AirHelp vs. EUclaim: which company offers the best flight compensation in 2026?

Please note: EUclaim was recently declared bankrupt. AirHelp is an excellent alternative for flight compensation.

A three-hour delay out of Heathrow and a three-hour delay out of Amsterdam are worth different amounts, and they're claimed under different rules. UK departures fall under UK 261, which sets compensation at £220, £350 or £520 depending on distance. EC 261 still applies when you fly out of an EU airport, even on a British carrier.

Knowing which rule covers you is the easy part. Getting the airline to pay is where most passengers stall — and where claims companies can be helpful. AirHelp and EUclaim work on a no win, no fee basis, but they differ sharply on cost, scale, international coverage, and what you get beyond the claim itself.

EUclaim is a European claims company, active since 2007, working mainly across the EU and the UK. AirHelp charges 35% with no per-person fixed fee, holds an Excellent Trustpilot rating from more than 231,000 reviews, and handles UK 261 and EC 261 alongside passenger rights regulations worldwide.

Here's how they compare, side by side.

Before we dive into the details, here is the key comparison:

At first glance, EUclaim's rate seems lower: 31% compared to 35%. However, due to the fixed file fees per person, you actually keep more for standard claims at AirHelp. We work out that calculation in this article.

Under Regulation EC 261/2004, airlines must compensate passengers for certain flight problems within the EU. You may be entitled to up to £520 in compensation per person if your flight:

• arrived with a delay of more than 3 hours.

• was cancelled less than 14 days before departure.

• was overbooked and you were not allowed to fly.

Compensation applies only when the cause falls within the responsibility of the airline, such as technical problems or operational errors. In the event of extraordinary circumstances, such as extreme weather or air traffic control strikes, there is usually no entitlement to compensation.

Many passengers first try to file a claim themselves and run into standard responses, long waiting times, or rejections. That is why many travelers hire a specialized company. This company takes over the legal process and continues to exert pressure until the airline responds or pays out.

The question, then, is: which service delivers the best results at the lowest cost?

When comparing compensation services, it comes down to one simple question: how much of your compensation do you keep?

AirHelp charges a fixed service fee of 35%, including VAT, with no additional fixed costs. The percentage you see when you submit your claim is also what you pay if the claim succeeds.

EUclaim charges a success fee of 31% plus file fees per person, including VAT. The percentage is lower, but the fixed fees are always added on top, and they count per passenger.

So on every standard claim you keep more with AirHelp, and the difference is largest at lower compensation amounts — exactly the claims that apply to most flights within Europe.

To be fair: if a claim goes to court, AirHelp charges an additional 15% (up to a maximum of 50%), while EUclaim's fee stays the same. In that scenario you keep more with EUclaim. On the other hand, AirHelp+ members pay no commission at all on covered claims, including when legal action is involved. EUclaim offers no comparable option.

Active since 2007, EUclaim is one of the sector's early entrants and has built a solid reputation, with a 4-star rating on Trustpilot based on around 15,700 reviews.

AirHelp has a Trustpilot score of 4.5 out of 5 with the label "Excellent", based on more than 231,000 reviews. That is not only a higher score, but also a pool of reviewers fifteen times as large, spread across travelers worldwide, from simple delays within Europe to complex claims involving multiple airlines. Since it was founded in 2013, AirHelp has helped millions of passengers with compensation claims.

A larger number of reviews gives a more reliable picture of how a service performs over a longer period and across a wide range of situations.

Suppose you book a connecting flight to São Paulo, or travel onward via Istanbul. Your flight is delayed. In that case you want to be sure that the company behind your claim has experience with international regulations and complex routes.

AirHelp supports claims under a range of international regulations, including:

• EC 261 within the EU

• UK 261 in the United Kingdom

• ANAC 400 in Brazil

• SHY Passenger in Turkey

• Passenger rights in Saudi Arabia

EUclaim focuses mainly on claims within Europe and the United Kingdom, under EC 261, UK regulations and the Montreal Convention. For flights within Europe that is a perfectly good basis. But many trips today involve connections, partner airlines and routes outside the EU — and as soon as a journey becomes more internationally complex, AirHelp's broad coverage offers a clear advantage.

EUclaim offers a solid claims service with a clear online case file in which you can follow the progress of your claim. Extra travel services, a subscription or support during your trip are not part of the offering, and payouts are made at fixed points in the month.

With AirHelp+ (from £34.99 per year for 3 trips), AirHelp offers a broader package for before, during and after a flight disruption:

• 0% commission on compensation claims for covered trips

• Fast payouts within a few hours for flight problems and baggage delays

• Compensation of up to £520 per disruption and reimbursement for lost, delayed or damaged baggage

• Free Fast Track at security

• Access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide during disruptions

• Real-time notifications about flight changes and 24/7 support

AirHelp also has a free mobile app in 8 languages, which lets you check in around 60 seconds whether a flight qualifies, receive real-time flight notifications, and have past flights checked automatically for possible compensation. EUclaim has no mobile app of its own; the claims process runs through the website.

More than 12 million travelers now use AirHelp+

EUclaim is a company with almost two decades of experience and a solid reputation. For straightforward claims within Europe it is a sound choice.

But across the full comparison — net payout, reliability at scale, international coverage, technology and support during the trip — AirHelp comes out stronger:

• You keep more on every standard claim

• A Trustpilot score of 4.5 out of 5 ("Excellent") based on more than 231,000 reviews, against a 4-star rating based on around 15,700

• Worldwide coverage under multiple regulations, where EUclaim focuses mainly on the EU and the UK

• AirHelp+ with 0% commission, fast payouts, Fast Track and lounge access

• A user-friendly mobile app with real-time flight notifications

For travelers who value a maximum payout, international protection and extra support along the way, AirHelp offers the more complete package.