since there are other scenarios where the flight may not be able to proceed with its flight route. However, these reasons are not always foreseeable. Therefore hard to document specifics.
❌When are you not entitled to claim flight compensation?
There are certain circumstances where the airline is not responsible for flight disruptions. If the airline is not responsible, then passengers do not qualify for compensation.
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❌Delayed for less than 3 hours
If your flight was delayed, but you still made it to your final destination less than 3 hours late, you do not qualify for compensation.
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❌Flight canceled more than 14 days ago
A cancelled flight is not considered eligible for compensation if it was cancelled more than 14 days before the scheduled departure date.
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❌Airplane manufacturing flaws
Manufacturing flaws in the aircraft are considered to be no fault of the airline. Under these conditions, no compensation is required.
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❌Bad weather conditions
If it is determined to be unsafe for the aircraft to depart, the airline is not at fault, and compensation is not required.
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❌Strikes and incidents
Strikes are not considered the fault of the airline; therefore, compensation benefits do not apply.
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❌Non-EU flight/operator
If your flight carrier isn’t registered in the EU, the flight does not qualify for compensation.
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❌Anything related to COVID-19
If your flight was cancelled or delayed because of COVID-19, you are not eligible for flight compensation.
Video Version
Conclusion
Many travelers are missing out on flight compensation they deserve due to missed flights, cancelled flights, or airlines overbooking flights, so there is no room for them on the plane. In 2004, the EC ruled on regulation 261/2004, which protects European travelers from being taken advantage of by airlines by providing travelers with an opportunity to be compensated when there is a complication with their flight. Since this ruling, there have been many companies that have armed themselves with the best travel lawyers in Europe who are willing to fight for their customer’s rights and get them the compensation they deserve.
However, with so many options, it can be hard to know just which one is the best company to use. We reviewed a total of 34 flight compensation companies to narrow the list down to just the top 10, so we could provide our customers with what we believe to be the best flight compensation companies to suit their needs.
In order to complete this list, we considered things like how many languages the company speaks, what languages their website is available in, where the company is located, how much they charge their customers for their services, what their average compensation time is, what other customers are saying about them, and what resources they offer the customer.
Although we have selected the companies we believe to be the best, each customer will have a different experience based on their unique case. For this reason, we know that the companies we think are the Top Ten may not be the best for each individual situation. In addition, the statistics we provide on the companies, such as average compensation time, are not guaranteed as they are an average based on the company’s claims and the reviews of users.