AirHelp is a claims service that pursues compensation from airlines for delayed, canceled or overbooked flights, and its standard fee is 35% of whatever it wins, including VAT, with nothing owed if the claim fails. The compensation mostly comes from EU rules known as EC 261, which cover flights departing the EU and flights arriving in the EU on an EU airline, so most delays between two US cities don't qualify.
What AirHelp Does
AirHelp checks whether your flight problem qualifies, files the claim, deals with the airline and, if needed, takes the case further. It covers delays, cancellations, missed connections, overbooking and denied boarding, along with delayed or lost baggage. Compensation generally applies when the problem was within the airline's control. Severe weather, air traffic control restrictions and security issues usually don't qualify.
Which Flights Qualify
EU rules apply when your flight is:
- Within the EU, on any airline.
- Departing the EU for a non-EU country, on any airline.
- Arriving in the EU from outside, on an EU airline.
Under those rules, the amount depends on the flight distance. Cancellations, denied boarding and overbooking pay 250 euros for flights of 1,500 km or less, 400 euros for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km, and 600 euros for anything longer. A delay of three hours or more at your final destination pays the same bands, with a few exceptions for long flights, and you get nothing if the airline proves the cause was extraordinary. A cancellation announced more than 14 days ahead generally doesn't qualify either.
What AirHelp Costs
- Standard fee: 35% of the compensation, including VAT. If AirHelp wins nothing, you pay nothing.
- Legal action fee: an extra 15% of the compensation, only if the case has to go to court. AirHelp describes this as about 3 in every 100 claims.
- AirHelp+: a paid membership that waives both percentage fees. Prices differ by region, so check AirHelp's fee page for the current figure.
On AirHelp's own example, a 600 euro award leaves you with 390 euros under the standard fee. Compare that to filing with the airline yourself, which costs nothing but takes your time. AirHelp makes the most sense when the airline has ignored or refused your claim.
How to File a Claim
- Enter your flight number and date on AirHelp's site to check eligibility. The check is free.
- Gather your boarding pass, itinerary and any messages from the airline about the disruption.
- Submit the claim and let AirHelp handle the correspondence with the airline.
- Track the claim on the platform. AirHelp says most claims are resolved within a matter of months.
- When the airline pays, you receive the compensation minus AirHelp's fee.
File soon after the flight. Time limits depend on the country whose rules apply, and an old claim is harder to prove.
Referring Friends
AirHelp has a refer-a-friend option. Check its page for the current reward and the terms, since they change.
Updated October 17, 2026: fees and eligibility.
