My Experience With Flight Compensation Claims
Flight delays used to be something I just accepted. Sit at the gate, watch departure times slide, eventually get home hours late with nothing but frustration to show for it. Then a colleague mentioned AirHelp after a particularly brutal Frankfurt delay, and I figured I had nothing to lose.
Here’s what I learned about the service and what the reviews actually say.
How the Claim Process Works
The system is straightforward—enter your flight details on their website, and it checks whether you qualify under EU Regulation EC 261/2004 or other applicable rules. EU regulations are particularly strong on passenger rights, something I didn’t fully appreciate until going through this process.
If your flight qualifies, you sign a digital agreement, provide some documentation, and AirHelp’s legal team handles the rest. The dashboard lets you track claim status in real time, which I appreciated. No mysterious black box—you can see exactly where things stand.
The Cost Question
They operate on a no-win-no-fee basis, taking 35% of whatever they recover. That’s higher than some competitors charge, and I’ll be honest—seeing a chunk of my compensation go to fees stung a bit. But I also know I wouldn’t have pursued the claim myself. Airlines make these processes deliberately tedious.
Probably should mention that court cases incur additional fees. AirHelp is transparent about this upfront, which matters.
What People Actually Say
I dug through reviews on Trustpilot and Google before signing up. The majority are positive—people getting money they didn’t expect to see, appreciating the hands-off process. Some reviewers waited months for resolution, which seems to depend on how hard the airline fights back.
Negative reviews cluster around two complaints: long wait times and communication gaps during processing. A few people felt the 35% fee was too steep for smaller claims. Fair criticisms, honestly.
The Legal Muscle Behind It
What impressed me was their willingness to take airlines to court. Most individuals won’t sue an airline over €400—the hassle exceeds the reward. AirHelp’s legal team does this constantly, which changes the math. Airlines know these claims won’t just disappear if they stall long enough.
That’s what makes this service endearing to frequent travelers—someone else deals with the corporate bureaucracy while you go about your life.
Mobile App and Support
The app works well—file claims from your phone, get push notifications on status changes. Customer support is responsive through live chat, less so through email. The FAQ section handles most common questions without needing to wait for a human.
Who Should Use This
If you fly in or out of Europe and experience significant delays, canceled flights, or denied boarding, checking eligibility takes two minutes. The compensation can be substantial—up to €600 per passenger depending on circumstances. Worth investigating even if you eventually decide to pursue the claim yourself.
For smaller amounts where 35% feels like too much to give up, other services charge less. For significant claims where you want legal expertise handling the fight, AirHelp delivers.
