Disclosure: Advertising – this post was paid for by AirHelp and contains affiliate links. If you book something through these links I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about my disclosure and affiliate policy here.
I have been a lucky flyer so far, especially considering how often I fly. I remember one delayed flight that had me arrive in Bangkok in the middle of the night, but it wasn’t a big deal and has turned into a rather fond memory of how I met one of my all-time favorite cities for the first time.
I even got my money back without any problems when I had to cancel a flight at the beginning of the pandemic. Not only was I refunded at light speed, but I also got 2 euros more due to a favorable exchange rate.
The times I wasn’t as lucky were minor inconveniences like spending 7 hours in line at an airline chat after they announced an unsuitable flight time change. And having to pay another $100 for my suitcase from Mexico City to Tulum, which the airline didn’t include on my premium economy ticket.
All in all, not too bad, but if I tally up the time I spent dealing with the airlines … I could have gotten a head start on book number two in these hours. Now, imagine trying to get actual flight compensation for a delay or a cancellation, and we are looking at a whole different ball game. Luckily, there is help… AirHelp, that is.
Wait, I get compensation from an airline?
Yes, you can, and probably more often than you think, at least when you are flying with a European airline. Under European law (EC 261/2004, the one most relevant if you’re flying to, from, or within the EU), you’re entitled to compensation of up to 600 € (about $700) for flight delays of over 3 hours and missed connections that cause you to arrive at your final destination more than 3 hours late.
Had I known that, I would have not only gotten a cute memory of arriving in Bangkok at 3 am but also some money to put towards my future Thailand flights.
You are also eligible when there are flight cancellations or schedule changes with less than 14 days’ notice or if you are denied boarding due to overbooking.
And it’s not just about the cash. Depending on the situation, the airline also owes you food and drinks after a few hours, accommodation if you’re stuck overnight, transfers, and either an alternative flight or a full refund. While food and drinks may sound minor, have you seen airport prices lately?!
Airlines also have to compensate for lost or damaged luggage with up to 1,900 € (about $2,200) under the Montreal Convention, which is recognized by over 140 countries. While that money may not cover all of my scuba gear, my Prada shoes, and my Rimowa suitcase, it would help quite a bit.
One important distinction worth knowing – compensation, refunds, and reimbursements are three different things:
- Compensation is the lump-sum payment for the inconvenience.
- A refund is your ticket money back.
- Reimbursement covers out-of-pocket costs like food, medicine, or clothing you had to buy because of the flight disruption.
Here is the good news – sometimes you’re entitled to more than one!
Are there exceptions? Yes, of course, there are. Any flight disruption caused by “extraordinary circumstances” like severe weather, war, or air traffic control strikes is not covered. Speaking of strikes (if you are German, this one is for you): airline staff strikes (pilots, cabin crew, engineers) are eligible; however, airport security or baggage handler strikes are not.
What is AirHelp?
As you can imagine, airlines want you to know as little as possible about the compensation you are entitled to. While there are laws in place, it doesn’t mean they have to make it easy for you to claim. That is where AirHelp comes into play. AirHelp is a service that started in 2013 to help passengers claim compensation from airlines.
All you have to do is submit your flight details, and they will assess whether you have a valid claim. From there, they will handle all communication with the airline (no 7-hour wait in the chat line for you!) and transfer the money to your account if the claim is successful.
Is my flight covered?
Don’t worry, even if you are not flying to, from, or within the EU with a European airline, you may have good chances to get support from AirHelp.
Here’s an overview of where you’re protected and how much you could get:
- UK – up to £520 for flights to, from, or within the UK
- Canada – up to CA$2,400 for denied boarding and up to CA$1,000 for delays and cancellations
- USA – compensation in the US primarily covers denied boarding (up to $2,150) and luggage (up to $4,700)
- Mexico – at least 25% of the ticket value for delays over 4 hours, cancellations, or denied boarding
- China – up to ¥200 for delays over 4 hours and up to ¥400 for delays over 8 hours
- Turkey – up to 600 € (paid in Turkish lira)
- Saudi Arabia – up to 700 SAR for delays over 3 hours, up to 200% of ticket price for denied bording, and luggage (up to to 6,200 SAR)
- India – up to ₹20,000 for luggage and denied boarding, up to ₹10,000 for cancellations less than 24 hours before or missed connections
There are a few others so it is always worth checking out if your claim is valid.
In addition, you might be eligible for full refunds or alternative flights, food and drink after a certain time, overnight accommodation, and/or international calls.
Important: Airlines sometimes offer vouchers or air miles instead of cash compensation. Don’t accept these unless you feel you’re getting a fair deal and actually want to fly with this airline again soon. Once you accept, you may be giving up your right to cash compensation.
How much does AirHelp cost?
AirHelp charges a standard 35% fee. While that may seem like a lot, you only pay if your claim for compensation is successful. Or rather, the airline pays because they pay AirHelp, and AirHelp transfers your compensation directly to your account minus their 35% fee.
You don’t have to pay anything up front and nothing at all if your claim is unsuccessful. So really, you don’t have anything to lose. AirHelp not only saves you a lot of time and hassle dealing with the airline, but their service also seems to be more successful in getting compensation than if you are claiming as an individual.
How do you file a claim?
Filing a claim couldn’t be easier and only takes a few minutes:
- Head to airhelp.com and enter your flight details.
- The system checks your eligibility, and they’ll tell you right away if you have a case.
- Now you can submit your claim form in about two minutes. You’ll need your boarding pass and booking confirmation.
Then you are done, and AirHelp will handle the rest. Just sit back and look forward to some money flying into your account.
A few things worth saving every time you fly:
- Your boarding pass (and any replacement ones)
- Your booking confirmation email
- Receipts for any expenses caused by the disruption
- Note down your actual arrival time. If you’re at the airport during a delay, a quick photo of the departures board doesn’t hurt either.
If your issue is luggage-related, make sure to report it immediately at the luggage desk when you get to your destination airport. Also, file a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) before you leave the airport, because that’s the key document, and you cannot get it afterwards.
You can claim for damaged luggage within 7 days (take pictures of the damage as soon as it gets off the belt), delayed luggage within 21 days, and lost luggage within 2 years.
If your luggage is delayed, make sure to keep receipts of any items you buy due to the delay.
AirHelp+ memberships
If you are a proper frequent flyer, you can sign up for AirHelp+. This is a membership where you pay a small monthly fee and get AirHelp without having to pay a service fee.
In addition, you get monetary compensation for flight disruptions, missed connections, and lost or delayed luggage. You also get free lounge access during a flight disruption. The latter is a truly great perk, especially if you are not flying business class or have a Priority Pass or such.
You can choose between a membership that covers you for 3 trips or one for 9 trips per year, and pay a monthly or yearly fee.
AirHelp+ also offers a dedicated around-the-clock support, live flight status updates, and other benefits, including a security fast track at the airport – just in case, I am not the only one who hates queuing with a passion. For now, this includes only eight airports, but there are more to come, and you can already fast-track in Berlin, Amsterdam, Denver International, Minneapolis St Paul, JFK, Phoenix Sky Harbor, and Seattle Tacoma.
Signup for AirHelp+ Membership
Flying is wonderful – if only so we can get to fabulous places faster. However, if the whole trip isn’t as fast and comfortable as it should be, the holiday mood can quickly sour. AirHelp doesn’t make the delays disappear, but it does mean you can get compensation to put towards the next trip and not waste any time dealing with airline bots.
