Direct is free
Compare direct and managed flight compensation claims
Start with the airline's official form. A managed service can be useful when time, evidence or escalation is the bigger constraint—but it will normally deduct a fee if successful.
| Route | Typical trade-off | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Airline directly | No success fee; you prepare and follow up the claim. | Clear facts and enough time to manage correspondence. |
| ADR after airline complaint | Independent process; evidence and eligibility rules still matter. | The airline issued a final response or did not respond within eight weeks. |
| Claims company | It manages the case but normally keeps part of a successful award. | Complex, rejected or time-consuming claims after comparing the full fee. |
Questions to ask before signing
- What percentage and fixed charges apply, including legal action and VAT?
- Can you withdraw, and is there a cancellation charge?
- Who receives the airline payment first and how long can payout take?
- Which company controls your booking, identity and payment data?
- Will the service handle ADR or court action, and does that cost more?
Compare the complete route, not only the headline fee
- Read the current success fee, VAT treatment and any extra legal-action charge.
- Check whether the provider handles only the airline complaint or also ADR and court action.
- Understand who receives the airline's payment and what evidence or authority you assign.
- Confirm cancellation rights and any fee if you withdraw or appoint someone else.
No active commercial links: the current build does not send you to an affiliate provider.
The free airline and ADR routes remain available.
Commercial disclosure: DelayDesk may earn a referral commission from a separately labelled commercial provider after our internal checks and written programme acceptance. This is not regulatory approval. The relationship does not change the amount the airline owes, but the provider's customer fee can reduce what you receive. See the affiliate disclosure.
Our default recommendation
Run the free eligibility check, submit to the operating airline, preserve every response and escalate only when needed. DelayDesk never asks you to assign a claim.