ClaimEU261 vs. AirHelp vs. AirAdvisor vs. Flightright
Why pay 35-50% commission? With ClaimEU261, create your complaint letter for a flat fee of 10.00 EUR — a fixed one-time price, regardless of the outcome.
How much do flight compensation companies really take?
According to the published price lists (as of 2026-07-22): AirHelp charges a 35 % service fee plus a 15 % legal action fee — together 50 %, incl. VAT. Flightright typically quotes a success commission of 20–30 %, with VAT added on top, plus a 14 % lawyer surcharge if the case goes to court — in the most expensive case around 52 % of 600 EUR. AirAdvisor charges 30 % out of court and 50 % in case of legal action; Skycop's price list works out at 44–50 %. The alternatives: a complaint letter for one fixed price — or filing your claim yourself, completely free of charge.
How much of your 250 / 400 / 600 EUR do you keep?
Select your compensation amount — the table shows what is left under the providers' published terms (most expensive case).
| Provider | Fee (most expensive case) | You keep |
|---|---|---|
| File it yourself (free) | 0 EUR | 600 EUR |
| ClaimEU261 (fixed one-time price) | 10.00 EUR | 590 EUR |
| AirHelp | 300 EUR | 300 EUR |
| Flightright | 314,16 EUR | 285,84 EUR |
| AirAdvisor | 300 EUR | 300 EUR |
| Skycop | 300 EUR | 300 EUR |
Based on the maximum terms published by the providers (legal/court case), as of 2026-07-22. In the best case, the fees are lower.
- AirHelp: 35 % service fee + 15 % legal action fee (together 50 %), incl. VAT. AirHelp+ members (subscription from 22.99 USD per trip) pay no fees. Retrieved on 2026-07-22. (https://www.airhelp.com/en/price-list/)
- Flightright: success commission typically 20–30 % plus VAT on the commission, plus a 14 % lawyer surcharge if the case goes to court (most expensive case: 44 % plus VAT = 52.36 %). Retrieved on 2026-07-22. (https://www.flightright.com/costs)
- AirAdvisor: 30 % out of court, 50 % in case of legal action. The VAT information on the provider's site is contradictory (fine print vs. price table). Retrieved on 2026-07-22. (https://airadvisor.com/en/pricelist)
- Skycop: fixed EUR amounts per compensation level, equivalent to 44 % (settlement) or 50 % (court proceedings), incl. VAT. Retrieved on 2026-07-22. (https://skycop.com/price-list-2/)
Whether and in what amount compensation is paid depends on the individual case and the airline's decision. No provider — including ClaimEU261 — can guarantee an outcome.
Cost Comparison
| Compensation | ClaimEU261 | AirHelp | AirAdvisor | Flightright |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 250 EUR | Your share after fees: 240,00 EUR(Fee: 10,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 125,00 EUR(Fee: 125,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 125,00 EUR(Fee: 125,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 119,10 EUR(Fee: 130,90 EUR) |
| 400 EUR | Your share after fees: 390,00 EUR(Fee: 10,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 200,00 EUR(Fee: 200,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 200,00 EUR(Fee: 200,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 190,56 EUR(Fee: 209,44 EUR) |
| 600 EUR | Your share after fees: 590,00 EUR(Fee: 10,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 300,00 EUR(Fee: 300,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 300,00 EUR(Fee: 300,00 EUR) | Your share after fees: 285,84 EUR(Fee: 314,16 EUR) |
* ClaimEU261: 10.00 EUR flat fee. AirHelp: up to 50% (35%+15%, incl. VAT). AirAdvisor: 30% out of court, 50% if litigated. Flightright: 20-30% plus VAT, plus a 14% lawyer surcharge in court cases (up to 52%). The table shows the most expensive published case, as of 2026-07-22.
- AirHelp: https://www.airhelp.com/en/price-list/
- AirAdvisor: https://airadvisor.com/en/pricelist
- Flightright: https://www.flightright.com/costs
Figures shown are illustrative examples based on publicly available commission rates of competing services at the time of writing. Actual savings depend on whether your airline pays the compensation, which neither ClaimEU261 nor any comparable service can guarantee. Compensation eligibility is determined solely by EU Regulation 261/2004 and the airline's assessment of your case. ClaimEU261 provides a document template only and does not handle, pursue, or guarantee the outcome of any claim.
The amounts shown correspond to the compensation rates set out in EU Regulation 261/2004. Whether and how much compensation is paid depends on the individual case and the airline's decision. ClaimEU261 creates complaint letters — enforcement and payment is the airline's responsibility. This is not an income or profit guarantee.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | ClaimEU261 | AirHelp | AirAdvisor | Flightright |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed fee | ||||
| Instant letter | ||||
| AI-generated letter | ||||
| No success fee | ||||
| PDF download | ||||
| Legal action handling | ||||
| Collection service |
Potential savings comparison
Short-haul (e.g. Berlin-Vienna)
250 EUR
Fees per provider:
Medium-haul (e.g. Frankfurt-Istanbul)
400 EUR
Fees per provider:
Long-haul (e.g. Munich-New York)
600 EUR
Fees per provider:
Based on the maximum terms published by the providers (legal/court case), as of 2026-07-22. In the best case, the fees are lower.
- AirHelp: 35 % service fee + 15 % legal action fee (together 50 %), incl. VAT. AirHelp+ members (subscription from 22.99 USD per trip) pay no fees. Retrieved on 2026-07-22. (https://www.airhelp.com/en/price-list/)
- AirAdvisor: 30 % out of court, 50 % in case of legal action. The VAT information on the provider's site is contradictory (fine print vs. price table). Retrieved on 2026-07-22. (https://airadvisor.com/en/pricelist)
- Flightright: success commission typically 20–30 % plus VAT on the commission, plus a 14 % lawyer surcharge if the case goes to court (most expensive case: 44 % plus VAT = 52.36 %). Retrieved on 2026-07-22. (https://www.flightright.com/costs)
Pros and cons at a glance
ClaimEU261
Pros
- Flat fee: only 10.00 EUR
- Letter available instantly
- Fixed one-time price, regardless of the outcome
- GDPR-compliant, no data sharing
Cons
- Letter must be sent by you
- No legal representation if rejected
AirHelp
Pros
- Full service: no effort on your part
- No risk: pay only if successful
- Handles entire legal process
Cons
- Up to 50% commission (35%+15%)
- Waiting time: weeks to months
AirAdvisor
Pros
- 20+ languages, 159+ countries
- No risk: pay only if successful
- 98% success rate
Cons
- 30% commission plus VAT
- Up to 50% if court action needed
Flightright
Pros
- Experienced provider in DACH region
- No risk: pay only if successful
- Handles entire legal process
Cons
- 20-30% commission plus VAT, up to 52% in court cases
- Waiting time: weeks to months
When is a claim service actually the better choice?
Honest answer: there are cases where a service working on a success commission can make sense — even though it keeps a substantial share of the compensation.
- The airline refuses repeatedly and the case is heading for court proceedings you do not want to conduct yourself.
- You want no effort of your own at all — not even the 5 minutes for the letter and sending it.
- The airline is in financial difficulties and debt collection with legal pressure seems necessary.
- A complex case involving several airlines or disputed jurisdiction.
All options at a glance
Choose the option that best fits your situation — all paths presented honestly.
ClaimEU261
Create letter yourself
10.00 EUR flat fee · Instant · Fixed one-time price, regardless of the outcome
Start nowNote: ClaimEU261 earns a commission for referrals to external providers. Your claim and its assessment are not affected by this.
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Frequently asked questions about the comparison
How is ClaimEU261 different from AirHelp, Flightright and the like?
In the model. ClaimEU261 creates a complaint letter for a one-time flat fee, which you send to the airline yourself — the compensation goes to you in full. Claim-handling services take over the case entirely and, if successful, keep a percentage share of the compensation as their fee.
What does flat fee mean in practice?
A fixed one-time price for creating the letter, regardless of how the case turns out. No further costs are added on our side, and the 14-day money-back guarantee applies.
When is a success-fee provider the better choice?
When you want to hand the matter over entirely — for example because the airline has already refused, the case needs stamina, or court proceedings are on the table. The provider then takes on the correspondence and the litigation risk, and the fee is the price for that. For the first approach to the airline, your own letter is enough in many standard cases.
How current are the fee figures in the comparison?
The rates come from the providers' public price lists and terms; the verification date is shown directly beneath the table. If a provider changes its terms, the table is updated — the provider's own published information is always authoritative.
Does ClaimEU261 earn money if I choose another provider?
Partly, yes: some links to providers are affiliate links and are marked as advertising. This does not change the content of the comparison — the fee rates come from the providers' public price lists, and the comparison shows both routes with their advantages and drawbacks.
Can I claim myself first and hand the case over later?
Yes. You can make the first approach with your own letter and pass the case to a provider only if the airline refuses. That way the full compensation stays with you if the airline pays directly — and the provider remains available as a second step.
One fixed price instead of a success fee
Professional EU261 complaint letter for just 10.00 EUR.
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