FlightOwed vs AirHelp: Which Service Actually Pays You More?

You've had a delayed or cancelled flight. You know you're owed up to €600 under EU Regulation EC 261/2004. Now comes the real question: who do you trust to get it — and how much of your money will they keep?

AirHelp is the biggest name in flight compensation. They have 232,000+ Trustpilot reviews, a mobile app, and celebrity-level brand recognition in the travel space. But being the biggest doesn't mean being the best deal.

FlightOwed takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of taking a cut of your compensation, we connect you directly with licensed law firms who handle the enforcement. You keep more money. Period.

This guide breaks down exactly what each service costs, what you get, and which one makes more sense for your specific situation.

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The Fee Comparison: Where Your Money Actually Goes

This is where the conversation starts and ends for most people. Let's be transparent about what each service charges.

AirHelp Fees

Fee Type	Rate	On a €600 Claim
Standard success fee	35% (incl. VAT)	€210
Legal action surcharge	+15% (incl. VAT)	+€90
Maximum total fee	50%	€300
AirHelp+ membership	Annual subscription	Fee-free claims

If AirHelp needs to take your airline to court — which happens more often than you'd think — you could lose up to half your compensation. On a €600 claim, that's €300 gone. On a €250 claim, you'd walk away with just €125.

FlightOwed Fees

Fee Type	Rate	On a €600 Claim
Eligibility check	Free	€0
Partner law firm referral	Free	€0
Law firm success fee	Varies by firm (typically 25-30%)	~€150-180
Maximum total fee	~25-30%	~€150-180

FlightOwed doesn't charge you anything. We're a free eligibility checker and referral service. The law firm that handles your claim sets their own fee — and because they're competing for referrals, those fees tend to be lower than what the big claims companies charge.

Side-by-Side: What You Actually Receive

Scenario	AirHelp Payout	FlightOwed Payout	You Save
€600 claim, no court	€390	~€420-450	€30-60
€600 claim, court needed	€300	~€420-450	€120-150
€400 claim, no court	€260	~€280-300	€20-40
€400 claim, court needed	€200	~€280-300	€80-100
€250 claim, no court	€162	~€175-188	€13-26
€250 claim, court needed	€125	~€175-188	€50-63

The savings are most dramatic when legal action is needed — exactly when you need help the most.

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Feature Comparison

Fees aren't everything. Here's how the two services compare on what they actually offer.

Feature	AirHelp	FlightOwed
Eligibility check	✅ Free	✅ Free
Claim filing	✅ They handle it	✅ Partner law firm handles it
Legal action if airline refuses	✅ (at +15% fee)	✅ (included in law firm fee)
Mobile app	✅	❌
Multi-jurisdiction coverage	✅ EU, UK, Canada, US, Brazil	✅ EU-wide
Airline negotiation	✅	✅ Via law firm
AirHelp+ subscription	✅	❌ (not needed — no fees)
Trustpilot reviews	232,000+	New (growing)
Court representation	Via partner lawyers	Direct law firm representation
Languages	10+	EN, DE, ES, PT, FR
Transparent fee structure	Partial — legal surcharge surprises many	✅ Law firm fee disclosed upfront

Where AirHelp Wins

Brand trust and track record. AirHelp has processed millions of claims since 2013. If you value a household name with an extensive track record, they deliver on that.

Global coverage. AirHelp covers Canadian APPR, US DOT, and Brazilian ANAC 400 regulations — not just EU. If your flight isn't covered by EC 261, AirHelp might still help.

Mobile app. AirHelp has a native app for tracking claims. FlightOwed is web-only.

AirHelp+ membership. If you fly frequently, the annual subscription eliminates per-claim fees entirely. For frequent flyers with 3+ disrupted flights per year, this can be economical.

Where FlightOwed Wins

Lower total cost. No scenario exists where AirHelp costs less than FlightOwed's partner law firms. The gap widens significantly when legal action is required.

Direct legal representation. Your claim is handled by a licensed law firm, not a claims company that outsources to lawyers when things get difficult. The firm that evaluates your case is the same one that takes the airline to court.

No hidden surcharges. AirHelp's 35% headline rate becomes 50% if they need legal action. FlightOwed's partner firms charge one transparent rate regardless of whether the airline settles or goes to court.

AI-powered eligibility assessment. FlightOwed uses automated flight data analysis to pre-qualify your claim before connecting you with a law firm — meaning the firm gets a pre-vetted case, which means faster processing.

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How Each Service Actually Works

The AirHelp Process

1. Enter your flight details on airhelp.com
2. AirHelp checks eligibility
3. You sign a power of attorney
4. AirHelp contacts the airline
5. If the airline refuses, AirHelp may escalate to their legal partners
6. You receive compensation minus 35% (or 50% if court was needed)

The process is smooth but opaque. You don't know which law firm handles your case, and the legal surcharge isn't always clear upfront.

The FlightOwed Process

1. Enter your flight details on flightowed.com/check
2. Our AI analyzes your flight data against EC 261 rules
3. If eligible, we connect you with a specialized law firm in your jurisdiction
4. The law firm contacts you directly to confirm and proceed
5. You receive compensation minus the law firm's disclosed fee

The key difference: you know who's handling your case and what they charge before you commit.

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The AirHelp+ Question

AirHelp's subscription product deserves special attention because it changes the economics. For an annual fee (varies by plan), AirHelp+ gives you:

• Zero commission on claims
• Fast €100 payouts for 3h+ delays
• Airport lounge access

If you fly more than 4-5 times per year within Europe and experience regular disruptions, AirHelp+ could be cheaper than any per-claim service. But for occasional travelers — which is most people — paying an annual subscription for something that might never happen doesn't make financial sense.

FlightOwed requires no subscription, no commitment, and no upfront payment. You only pay if you win — and you pay the law firm directly, not a middleman.

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When to Choose AirHelp

• You fly frequently and want AirHelp+ subscription coverage
• Your disruption happened outside the EU (Canada, US, Brazil)
• You prefer a well-known brand with a long track record
• You want a mobile app for claim tracking
• Speed of initial filing matters more than total payout

When to Choose FlightOwed

• You want to keep the maximum amount of your compensation
• Your flight falls under EU Regulation EC 261/2004
• You prefer direct representation by a licensed law firm
• You want transparent, single-rate fees with no court surcharges
• You're making a one-time claim (no subscription needed)

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Real Numbers: A €600 Claim Walkthrough

Let's follow a real scenario. Your Ryanair flight from Lisbon to London was delayed by 4 hours. Under EC 261, you're owed €250 (flight distance under 1,500 km). The airline initially refuses, claiming weather — but the weather data shows clear skies. Legal action is needed.

With AirHelp:

• Claim filed: €250
• AirHelp fee: 35% = €87.50
• Legal surcharge: 15% = €37.50
• You receive: €125

With FlightOwed:

• Claim filed: €250
• Law firm fee: ~25% = €62.50
• No surcharge for court action
• You receive: ~€187.50

That's €62.50 more in your pocket — a 50% bigger payout on the same claim.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is FlightOwed as reliable as AirHelp?

FlightOwed connects you with licensed law firms who specialize in EC 261 claims. These are the same types of firms that AirHelp outsources to when cases go to court. The difference is you work with them directly, cutting out the middleman.

Can I switch from AirHelp to FlightOwed mid-claim?

If you've already signed a power of attorney with AirHelp, you're typically bound to that agreement for that specific claim. For future claims, you can use any service. Check your AirHelp agreement for cancellation terms.

Does AirHelp really charge 50%?

Yes — if your case requires legal action. AirHelp's standard 35% fee is supplemented by a 15% "legal action" surcharge. This is clearly stated in their terms but not always prominent in marketing materials.

How long does each service take?

Both services depend on airline response times and potential court proceedings. Simple cases: 2-8 weeks. Cases requiring legal action: 3-12 months. Neither service can speed up a court timeline.

What about other services like Flightright or SkyRefund?

We've compared those too. See our full flight compensation service comparison and Flightright alternatives guide for detailed breakdowns.

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The Bottom Line

AirHelp built the flight compensation industry. They deserve credit for making millions of passengers aware of their rights. But awareness and execution are different things — and when it comes to execution, the math favors FlightOwed.

If you're an occasional traveler with a single disrupted EU flight, FlightOwed will put more money in your pocket. That's not marketing — it's arithmetic.

Ready to check your flight? See if you're owed compensation →