# Best flight compensation services for delays and cancellations Source: https://taply.sk/best-flight-compensation-services/ (Taply, updated 2026-10-15) For most claims, Compensair is the best flight compensation service to check first because its reported fee is lower than AirHelp's stated 35%, while AirHelp is the larger, longer-established option. Both check your flight for free and charge only if you are paid. If the case is simple, claiming directly from the airline costs nothing and keeps 100% of the payout. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, a delay of three hours or more at your final destination can qualify for a fixed payment of 250, 400 or 600 EUR per passenger, depending on distance. Whichever route you pick, the rules and amount are the same, so the fee is the only thing you can influence. Use the EU261 compensation calculator for a quick eligibility check. Some links are affiliate links. Taply may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Taply has not used these services and bases this page on public information. ## Key points - Compensair and AirHelp both work on a no win, no fee basis. - AirHelp states a 35% fee on its site; third-party sources report roughly 25% to 30% for Compensair, so confirm on its page. - Claiming directly from the airline is free and often works for clear-cut cases. - A delay of three hours or more at arrival can qualify under EU261. - In Slovakia, the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI) handles complaints when an airline refuses. ## Quick facts - Delay needed: 3 hours at final destination - Amounts: 250, 400 or 600 EUR - AirHelp fee: 35%, stated on its site - Direct claim: No fee at all ## Best flight compensation options, ranked 1. **Compensair** (best for Keeping more of the payout): Compensair is an online service for air passenger compensation. It checks your claim for free and takes a percentage only if you are paid. Third-party reviewers quote a fee of roughly 25% to 30%, with more possible if court work is needed. 2. **AirHelp** (best for People who want it fully handled): AirHelp was founded in January 2013 in Berlin and states a 35% service fee charged only if you are paid. Its terms say it covers legal expenses itself, though third-party reviews report a higher share in court cases. 3. **Claim directly from the airline** (best for Clear-cut cases): File a written claim with the airline using your flight number, date and delay proof. It costs nothing and keeps the whole amount, but you chase every reply yourself. 4. **Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI)** (best for Refused claims on Slovak departures): If an airline refuses or ignores a valid claim for a flight departing from Slovakia, the Slovak Trade Inspection handles passenger complaints. It is free but can be slow and is not a payout service. ## EU261 basics EU261 covers flights leaving an EU, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland airport, and flights arriving in the EU on an airline based in the EU. It applies to delays, short-notice cancellations and denied boarding. Compensation is 250 EUR for flights up to 1,500 km, 400 EUR for 1,500 to 3,500 km and EU flights over 1,500 km, and 600 EUR for longer flights outside the EU. The delay is measured at your final destination. Most flights between Slovakia and nearby capitals such as Vienna, Prague or Budapest fall in the shortest band. An airline can refuse if the delay was caused by extraordinary circumstances outside its control, such as severe weather, security risks or air traffic control strikes, and it must show it took reasonable measures. Technical faults in normal operation are often not treated as extraordinary. The UK has its own version, UK261, with amounts in pounds. For the full rules see flight delay compensation. ## The options side by side Point | Compensair | AirHelp | Claim directly | Fee | Reported 25% to 30% | 35%, stated on its site | None | Upfront cost | None | None | None | Who chases the airline | The service | The service | You | If legal action is needed | Check the terms | Its terms say it covers legal expenses | You, or SOI complaint | Timing | Varies, some cases long | Aims for 8 to 14 weeks, often 3 to 4 months | Depends on the airline | Fees and timings come from the services' pages and third-party reviews and change, so confirm them before you sign. See AirHelp vs Compensair for the detailed comparison. ## What you keep Claim | Keep with 35% fee | Keep with 25% fee (illustrative) | Keep with direct claim | 250 EUR | 162.50 EUR | 187.50 EUR | 250 EUR | 400 EUR | 260 EUR | 300 EUR | 400 EUR | 600 EUR | 390 EUR | 450 EUR | 600 EUR | The 35% figure is AirHelp's stated fee, and 25% is an illustration of the lower end of third-party reports for Compensair. Check the live percentage and whether VAT is included on the claim form. ## Claiming directly, step by step - Collect your booking confirmation, boarding pass and any delay notices. - Note the planned and actual arrival time at your final destination. - Write to the airline's claims form or email with your flight number, date and the amount due under EU261. - Keep every reply. Do not accept a voucher if you want cash. - If the airline refuses or does not reply, complain to the national enforcement body. In Slovakia that is the Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI). Examples of airline-specific routes are in Ryanair delay compensation and Wizz Air delay compensation. Time limits depend on the country and the claim, so do not wait. ## When a service is worth the fee A service makes sense if the airline has refused, you do not want to chase emails for months, or the cause is likely to be disputed. A lower fee keeps more money in your pocket on a simple claim, so Compensair tends to win on paper. A well-known service with a legal team may be worth a higher share if its terms clearly cover court costs. Direct claims win when the cause is obvious and the airline pays valid claims. You can also try directly first and use a service if refused, unless a time limit is close. Do not file the same claim with two services. ## Slovakia and Vienna context Many visitors to Slovakia fly through Vienna, Bratislava, Košice or Poprad. The rules attach to the flight, not to your nationality, so a delayed flight into Bratislava or a cancellation at Vienna can both qualify. Keep boarding passes and receipts for meals and hotels, since your right to care starts before the compensation threshold. See flight cancelled at Vienna Airport and flight delayed at Bratislava. The EU has discussed reforming the 2004 rules, but until new rules are in force the current regulation applies. ## Mistakes to avoid - Waiting too long. Time limits differ by country. - Throwing away the boarding pass or delay emails. - Accepting a voucher when you are owed money. - Paying for a hotel or meals without keeping receipts. - Signing with a service without reading the fee and court terms. ## Your rights while you wait Your right to care starts before the three-hour compensation threshold. For flights up to 1,500 km the airline must provide meals and refreshments after a delay of two hours or more, and the threshold is longer for longer flights. If the delay reaches five hours, you can ask for a refund of the unused ticket. If you wait overnight, the airline must provide hotel accommodation. Keep receipts for anything you buy yourself and ask for written confirmation of the delay at the desk. These care rights are separate from compensation and do not depend on any claims service. ## How long claims take Reviewers report that most AirHelp claims take roughly three to four months, with the company aiming for 8 to 14 weeks. Compensair customer reviews describe waits from under three months to nearly two years when the airline disputes the claim. Direct claims depend on the airline: some answer within weeks, while others reject first and pay only after a complaint. Slow answers from the airline are the usual cause in every case. If a service tells you to wait, that is normal, but ask for a status update after a few months. ## Documents to keep - Booking confirmation with the passenger names and flight number. - Boarding pass or a screenshot of it. - Delay or cancellation message from the airline. - Photos of the departure board where possible. - Receipts for meals, hotel and transport you paid for. - Any written offer of a voucher, which you do not have to accept. With these in hand, either route is straightforward, and a service will ask for most of them anyway. ## FAQ **What is the best flight compensation service?** Compensair is a good first check because of its lower reported fee, and AirHelp is the larger established option. Claiming directly is free if your case is simple. **How much does AirHelp charge?** AirHelp states a 35% service fee on its site, charged only if you are paid. **How much compensation can I get under EU261?** It is 250, 400 or 600 EUR per passenger depending on distance, for delays of three hours or more at your final destination and qualifying cancellations. **Can I claim myself without a service?** Yes. You can write to the airline with your flight details and keep 100% of the payout, and you can escalate to the national enforcement body if it refuses. **Who handles complaints in Slovakia?** The Slovak Trade Inspection (SOI) handles passenger complaints when an airline refuses a valid claim. **Can I use two services for the same flight?** No. File each claim once, with one service or directly with the airline.