What a flight!

Fees

What a claim agency really costs

Agencies advertise 'no win, no fee'. That is true, and it is also expensive: the fee comes out of money the airline owes you in full.

The arithmetic

  • €250 claim, 35% fee: you keep €162.50.
  • €400 claim, 35% fee: you keep €260.
  • €600 claim, 35% fee: you keep €390.
  • A family of four on a €600 claim hands over €840.

Several agencies add a further legal-action fee, often around 15%, if the case goes to court.

What the fee buys

A submitted form, a template letter, and follow-up correspondence. For a straightforward claim — a three-hour delay with a clear cause — that is work you can do in about twenty minutes, and the airline is legally obliged to deal with you directly.

When an agency is worth it

  • The airline has already refused twice and you are not willing to go to court.
  • The claim involves an insolvent or non-cooperative carrier.
  • You are outside the country and cannot deal with a national regulator.

Those are real cases. They are a small share of claims.

The self-service route

Check your eligibility, get a letter that cites the right provisions and amount, send it, and escalate to the free national enforcement body if nothing comes back within 14 days. No fee at any step.

Quick answer

Agencies advertise 'no win, no fee'. That is true, and it is also expensive: the fee comes out of money the airline owes you in full.

Main rule
EU261 (EC 261/2004)
Potential compensation
€250–€600 per passenger
Delay threshold
Usually 3+ hours at final destination
Coverage
EU/EEA departures and qualifying arrivals

Common questions

Is claiming myself really free?
Yes. The airline must handle your claim at no cost, and national regulators and dispute schemes are free too.
Do airlines take direct claims less seriously?
No. What matters is citing the regulation, the amount and a deadline — which is exactly what a proper claim letter does.
What if it ends up in court?
Small claims procedures are designed for people without lawyers, and EU261 amounts are fixed, which keeps these cases simple.

Primary sources

Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.