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You can claim yourself, free of charge. A claims company is more convenient, but keeps part of your compensation.
Write to the airline directly, ideally through its online form or by email, and give it two weeks to pay.
If the airline refuses or does not reply, you can turn to an official conciliation body. In Germany, the Schlichtungsstelle Reise & Verkehr is free for consumers, even if the procedure fails.
If the airline is not a member there, the Federal Office of Justice steps in. The German Federal Ministry of Justice also offers an online service for filing a claim yourself (in German).
Claims companies handle the paperwork and go to court if needed. In return, they keep part of the compensation. This makes sense if you have no time or the airline refuses to pay.
Fee: 20% to 30% of the amount plus VAT, plus a possible 14% lawyer surcharge (plus VAT) if a court case is needed.
With €400 compensation you would keep about €257 to €304 without a court case.
Fee: 35% of the amount including VAT, plus 15% if legal action is needed.
With €400 compensation you would keep about €260 without a court case.
Example based on €400. After your check we use your amount.
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The airline that actually operated the flight. This also applies to package holidays and to flights sold under another airline’s flight number.
When departing from the EU, yes, with any airline. On the return flight to the EU, only if the flight is operated by an airline based in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Switzerland.
In that case it does not have to pay compensation. This often covers extreme weather, air traffic control strikes or security risks. According to the European Court of Justice, technical faults and strikes by the airline’s own staff usually do not count.
The airline has to prove these circumstances. Ask in writing for the specific reason.
During long waits the airline must look after you: meals and refreshments, two phone calls or emails and, if necessary, a hotel and transport. This applies from a 2-hour delay on flights up to 1,500 km, from 3 hours up to 3,500 km and from 4 hours on longer flights.
From a 5-hour delay you can give up the flight and get your ticket price refunded.
If you go to court in Germany, the claim usually expires after three years, counted from the end of the year in which the flight took place. Other countries have different time limits. Do not wait too long anyway, as evidence gets lost.
The EU adopted the reform in July 2026. The 3-hour threshold and the amounts of €250, €400 and €600 remain. The new rules only apply 12 months and 20 days after publication in the EU Official Journal, expected from 2027. Until then the current regulation applies, and this check is based on it.
If you hire a claims company through a labelled affiliate link, we receive a commission. The result of the check and the order of the options do not depend on it.
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