What does an EU261 claim actually cost?
The honest answer: claiming yourself costs nothing. The airline owes you the same amount either way. What you buy from a claim company is time and persistence — not a better outcome.
| Option | Fee | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| Yourself, direct Free. Takes about 30 minutes upfront, plus follow-ups over a few months. | 0% | €600 |
| Compensair They build and chase the claim for you. No win, no fee. | ~25% | ~€450 |
| AirHelp The best known. Fee rises if the case goes legal. | 35-50% | €300-390 |
| Flightright Higher fee once court proceedings start. | 20-45% | €330-480 |
Based on a €600 payout (long-haul flight delayed 4+ hours). Fees as publicly stated in 2026 and subject to change.
How to claim it yourself
It is free and well within reach. Budget around 30 minutes upfront, then a few follow-ups.
- Check your actual arrival time on FlightRadar24 or FlightAware — arrival delay is what counts, not departure.
- Email the airline citing Regulation (EC) 261/2004, with your flight number and booking reference.
- No satisfactory reply within 8 weeks? Escalate free of charge to your national enforcement body (CAA in the UK, DGAC in France).
Our claim letter template and deadline table by country are free.
First, check whether your flight qualifies — free, 30 seconds
What went wrong?
1/4When is a paid service worth it?
Three cases justify the commission: the airline has already rejected you, the case is likely heading to court, or you know you will not keep chasing for months. Otherwise, doing it yourself keeps more money in your pocket.
Transparency
SubRadar does not handle claims and takes no cut of your compensation. If you choose a partner service through a link on this site, we are paid by them — at no extra cost to you, and without changing what the airline owes you. That is what funds the free guides here.