AirHelp Review: Is This Flight Compensation Service Worth It?

Let’s be honest — who hasn’t experienced that moment when the departure board flashes the dreaded word DELAYED and you’re wondering whether you’ll make your connection or end up sleeping at the airport? Lukáš and I deal with this with clockwork regularity, and my mum missed her flight three times last year alone. That’s exactly why I started looking into whether we could get flight compensation for all those delays. That’s when I stumbled upon AirHelp. In this review, I’ll tell you everything you need to know — how much they charge, what real travellers’ experiences are like, and most importantly, whether it’s actually worth it. 😉

Our Story: How We Discovered AirHelp

It all started last May. My mum was flying back from Sicily and the journey turned into a nightmare. Her flight from Palermo was nearly three hours late, she missed her connection in Zurich and had to stay overnight unexpectedly. Sure, the airline gave her a hotel and meals, but nobody gives you back that stress and wasted time… or do they?

When she got home, we tried submitting her case on AirHelp. No complicated forms, no arguing with a call centre. We just uploaded the boarding passes.

And the result?
Cha-ching! €162.50 landed in her account. 💸 And that’s not all. When Lukáš was on a quick trip to Portugal and got stranded in Lisbon, he received €200 — even though he’d already been given a free hotel and meals.

I’ll be honest — AirHelp isn’t a charity. They took their commission from the amount recovered (around 35%). But hand on heart — we would never have dealt with all that airline paperwork ourselves. We would have just let it go and that money would have been lost.

So my new maths is clear: It’s better to have “just” 65% of the compensation in your account without any effort than to proudly own 100% of nothing. If your flight is delayed, that money is waiting for you. Don’t leave it for the airlines. 😉

TL;DR

No time for the full article? Here are the key takeaways:

• What it is: A service that handles your flight delay compensation, cancellation, or overbooking claim for you
• How much they charge: 35% of the compensation (up to 50% if the case goes to court)
• How much you get: From the maximum compensation of €600, you’d keep €390 without court proceedings, or €300 with court
• You only pay on success: If they don’t win, you pay nothing
• Trustpilot: 4.6/5 from 191,000+ reviews
• Processing time: On average 2–3 months, but can be 6+ months
• Alternatives: Flightright (from 20–30% + VAT), ClaimCompass (25–35%, court costs included)
• Worth it? Yes, if you don’t want to or can’t handle it yourself. No, if you have the time and patience to deal with the airline directly

What Is EU Regulation EC 261/2004 and What Are You Entitled To

Before we dive into AirHelp itself, it’s important to understand why you can even claim flight cancellation compensation in the first place. It all comes down to one European regulation that’s absolutely brilliant for travellers — it’s just that far too many people don’t know it exists.

Who Is Entitled to Compensation

Regulation EC 261/2004 is a law passed by the European Parliament that sets out rules for compensating air passengers. It applies to:

• All flights departing from the EU (any airline — even that obscure one you found on a comparison site)
• Flights into the EU (but only with an EU-based airline)
• It also covers flights from/to Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland

This is particularly relevant for the flight compensation UK situation — since Brexit, flights from UK airports are no longer covered unless you’re flying with an EU-based carrier. However, flights from the EU to the UK are still covered regardless of the airline. If you’re flying from London Heathrow with British Airways, for instance, you wouldn’t be covered under EC 261/2004 (though the UK has its own equivalent regulation, UK261, which provides similar protections for flights departing from UK airports).

When Are You Entitled to Compensation

• Delay of 3+ hours on arrival at your final destination
• Flight cancellation announced less than 14 days in advance
• Denied boarding due to overbooking
• Missed connecting flight with arrival 3+ hours after the scheduled time

Flight Delay Compensation Table

When You Are NOT Entitled

• Extraordinary circumstances: Severe weather, volcanic ash, security threats, air traffic control strikes
• Advance notice: The airline announced the cancellation 14+ days in advance
• Re-routing: The airline offered an alternative flight within an acceptable time window

Important Information: Limitation Period

In the UK, you have 6 years from the date of the flight to make a claim (5 years in Scotland). That’s significantly longer than many EU countries. So if your flight was cancelled in 2021 and you haven’t done anything about it — there’s still time! In other countries, the limitation period varies (just 1 year in Belgium, up to 5 years in Spain, and 3 years in most EU countries).

What Is AirHelp and How Does It Work

AirHelp is the world’s largest flight compensation service. It’s been operating since 2013, is headquartered in Berlin, and has helped 28 million customers to date. They have offices across Europe (Berlin, Barcelona, Kraków, Gdańsk…) and legal representation in 35 countries.

Essentially, it’s a middleman between you and the airline. You tell them what happened, they check your claim, and if you have a chance of getting compensation for a late flight, they take over all communication with the airline — including any potential court proceedings.

How It Works Step by Step

The whole process is surprisingly simple. Here’s what it looks like in practice:

1. Enter your flight (2 minutes) On the AirHelp website or mobile app, enter your flight number or journey details. The system instantly checks whether your flight qualifies for compensation.

2. Claim verification An automated system cross-references data about your flight — the delay, reason for cancellation, distance — and tells you whether you have a claim and how much you could receive.

3. Sign the agreement If you want to proceed, you electronically sign a power of attorney authorising AirHelp to deal with the airline on your behalf.

4. Submit documents Heads up — this caught me slightly off guard: AirHelp requests a scan or photo of your passport after you’ve signed the agreement, not before. It’s nothing dramatic, but good to know.

5. AirHelp negotiates with the airline The team builds your case and communicates with the airline. At this stage, you don’t need to do anything — just wait.

6. Legal action (if needed) If the airline refuses to pay (and this happens — especially with Wizz Air, Ryanair, and other budget carriers 😅), AirHelp can file a lawsuit. However, they charge extra for this legal service.

7. Compensation payout When the airline pays up, AirHelp deducts their commission and sends the rest to your account.

How Long Does It Take?

This is probably the least pleasant part:

• Simple cases: 10 days to a few weeks (mainly with Ryanair, who tend to pay relatively quickly)
• Standard cases: 6–14 weeks (roughly 2–3 months)
• Complex/court cases: Up to 6–12 months
• Average: The estimated average is around 3 months

How Much Does AirHelp Cost — Real Examples

And now the crucial question — how much does AirHelp actually take? Because a “free service” it definitely isn’t. It works on a “no win, no fee” basis — if they don’t recover anything, you pay nothing. But if they succeed, the commission isn’t exactly small.

Fee Overview

Real Examples — How Much You Actually Keep

Let’s look at some real numbers, because percentages are nice, but euros in your account are nicer:

Example 1: London → Rome flight (under 1,500 km), compensation €250

• Without court: AirHelp takes €87.50 → you keep €162.50
• With court: AirHelp takes €125 → you keep €125

Example 2: London → Canary Islands flight (1,500–3,500 km), compensation €400

• Without court: AirHelp takes €140 → you keep €260
• With court: AirHelp takes €200 → you keep €200

Example 3: London → New York flight (over 3,500 km), compensation €600

• Without court: AirHelp takes €210 → you keep €390
• With court: AirHelp takes €300 → you keep €300

It’s still not bad money, especially for not having to lift a finger. But it’s fair to say that 35–50% is above the industry average — there are services that charge less (more on that in a moment).

Real Traveller Experiences

One traveller reported that from an expected €500 from Wizz Air, they ended up with just around €280 — a combination of AirHelp’s commission and additional fees. That’s quite a cold shower when you’ve been waiting six months and then receive barely half. 😅

AirHelp+ Subscription — Is It Worth It?

AirHelp also offers a subscription called AirHelp+, which promises lower or zero fees on compensation claims plus a few added bonuses. Let’s see if it makes sense.

Plan Overview

Note: AirHelp regularly updates and changes their plans, so the specific offering may differ.

What AirHelp+ Includes

• Zero fees on compensation (on higher plans — you get 100%)
• AirPayout: Up to €100 for flight disruption
• AirLuggage: Up to €100 for delayed baggage
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges (when delayed 1+ hour or cancelled)
• Priority processing of your case

Is It Worth It?

Honestly? It depends on how often you fly.

If you fly once a year for your holiday, the subscription is probably not worth it. The chances of needing flight delay compensation are relatively small, and even if you did — the difference between a 35% fee and 0% only works out better on higher compensations.

Example: With a €400 compensation, you’d save €140 in fees. But the Smart plan costs €40, so the net saving is €100 — but only if a problem actually occurs.

However, if you fly 5 or more times a year (business trips, digital nomad lifestyle), the Pro plan at €100/year could be worth it as a kind of insurance — mainly for the lounge access during delays and automatic monitoring of all your flights.

For most leisure travellers though, I’d say: skip the subscription and just pay the one-off commission if and when you actually have a problem.

AirHelp Pros

After reviewing dozens of reviews, traveller forums, and our own experience with the process — here’s what AirHelp does well:

• ✅ You only pay on success — no upfront costs, no risk
• ✅ Full service — you don’t have to deal with anything yourself; they handle all airline communications
• ✅ Professional legal representation in 35 countries including court proceedings
• ✅ Easy process — filling out the form literally takes 2 minutes
• ✅ Mobile app — real-time flight tracking + notifications about new claims (even retroactively!)
• ✅ Biggest player on the market — airlines know AirHelp and often prefer to pay quickly rather than get dragged through the process
• ✅ 13+ years of experience and 28 million customers served
• ✅ Transparent calculations — you see the estimated compensation and fees upfront
• ✅ High Trustpilot rating — 4.6/5 from 191,000+ reviews
• ✅ Works retroactively — you can claim for flights up to 6 years back (in the UK)

AirHelp Cons

And now the less pleasant side. Because nothing is perfect, and there are a few things about AirHelp that bothered me:

• ❌ High 35% commission — above the industry average (competitors offer from 25%)
• ❌ Up to 50% with court proceedings — half the compensation goes to AirHelp
• ❌ Long waiting times — some cases drag on for months, in extreme cases over 6 months
• ❌ Documents required after signing — they request a scan of your passport after you’ve already signed the agreement, not before (that slightly surprised me)
• ❌ Limited communication — no phone support, email responses can take time
• ❌ Google rating only 2.3/5 — a stark contrast with Trustpilot (4.6/5), suggesting satisfied customers are actively encouraged to leave Trustpilot reviews
• ❌ Impersonal approach — occasional repeated document requests, feeling like you’re just a number
• ❌ Booking through intermediaries (Kiwi, eSky) complicates the process

Comparison with Competitors

AirHelp may be the biggest player, but it’s certainly not the only one. There are plenty of alternatives on the market — and if you’re looking for the best value on your flight compensation claim, it’s worth comparing them.

Comparison Table

Flightright

Flightright is a German pioneer in the industry — they’ve been around as long as AirHelp. Their fees start at 20–30% + VAT with an additional 14% for court, which can work out cheaper or more expensive depending on the situation. They have a strong database of court rulings and a higher success rate with complex EU cases. On the downside, similar to AirHelp, payouts can take time.

Best for: Complex legal cases within the EU.

ClaimCompass

ClaimCompass has one huge advantage: their 25–35% fee covers everything — including any court proceedings. No surprises, no extra charges. If your case goes to court, you still pay the same commission. That’s a massive difference compared to AirHelp, where court involvement pushes you to 50%.

Best for: Those who want a transparent, fixed fee with no surprises.

Flight Compensation: Ryanair and Budget Airlines

If you’re specifically looking for flight compensation Ryanair claims, it’s worth knowing that budget airlines are notoriously difficult to deal with directly. Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air are all known for delaying, ignoring, or rejecting claims with questionable reasoning. This is where a service like AirHelp or its competitors really earns its commission — these airlines know that fighting a professional legal team isn’t worth their time.

What Do Review Sites Say?

Looking at independent review sites, the picture is interesting:

AirHelp consistently leads in editorial scores thanks to its brand recognition and global reach, but user reviews tell a more nuanced story. The Google rating of just 2.3/5 versus the Trustpilot score of 4.6/5 is a noticeable gap, suggesting that satisfied customers are more actively directed to Trustpilot.

When to Use AirHelp vs. DIY

This is probably the most important section of the entire article. Because the truth is, you can claim flight delay compensation completely on your own and for free. The question is whether it’s worth the effort.

How to Claim Flight Compensation Yourself (DIY Guide)

1. Write directly to the airline — most have an online form for complaints/compensation claims 2. Wait for a response — the airline should respond within 6–8 weeks 3. If they refuse: Contact the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK — or the relevant national enforcement body in the country of departure 4. If that doesn’t work either: You can take it to the small claims court or use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

When It’s Worth Doing It Yourself

• ✅ You have a clear-cut case (provable 3+ hour delay, no extraordinary circumstances)
• ✅ You’re comfortable writing a formal complaint letter
• ✅ You have time and patience
• ✅ You’re flying with an airline known for paying compensation (e.g., Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways)
• ✅ You don’t want to lose 35–50% of the compensation

When It’s Worth Using AirHelp (or Another Service)

• ✅ The airline ignores you or refuses your claim (Wizz Air, easyJet — they love to drag their feet 😅)
• ✅ You don’t have the time or energy for paperwork
• ✅ The case is complicated (connecting flights, layovers, multiple carriers)
• ✅ You’re flying through multiple countries and aren’t sure which jurisdiction applies
• ✅ You simply want peace of mind and don’t care about not getting 100%

What Real Travellers Say

On traveller forums, one theme keeps coming up: with some airlines, the DIY approach is practically impossible. Wizz Air, Ryanair, easyJet — they love to ignore your requests, reject them with made-up reasons, or send you round in circles. In these cases, a service like AirHelp has genuine added value, because airlines know that fighting a professional legal team isn’t worth the hassle.

On the other hand — one traveller described how Ryanair paid the compensation directly within 10 days of submitting their own form. So it sometimes works without a middleman too.

Conclusion and Recommendation

After thoroughly reviewing all the available information, real traveller experiences, and testing the process ourselves — here’s my honest verdict:

AirHelp is a good service, but not necessarily the cheapest option on the market.

It’s like buying that expensive suitcase at the airport — it works great, looks professional, but there are cheaper alternatives that do essentially the same thing. 😉

Who I Recommend AirHelp For

• Travellers who don’t have time or inclination to argue with airlines
• Those who have older unresolved claims — AirHelp has a brilliant retroactive flight search feature
• Frequent flyers who want the AirHelp+ subscription benefits

Who I Recommend an Alternative For

• Anyone who wants no surprises on fees → ClaimCompass (fixed fee including court)
• Those looking for potentially lower fees → Flightright (from 20–30% + VAT)
• Budget airline claims → Any reputable service, as DIY can be a nightmare with these carriers

Who I Recommend the DIY Approach For

• Anyone with a straightforward case and a bit of patience
• You’ll save 35–50% — and with a €600 compensation, that’s real money (€210–€300)

And one more tip before you go: before your next flight, don’t forget to sort out proper travel insurance with SafetyWing, download an eSIM from Holafly, and check out our guide on how to pack carry-on only. And if something goes wrong with your flight — now you know exactly where to turn. 😁

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)