How flight compensation claims work, start to finish
Flight compensation claims work in eight stages, from a 15-second eligibility check to money in your account, and most of it happens without you. We file the claim, answer the airline’s refusal, and escalate where that refusal does not hold up. You pay the fixed €39 fee only after the airline pays.
No percentage. No hidden cut. No fee unless we succeed.
What does a no win no fee flight claim involve?
The first step decides everything else. We check the flight against the official record, not against what the airline said at the gate. That gives the actual arrival time, the distance band and whether the disruption falls inside EU261 or UK261 at all. If it does not, we say so and there is nothing to pay.
From there the work is correspondence. We file the claim with the reason and the evidence attached, answer the airline’s first refusal, and escalate to the national enforcement body or to court where that refusal does not hold up. You hear from us at each stage. You do not have to chase anyone.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 — the regulation itself, in every EU language
- UK Civil Aviation Authority — passenger rights — the UK regulator's own guidance and complaint route
How flight compensation claims work: what happens at each stage?
Eight clear steps — you do the first one, we handle the rest.
- Step 1 · Eligibility check
Does your flight qualify?
Enter your flight number and date (or your route). We check the flight facts and give a preliminary result in seconds. Final eligibility always depends on review of your documents and the airline's responsibility.
- Step 2 · Claim submission
How do you submit your claim?
A guided wizard collects your passenger details, booking information, what happened, and your documents — usually just your boarding pass or booking confirmation. Your progress is saved as you go.
- Step 3 · Document review
How are your documents reviewed?
Our team reviews your claim and evidence. If anything is missing we ask for exactly what's needed and explain why. You'll see the status in your dashboard at every point.
- Step 4 · Submission to the airline
How does the claim reach the airline?
We prepare an airline-specific claim package citing the applicable regulation and the compensation amount, and submit it through the airline's claim channel.
- Step 5 · Follow-ups
What if the airline is slow to answer?
Airlines don't always respond quickly. We track response times, send reminders, and escalate when a response is overdue.
- Step 6 · Appeals
What if the airline rejects the claim?
We continue pursuing eligible claims through the available claim and appeal process while there is a reasonable legal and practical basis to proceed. If a claim is rejected, we review the stated reason against the evidence and prepare an appeal where there's a basis to do so.
- Step 7 · Approval & payout
How do you get paid?
When the airline approves and pays, we verify your payout details and transfer your compensation. Approval can precede the actual receipt of funds — we'll keep the status accurate throughout.
- Step 8 · The fee
When is the fee charged?
Only at this point is the fixed €39-per-passenger success fee charged — never before, and never as a percentage. You keep 100% of the compensation; the fee is billed separately.
What do you need to start a claim?
No paperwork mountain. In most cases, this is all it takes.
Boarding pass or booking confirmation
Usually the only document we need to get started. If we need anything more, we ask for exactly what's required.
A few flight details
Your flight number and date, and a short description of what happened during the disruption.
A couple of minutes
Most people finish the first step in under two minutes. Your progress is saved as you go.
How long does a flight compensation claim take?
Timelines depend on the airline and how the claim unfolds — here's what's realistic.
| Claim | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Straightforward claims | Often resolved in a few weeks once the airline responds. |
| Contested claims & appeals | Can take several months, depending on the airline and jurisdiction. |
Your dashboard shows the current stage of your claim at every point.
What is optional Priority Review?
Priority Review — €9 one-time. Move your claim to the front of our internal review queue so our team checks your documents and prepares the next step sooner. This does not improve your legal entitlement, increase the chance of airline approval, or control how quickly the airline responds.
What else do people ask about the flight compensation process?
How long does the whole process take?
Straightforward claims are often resolved in a few weeks; contested claims and appeals can take several months depending on the airline and jurisdiction. Your dashboard always shows the current stage.
What do I need to do during the claim?
Usually very little: provide your documents at the start, and respond if we request additional information. We handle the airline correspondence.
What is Priority Review exactly?
Priority Review — €9 one-time. Move your claim to the front of our internal review queue so our team checks your documents and prepares the next step sooner. This does not improve your legal entitlement, increase the chance of airline approval, or control how quickly the airline responds.
What happens if my claim doesn't succeed?
You pay nothing at all. The fixed fee applies only once the airline has paid your compensation, so an unsuccessful claim costs you nothing — not for the filing, not for the correspondence, and not for an escalation that does not come off.
Ready to start your claim?
Check in 15 seconds. It's free, and you keep 100% of what you're owed.
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