Why AirHelp is the best flight compensation company in Europe

Flight delays, cancellations, and denied boarding are among the most frustrating travel experiences — especially when passengers don’t receive the compensation they’re legally entitled to.

Under EC261, passengers flying within the EU or with EU-based airlines may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation. Despite this, airlines often reject valid claims, delay responses, or rely on passengers giving up.

This is why many travelers turn to flight delay compensation companies. These companies manage claims on behalf of passengers, handling airline communication, legal escalation, and enforcement. However, not all delayed flight compensation companies offer the same level of service, success rate, or transparency.

In this article, we compare some of the most well-known flight delay compensation services in Europe like, Skycop, AirAdvisor, Click2refund, Flightright, and AirHelp (that’s us 👋) to explain why AirHelp stands out as the best flight compensation company for travelers.

Air passenger rights across Europe are based on EU Regulation 261/2004 (EC261), which sets out when airlines must compensate passengers for disrupted flights.

Under EC261, airlines are required to pay compensation when passengers experience:

• Flight delays of 3 hours or more

• Last-minute flight cancellations

• Denied boarding due to overbooking

However, compensation is only owed when the disruption is within the airline’s control. Airlines are not required to pay when delays or cancellations are caused by so-called extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather or air traffic control strikes.

In practice, airlines often dispute claims — even when passengers are clearly entitled to compensation. Backed by large legal teams, they regularly reject valid requests or delay responses in the hope that passengers give up.

That’s where using a flight delay compensation service makes sense.

AirHelp combines global flight data, in-house legal expertise, and over 12 years of experience to build strong, evidence-based cases and hold airlines accountable. As one of the most established flight delay compensation companies in Europe, AirHelp has been protecting passenger rights and enforcing EC261 for over a decade — and in that time we’ve helped over 3 million passengers secure compensation for delayed or canceled flights.

Choosing the right flight delay compensation company can determine whether your claim succeeds at all — and how much of your compensation you actually receive.

When comparing flight delay compensation companies, European travelers should focus on these core areas:

1. International/regional coverage

2. Success fee structure and transparency

3. Legal and technological strength

4. Track record and trust

Across all areas, AirHelp consistently outperforms other delayed flight compensation companies.

International/regional coverage across Europe and beyond

Many flight delay compensation companies in Europe focus on specific countries or regions. This can become a serious limitation when claims involve international routes, non-EU airlines, or complex cross-border disputes.

Providers like Skycop, AirAdvisor, Click2refund, and Flightright primarily operate within Europe. While this may be sufficient for some claims, it can slow cases that require broader legal or operational reach.

AirHelp offers truly international coverage, supporting claims across all EU countries and beyond — including places such as the United Kingdom, Brazil, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. This means:

• Claims are handled consistently, regardless of airline or nationality

• Cross-border cases don’t require handovers to third parties

• Airlines face a provider with global legal reach

For passengers who fly internationally or frequently, this makes AirHelp a significantly stronger flight delay compensation service.

No-win, no-fee — and why transparency matters

Almost all flight delay compensation companies advertise a no-win, no-fee model. But in practice, fee transparency varies widely.

Some providers charge higher percentages if legal action is required. Others apply additional administrative or court fees. VAT is not always clearly explained, leaving passengers unsure how much they’ll actually receive.

AirHelp’s no-win, no-fee model is fully transparent:

• You only pay if your claim succeeds

• Legal action is included when necessary

• Fees and VAT are clearly explained upfront

Compared to other delayed flight compensation companies, AirHelp gives passengers greater clarity and predictability — an important factor when choosing the best flight compensation company. Knowing what to expect should not be underestimated.

AI-powered claims handling backed by legal expertise

Airlines often reject valid compensation claims, forcing escalation through legal channels.

Many flight delay compensation services rely heavily on manual processing or external legal partners. This can slow claims down and reduce success rates when airlines resist payment.

AirHelp combines advanced AI technology with a large, vastly-experienced in-house legal team. This allows AirHelp to:

• Automatically assess claim eligibility

• Process large volumes of claims efficiently

• Escalate disputes quickly and consistently

This combination of technology and legal expertise gives AirHelp a clear advantage over other flight delay compensation companies — especially in complex or contested cases.

A proven track record among flight delay compensation companies

Experience matters when dealing with airlines.

Some delayed flight compensation companies are relatively new or handle a limited number of cases each year. This can reduce their ability to challenge airlines or enforce payouts.

AirHelp has helped millions of passengers worldwide check for and secure compensation, making it one of the most established and trusted flight delay compensation services in Europe and around the world.. This scale provides:

• Deep knowledge of airline behaviour

• Strong legal precedents

• Greater pressure on airlines to comply

• Development of key working relationships with airlines and aviation partners

Among all the flight delay compensation companies compared here, AirHelp has the most extensive track record.

The table below compares AirHelp with other well-known flight delay compensation companies operating in Europe. While several providers offer similar basic services, the differences become clear when you look at scale, transparency, technology, and customer trust.

Additional fees and VAT may vary depending on case complexity, legal escalation, and EU country.

To summarise the comparison, here’s a clear verdict for each key category — and why AirHelp consistently ranks as the best flight compensation company.

• International coverage:

  AirHelp is the strongest option among flight delay compensation companies thanks to its truly global coverage, far exceeding the EU-limited reach of most competitors.

• No-win, no-fee model:

  While many delayed flight compensation companies offer no-win, no-fee pricing, AirHelp stands out for combining this model with clear, upfront transparency.

• Fee transparency:

  AirHelp is the most transparent flight delay compensation service, with clearly explained fees and VAT where competitors often lack clarity.

• Legal action:

  AirHelp provides the most reliable legal escalation by including court action as standard, whereas some competitors limit or complicate this step.

• Technology & AI:

  Among all flight delay compensation companies compared, AirHelp is the clear leader in AI-driven claims handling and automation.

• Track record & experience:

  With millions of claims handled worldwide, AirHelp has a significantly stronger track record than any other provider in this comparison.

• Customer trust (Trustpilot):

  AirHelp is the most trusted flight compensation company in Europe, with more Trustpilot reviews than all listed competitors combined.

• Additional traveler benefits:

  AirHelp is the only flight delay compensation service offering long-term value through AirHelp+ membership and proactive flight monitoring.

Most flight delay compensation companies focus solely on individual claims. Once a case is resolved and compensation is paid, the relationship ends.

AirHelp goes further.

By combining compensation expertise with insurance, technology, and proactive travel support, AirHelp offers a level of protection that goes far beyond a standard flight delay compensation service.

AirHelp+ flight protection insurance: ongoing cover for flight disruptions

While most delayed flight compensation companies only help after something goes wrong, AirHelp+ membership provides protection before, during, and after your journey.

AirHelp+ includes:

• Free Fast Track through security — giving AirHelp+ members access to dedicated priority security lanes at participating airports

• Quick insurance payouts for flight disruptions, missed connections, and lost or delayed luggage (in addition to compensation)

• Lounge access during disruptions, helping reduce stress during delays

• Fee-free compensation claims, with no service fees for eligible flights

• Automatic flight monitoring and disruption alerts

• 24/7 expert support, whenever travel plans are affected

• Discounts with some of the biggest names in the travel industry

No other flight delay compensation company in this comparison offers a similar membership model. For frequent travelers, AirHelp+ delivers long-term value that goes far beyond a single compensation claim — reinforcing why AirHelp remains the best flight compensation company in Europe.

The free AirHelp app: flight tracking and compensation alerts

In addition to AirHelp+, AirHelp offers a free mobile app that helps passengers stay informed and protected throughout their journey.

Unlike other flight delay compensation services, the AirHelp app allows users to:

• Track flights in real time

• Monitor flights for friends and family

• Receive instant alerts for delays, cancellations, and disruptions

• Get compensation alerts when a flight may qualify under EC261

• Start a compensation claim quickly and easily

By combining flight tracking with compensation eligibility alerts, the AirHelp app helps passengers act faster and avoid missing out — something no other delayed flight compensation company currently offers at this scale.

More ways AirHelp supports passengers beyond compensation

AirHelp’s approach goes beyond claims and insurance.

As one of the most established flight delay compensation companies, AirHelp also provides:

• Extensive passenger rights education

• Clear guidance on EC261 eligibility

• A trusted platform backed by millions of successful claims

• Tools designed to reduce stress during travel disruptions

Together, these services make AirHelp more than just a compensation provider — they make it a complete passenger rights and travel protection platform.

There are many flight delay compensation companies operating across Europe, but when you look closely, the differences between them are clear.

While providers like Skycop, AirAdvisor, Click2refund, and Flightright help passengers claim compensation under EC261, AirHelp consistently goes further — offering broader coverage, greater transparency, stronger legal and technological capabilities, and far more value beyond individual claims.

As this comparison shows, AirHelp stands out among delayed flight compensation companies for several key reasons:

• Truly international coverage across Europe, the UK, and beyond

• A transparent no-win, no-fee model with no hidden costs

• AI-powered claims handling backed by in-house legal expertise

• A proven track record, with millions of claims handled worldwide

• Unmatched customer trust, with more Trustpilot reviews than all listed competitors combined

• Additional protection through AirHelp+ annual flight disruption insurance

• A free app offering flight tracking, disruption alerts, and compensation notifications

Taken together, these strengths make AirHelp more than just a flight delay compensation service — they make it the best flight compensation company for European travelers.

Whether your flight was delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, choosing the right flight delay compensation company can make the difference between giving up and getting paid. AirHelp combines experience, technology, and trust to ensure passengers get the compensation and protection they deserve.

Check your flight and claim what you’re owed

Claiming compensation with AirHelp isn’t just a matter of getting compensation for disrupted flights, it’s about regaining control and peace of mind in an industry that often leaves passengers alone, confused, and unaware of their rights.

Check your flight now— it’s free, takes just minutes, and you only pay if AirHelp wins your claim.