Best alternatives for claiming flight compensation

Start with the free check

Whatever you decide, establish first whether you have a claim at all. The trigger under Regulation 261/2004 is almost always a three-hour arrival delay, a short-notice cancellation, or denied boarding — and the fixed sums are €250, €400 or €600.

A free compensation calculator takes two minutes and tells you which of those applies to your flight.

Weighing the options

You can claim directly, use a specialist, or use a small claims route yourself. Each has trade-offs in time, risk and the share of the compensation you keep.

• Direct to the airline — you keep everything, but you take on all the chasing and the refusal letters.
• A specialist service — no financial risk, the work is done for you, and a fee is taken only on success.
• Small claims court — possible for a determined passenger, but procedural and slow.

What to look for in a service

Check the fee structure, the claims period, and whether the service takes cases to court at its own risk. A no-win, no-fee model means an unsuccessful claim costs you nothing.