AirHelp Review 2026: Is AirHelp Legit, and Is the Fee Worth It?
AirHelp
No-win, no-fee flight delay, cancellation and overbooking claims
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Table of Contents
What Is AirHelp?
AirHelp is a flight compensation claim service. If your flight was badly delayed, cancelled or overbooked, you enter your flight details, AirHelp checks whether you're eligible, and it then pursues the airline on your behalf — including in court if needed. You pay nothing unless it wins.
It's one of the biggest names in this space, which shows in its review volume: more than 245,000 Trustpilot reviews.
What You May Be Owed (and the Free Option)
Under EU261 (and the UK's version, UK261), passengers on eligible flights that arrive 3+ hours late, are cancelled at short notice, or are denied boarding can be owed a fixed amount, commonly €250 to €600 depending on flight distance, regardless of the ticket price. Extraordinary circumstances such as severe weather can exempt the airline.
You can claim directly from the airline for free. A claim company is worth its fee when you don't want to chase the airline, the airline rejects you, or the case may need court action. Our EU261 guide explains eligibility step by step.
AirHelp Fees
| Fee | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Service fee | 35% (VAT incl.) | Only if AirHelp wins compensation |
| Legal action fee | +15% | Only if court action was needed (~3% of cases, per AirHelp) |
| If the claim fails | €0 | No win, no fee |
| Example: €600 claim | You keep €390 | €300 if legal action was needed |
Fees are from AirHelp's published price list; Danish customers pay fixed amounts that correspond to the same percentages. AirHelp says it won't charge you court fees or legal expenses, except in cases such as withdrawing after legal action has started.
Is AirHelp Legit? What Reviews Say
AirHelp holds a 4.5 TrustScore from more than 245,000 Trustpilot reviews, about 81% five-star and 4% one-star, and replies to 99% of negative reviews.
What people praise
- A simple claim process.
- AirHelp deals with the airline so you don't have to.
- Fast payouts once the airline pays.
What people complain about
- High fees: 35% is a big share of a €600 payout.
- Slow processing in some cases.
- Some felt they'd have done better claiming from the airline directly.
AirHelp Pros & Cons
Pros
- No win, no fee
- Huge track record: 245,000+ Trustpilot reviews, 4.5
- Handles court action if needed
- No court fees charged to you (with stated exceptions)
Cons
- 35% fee, 50% if legal action is needed
- Claiming directly from the airline is free
- Some cases take a long time
Final Verdict
AirHelp is legit and very well reviewed. Whether it's worth 35% depends on you: if you're willing to file with the airline yourself, try that first for free. If the airline ignores or rejects you, or you simply don't want the hassle, AirHelp is a credible way to get paid, and you pay nothing if it loses. Compare with Compensair, which third-party sources report charges a lower fee.
Legit, best-known, but a 35% fee
Research-based review, not an in-house claim — see disclosure above.
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