Flight Delayed? These Companies Will Claim Compensation for You — But There’s a Catch

Passengers are being hit with the worst travel disruption since the covid pandemic, as the war on Iran forces some of the world’s key air hubs to close. 

Amid the Middle East conflict, a slew of major airports have staged mass walkouts in response to poor working conditions and strung-out pay negotiations.

An indefinite air traffic control strike began on 17 April in Spain after staff complained about last-minute shift changes and “abusive” use of on-call availability. The demonstration, which currently has no end date in sight, has the potential to affect around 20,000 scheduled flight movements and a staggering 2.6 million passengers in the first month alone.

French air traffic controllers have also unveiled a four-day walkout in October, amid the busy school holidays, in response to “stagnated wages”. The move would threaten the reliability of thousands of flights across Europe, as well as cargo operators delivering perishable goods.

Soaring fuel prices due to Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz have also contributed to Lufthansa’s decision to shut its regional CityLine subsidiary, impacting 27 operational aircraft and slimming down its short and long-haul routes after the summer.

With global air travel more unpredictable than ever, knowing your rights to compensation is essential. 

My flight has been delayed. Am I eligible for compensation?

According to a 2025 report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), air traffic control delays in Europe have more than doubled over the last decade, causing “significant disruption” for passengers. 

Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) delays in the region increased by 114 per cent from 2015 to 2024, excluding delays caused by weather or flight cancellations induced by ATC strikes. 

In the EU, flyers are legally entitled to claim compensation when their flight is delayed, cancelled, or if they were denied boarding under Regulation 261/2004. 

However, the European Commission states that the following criteria need to be met in order for a claim to be successful:

• If your flight is within the EU and is operated by an EU or non-EU airline
• If your flight arrives in the EU from outside the EU and is operated by an EU airline
• If your flight departs from the EU to a non-EU country operated by an EU or a non-EU airline
• If you have not already received benefits (such as compensation) for flight related problems for a journey under the relevant law of a non-EU country
• If your flight departed within the last six years
• If your flight was delayed by more than three hours
• If the delay was not classed as “extraordinary circumstances”, such as bad weather.

The UK government wrote EU Regulation 261/2004 into law during Brexit, meaning passengers enjoy the exact same rights as before. Except now, they are paid in GBP rather than Euros.

In the US, compensation for delayed flights is much more limited. The US Department of Transportation states that each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers, meaning there are no federal requirements.

However, compensation is required by law on domestic trips if you are “bumped” from a flight that has been oversold. This is common practice to cushion airlines from passengers who don’t show up for their flight.

How much compensation can I claim?

To claim compensation in the UK/ EU – on top of a refund or alternative flight – your flight must have been cancelled less than two weeks before you were meant to fly. 

For delayed flights, compensation depends on how long the delay impacts the arrival time of your final destination, as well as the distance travelled.

If you depart from a non-EU country to your final destination in an EU country, with connecting flights operated successively by non-EU and EU airlines or by EU airlines only, only the flights operated by EU airlines are taken into consideration for the right to compensation in case of a long delay on arrival at the final destination.

Passengers are not eligible for compensation if they miss connecting flights due to delays at security checks if they did not respect the boarding time of their flight at the airport of transfer.

In the UK, delayed flights follow a very similar level of compensation. If covered by EU law, you will be paid in Euros.

In the US, if you involuntarily bumped from a flight and arrive at your final destination between one and two hours after your original scheduled time (between one and four hours on international routes), the airline must pay you – at a minimum – an amount equal to to 200 per cent of your one-way fare to your final destination that day, or $1,075, whichever amount is lower.

“If the substitute transportation is scheduled to get you to your destination more than two hours later (four hours internationally), or if the airline does not make any substitute travel arrangements for you, the minimum compensation doubles (400 per cent of your one-way fare, or $2,150, whichever amount is lower,” the US DoT states.

Best Flight Compensation Companies (UK & US) That Can File a Claim For You

While claiming compensation for delayed flights in the EU and UK is relatively straightforward, many passengers are put off by convoluted forms and meager excuses from the airline. This has paved the way for many companies to offer legal help to enforce passenger rights.

Many of these organisations do charge a commission on claims, meaning you won’t receive the full amount of compensation you’re entitled to. But if you’re strapped for time, it could be a good option.

AirHelp

AirHelp is one of the biggest players in this space, and operates on a no-win, no-fee basis. Working with layers from more than 30 different countries, AirHelp provides support in 17 different languages and uses “state of the art technology” to quickly assess and pursue each claim it receives. It mainly focuses on EU flights, but does also cover US-EU routes under EU261/2004 and “goodwill” claims.

AirHelp charges a 35 per cent service fee (including VAT) and an additional 15 per cent if court proceedings are required. So, if you are successful for a €600 payout, you will receive €390 after a standard fee.

If you are an AirHelp+ Member, you do not pay either the service fee or the legal action fee for the compensation fee. However, these plans can cost up to €99.99 (or $249.99) annually.

For goodwill claims, AirHelp charges a fee of $29.99. However, this fee is waived if the compensation is less than $30. Goodwill compensation is more common in the US, where there is no mandate for delayed compensation.

Flightright

Flightright is one of Europe’s leading air passenger rights portals, and has been fighting for compensation since 2010. The company also runs on a no–win, no-fee model and charges between 20 and 30 per cent commission on successful claims.

It also charges a 14 per cent commission for a solicitor’s surcharge, plus VAT on your total compensation amount.

On its website, Flightright states it has a 99 per cent success rate in court and has secured more than €615 million in compensation. It only covers EU261/2004 claims, and is less focused on US travellers. 

Skycop

Skycop is another organisation that operates under EU 261/2004, and charges between 25 and 35 per cent commission. Again, higher fees may occur if your claim has to go to court. Customer reviews have also criticised the company for taking “months” to solve their claim, while others have rated them five stars for successfully getting compensation.

TOP Flight Compensation Companies for 2026

The core players in this space consistently include AirHelp, Flightright, Skycop, and ClaimFlights, covering delays, cancellations, and missed connections.

As US law lacks compensation rights, most US services focus on making sure customers get refunds they are entitled to. Other services include travel insurance claims and credit card assistance. 

If you’re travelling during peak disruption periods, it’s worth planning ahead beyond just compensation claims. Our latest guides break down the Worst UK airports for Easter travel revealed, highlight the Ranked: The Most and Least Affordable U.S. Airports, and review the Best Airport Lounges in Europe, Ratings and Our Favorite. Are you dealing with delays or just trying to travel smarter? No worries, these apps and our insights can help you avoid stress and make the most of your journey.