Your flight landed four hours late. The airline may owe you up to €600, but its claim form is slow, and many people give up after the first “no.” Flight delay compensation apps do that work for you. They check your flight, file the claim, and keep pushing the airline until it pays. In return, most of them take a cut.
Picking one is the tricky part. Fees range from about 25% to 50% of your payout, and each app covers different routes. Below are eight options, what they really cost, and who each one suits best.
When Can You Actually Get Paid?
Flight delay compensation apps can only win money that a law says you are owed. That law depends on where you fly and which airline you use.
- Europe (EU261): If you arrive 3 hours or more late, you can get €250, €400, or €600, based on how far you flew. It covers flights leaving the EU and flights into the EU on EU airlines.
- United Kingdom (UK261): Works much like the EU rule, with similar amounts paid in pounds.
- Canada (APPR): Large airlines pay CA$400 for a delay of 3 to 6 hours, CA$700 for 6 to 9 hours, and CA$1,000 for 9 hours or more. Small airlines pay CA$125 to CA$500. The delay must be the airline’s fault.
- United States: No federal law pays cash for delays. In September 2025, the Department of Transportation dropped a plan that would have paid $200 to $300 for long domestic delays. You can still get a full refund if your flight is canceled or badly delayed and you choose not to travel.
Bad weather and air traffic control limits usually don’t count. Airlines call these “extraordinary circumstances,” and they don’t have to pay for them.
The EU approved changes to EU261 in July 2026. The payout amounts and the 3 hour delay rule stay the same, and the new rules are not expected to apply before the second half of 2027.
Fees and Free Tiers at a Glance
The table shows how much each app keeps from a successful claim. Every claim service here offers a free eligibility check and charges nothing if it loses.
| App | Standard fee | Extra fee if it goes to court | Free tier or plan | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirHelp | 35% | 15% more | Free check; AirHelp+ plans | Most travelers |
| AirAdvisor | 30% | 20% more | Free check | Lowest standard fee |
| Flightright | 36% | 14% more | Free check | EU and UK flights |
| SkyRefund | 35% | 15% more | Free check | Flights outside Europe |
| Compensair | About 25% to 30% | Check your contract | Free check | Smaller cut |
| Skycop | 44% | Up to 50% total | Skycop Care plan | Frequent EU flyers |
| Flighty | No claim fee | None | Free tracker | Proof of delay |
| Your airline’s app | 0% | None | Free | Simple, clear cases |
Fees include VAT. On a €600 payout, a 30% fee leaves you €420, while a 44% fee leaves you €336.
The 8 Best Flight Delay Compensation Apps
1. AirHelp
AirHelp is the best known name among flight delay compensation apps, and it is the safest first pick for most people. You add your flight in the app or on the website; AirHelp checks it, and then it handles every email and form with the airline.
Pricing: The service fee is 35% of your payout. If the airline refuses and AirHelp has to take legal action, it adds 15%. AirHelp says that happens in about 3% of cases. There is also a $29.99 fee for “goodwill” claims, where the airline pays even though the law doesn’t require it.
Free tier and plans: The eligibility check is free. If you fly often, AirHelp+ removes the fee on your claims. Worldwide plans cost €19.99 for a single trip, €29.99 a year for Lite, €39.99 for Smart, and €99.99 for Pro. US plans cost $179.99 a year for Comfort and $249.99 for Pro.
Pros
- Easy app with clear claim tracking
- Handles legal action when airlines say no
- Membership can drop your fee to zero
Cons
- Total fee can reach 50%
- US membership plans cost a lot unless you fly a lot
2. AirAdvisor
AirAdvisor has the lowest standard fee among the big flight delay compensation apps: 30%, with VAT included. If your case goes to court, a 20% legal fee brings the total to 50%. It also offers a grace period. If the airline pays soon after legal action starts, you may still pay only 30%.
It covers EU, UK, US, and Canadian claims. You use it through a web page that works fine on a phone browser, so there is nothing to install.
Pros: Lowest base fee, wide coverage, grace period on legal cases.
Cons: Legal fee is higher than AirHelp’s. The phone experience is a website, not a full app.
3. Flightright
Flightright is a German company that sticks to EU and UK claims. If you were delayed on a European route, it is a solid choice among flight delay compensation apps. It charges 36% with VAT. If a claim goes to formal collection, it adds 14%, for 50% total.
Flightright does not handle US cases, and it won’t claim your hotel or meal costs. You would need to ask the airline for those yourself.
- Pros: Strong focus on European law, simple online dashboard
- Cons: Europe and the UK only, no help with extra expenses
4. SkyRefund
SkyRefund stands out for its coverage. Most flight delay compensation apps stop at Europe, but SkyRefund also handles Turkish, Saudi, Brazilian, and Canadian passenger rules.
It charges 35% with VAT, plus 15% if it takes legal action. If it wins in court but the airline still won’t pay, SkyRefund waives the legal fee. Since March 2026, you can start a claim using only your boarding pass.
Pros: Widest list of covered countries, fee waiver if collection fails, 12 languages.
Cons: Smaller name, and it works on the web rather than as a full phone app.
5. Compensair
Compensair often charges less than larger flight delay compensation apps. Reviews put its cut at around 25% to 30%. It covers EU261 and UK261 claims and some Turkish and Canadian cases.
The main thing to watch is legal costs. Compensair’s extra charges for court cases are not always easy to find, so read your contract before you agree to anything.
6. Skycop
Skycop has the highest standard fee on this list at 44%, with VAT included. Escalated cases can cost up to 50%. On its own, that makes it a weak deal compared with other flight delay compensation apps.
The reason to consider it is Skycop Care. This plan costs about €2.67 a month or €31.99 a year and removes the fee on covered flights. For someone who flies around Europe every month, that can pay for itself fast. These figures come from a rival’s comparison, so check Skycop’s own pricing page first.
- Pros: Cheap yearly plan for frequent flyers
- Cons: Highest standard fee, Europe and UK only
7. Flighty
Flighty is not a claim service. It is a flight tracker, but it pairs well with flight delay compensation apps. It tracks your plane in real time, warns you about likely delays, and records your actual arrival time. That record helps when an airline says you were only two hours late.
Pricing: The free version tracks flights. Flighty Pro was priced at $49 a year or $249 for lifetime access in 2024, so check the App Store for current prices. It is built mainly for iPhones.
8. Your Airline’s Own App
Many airlines let you request delay compensation in their app or on their website. You keep 100% of the money, and simple cases can go through without trouble.
The downside is that airlines know the rules better than you do. Some reject valid claims or offer vouchers instead of cash. Try this first if your delay is clearly the airline’s fault. If they say no, flight delay compensation apps can step in after that.
How to Pick the Right App
Your route matters more than the brand when choosing between flight delay compensation apps.
- Delayed in Europe or the UK, flying once in a while: Start with AirAdvisor for the lower fee, or AirHelp for the easier app.
- You fly in Europe every month: Compare AirHelp+ with Skycop Care.
- Delayed in Brazil, Turkey, or Saudi Arabia: SkyRefund covers more of these routes.
- Flying only within the US: There is no cash law to claim under, so use your airline’s app for refunds and goodwill offers.
If you like tracking fares, our guide to cheap flight alert apps pairs well with the tools here.
Mistakes That Cost Travelers Money
These mistakes catch a lot of people, even when they use the best flight delay compensation apps.
- Taking a voucher too fast. Accepting airline credit can affect your right to cash. Read the offer before you click accept.
- Filing with two services at once. This causes contract problems and can delay your payout.
- Throwing away proof. Keep your boarding pass, booking email, and screenshots of delay notices.
- Waiting too long. Canada gives you about one year to file a claim. In Europe, the time limit depends on the country, so file soon.
- Forgetting extra costs. Meals and hotel nights during long delays are a separate claim. Save every receipt.
Long waits at the gate are easier if your work doesn’t need an internet connection. These offline productivity apps keep you busy until boarding starts.
Final Thoughts
Flight delay compensation apps are worth it when the airline owes you money and you don’t want to fight for it alone. For most travelers, AirHelp is the easiest start, and AirAdvisor keeps more money in your pocket. Before your next trip, save your booking emails and screenshots, and run a free eligibility check as soon as a delay happens. If you are planning that next trip now, see our tips on budget friendly flights.
