Claim companies, compared · 2026
Flight delay claim companies take a third to a half. Here is the table.
AirHelp, Flightright, Bott and Co and the rest all run on no win, no fee. The fee is the part nobody puts in the headline. Below are the published rates as of July 2026, what each one leaves you from a £520 claim, and the free route that most people never try.
| Company | Published fee | All-in | You keep of £520 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claim it yourself | £0 | 0% | £520 |
Click2Refund UK, EU and Turkey claims | 28% + VAT | about 34% | £345 |
Flightright UK and EU claims | 30% + VAT | about 36% | £332 |
AirHelp Pays out in 8 to 14 weeks, by its own estimate | 35% incl. VAT | 35% | £338 |
SkyRefund UK, EU, Turkey and Brazil | 35% incl. VAT | 35% | £338 |
Bott and Co A law firm; took the UK test cases | 42% + VAT | about 50% if it goes to court | £257 |
Fees and payout figures from AirHelp's published comparison (updated 3 July 2026) and ClaimFlights' UK fee test. VAT applies to UK residents. Check each firm's current terms.
The worked example
Two adults and two children on a cancelled long-haul flight are owed £520 each, so £2,080 as a family. Through AirHelp or SkyRefund the family receives about £1,352. Through Bott and Co, if the claim ends up in court, about £1,028. Sent directly to the airline with a firm letter, the family keeps £2,080. Claim companies do the same thing you can do: quote the regulation, state the flight, demand the fixed amount, escalate when ignored.
The free route, in order
- 1Write to the airline. State the flight number and date, the length of the delay at arrival or the notice you were given of the cancellation, cite UK261 (or EU261 for an EU carrier or departure), and demand the fixed amount per passenger within 14 days. Vouchers are optional; cash is the right.
- 2If they refuse or go quiet, take it to their ADR scheme. Most UK airlines are signed up to AviationADR or CEDR, both approved by the CAA. AviationADR is free for passengers. CEDR has charged a small fee when a claim fails, so read its terms first.
- 3If the airline is not in an ADR scheme, the CAA's Passenger Advice and Complaints Team can review it.
- 4Last resort: a small claim through Money Claim Online. The court fee for a claim between £300 and £500 is £50, and £70 up to £1,000, added to what the airline pays if you win. Airlines settle most of these before a hearing.
When a claim company is the right call
Be fair to them. If the airline has already rejected you on “extraordinary circumstances” and you will not file a court claim yourself, a firm that litigates in bulk can be worth its cut. The same goes for a messy multi-airline itinerary, a foreign carrier with no UK ADR membership, or a claim you simply do not have the energy for. Bott and Co won the UK test cases that made these claims routine. Just go in knowing that, on the table above, you are paying £175 to £263 per passenger for the convenience.
One more thing the FCA points out: aviation claims sit outside its claims-management rules, so the fee cap that protects financial-services claims does not apply here. The percentage is whatever the terms say.
Do it yourself, without writing it yourself.
Reclaim drafts the UK261 letter with the right amounts and deadline. You send it and keep every pound. Free for your first claim.
FAQ
How much do flight delay claim companies charge in the UK?
Between 28% and 42% of the compensation before VAT, which works out at roughly 34% to 50% once VAT and any legal action fee are added. On a £520 long-haul claim that is £175 to £263 gone per passenger. The figures come from AirHelp's own July 2026 comparison and ClaimFlights' UK fee test.
Is it worth using a claims company for flight compensation?
Usually not for a straightforward delay or cancellation. The airline must respond to a written claim, the CAA-approved ADR schemes are free or nearly free, and a small claim for £520 costs a £50 court fee that the airline pays back if you win. A claims company earns its cut when you genuinely cannot face the process, or when the airline has already refused and you will not go to court yourself.
Are flight claim companies regulated?
Not by the FCA. The FCA states that aviation claims are outside its claims-management regime, so the fee cap that protects financial-services claims does not apply. Law firms such as Bott and Co are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority instead. Read the fee terms, including what is charged if the case goes to court.
What am I owed for a delayed flight?
Under UK261, £220 for flights up to 1,500 km, £350 for 1,500 to 3,500 km, and £520 for longer flights, per passenger, for delays of three hours or more at arrival or a cancellation with under 14 days' notice, unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances. EU261 pays €250, €400 and €600 for the same bands.
Sources
- ·AirHelp, comparison of UK flight compensation companies (updated 3 July 2026)
- ·ClaimFlights, claim companies' fees comparison (UK customer profile)
- ·Civil Aviation Authority, delays and cancellations (UK261)
- ·Civil Aviation Authority, alternative dispute resolution for air passengers
- ·FCA, using claims management companies (aviation claims are outside FCA regulation)
- ·GOV.UK, make a court claim for money (fees)
Not affiliated with any company named above. A self-serve tool, not a law firm. General information, not legal advice.