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Things don\u2019t always go as planned on the road. Lost luggage, delayed flights, travel scams<\/a> \u2014 there are tons of things that can derail your trip.<\/p>\n While serendipity, mishaps, and surprises are part of the allure of travel, the one mishap no one likes is a delayed flight. <\/p>\n There\u2019s no fun in missed connections and long delays, especially after little sleep and long travel days.<\/p>\n As someone who flies regularly, I\u2019ve experienced pretty much every hiccup there is. Delays, cancelations, lost or delayed luggage, overbooked flights \u2014 the list goes on.<\/p>\n While I always buy travel insurance<\/a> before I go abroad, there is actually a company out there designed specifically to help travelers secure compensation when flight delays and cancelations strike.<\/p>\n It\u2019s called Airhelp<\/a>.<\/p>\n Since its founding in 2013, AirHelp has helped over 16 million people get compensation for delays and canceled flights arriving in or departing from the European Union. <\/p>\n I used them recently when I was on my way to Paris. My connecting flight was delayed over eight hours and, thanks to EU rules, I was entitled to get compensation from the airline.<\/p>\n The problem was that I didn\u2019t really want to chase TAP Air Portugal for months on end. People said that they drag the process out in hopes you\u2019ll give up (which many do). As someone who was only in Europe for a short time, I realized the last thing I wanted was to spend my little time in Paris on the phone with TAP. I mean, who wants that kind of stress in the land of wine and cheese? <\/p>\n So I decided to use AirHelp. <\/p>\n In the end, it took about five months before I was refunded my money. But it was refunded and all I had to do was fill out a small form. AirHelp took a considerable percentage, but I got everything the EU said I was legally entitled to receive and all it took was a couple minutes of effort. That’s it.<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re traveling to\/from Europe on a European carrier and there\u2019s a mishap and you\u2019re wondering what to do, here\u2019s an overview of how AirHelp can help you get compensated for delayed and canceled flights: The EU has strong consumer protection laws, which means that if you have a flight arriving in or departing from the European Union and it is delayed or canceled, or if you experience certain other circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation up to $700 USD, depending on the severity of the delay.<\/p>\n Note: If your flight does not originate or arrive in the EU, or if the carrier is not headquartered in the EU, you\u2019ll be unable to apply for compensation. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s a quick overview of what is covered by AirHelp:<\/p>\n For an in-depth look at AirHelp\u2019s coverage policies, check out its detailed guidelines<\/a>. To make a claim, simply visit AirHelp.com<\/a> and follow the prompts, with your flight details and boarding pass at hand. It takes two minutes and is super easy. The site will tell you right away if you have a claim.<\/p>\n You can apply for compensation for delayed flights up to three years after the date, which means if you\u2019ve had a flight to or from the EU with a three-hour delay (or more) sometime in the past three years, you can still make a claim for compensation. Making a claim is free. You only pay AirHelp<\/a> if it wins your compensation claim. It will take 35% of the compensation, however (50% if they have to go to court).<\/p>\n While that is a huge percentage, remember, you only have to do two minutes of work. Not a bad trade if it wins you a couple of hundred bucks!<\/p>\n AirHelp also has a new member-centric platform called AirHelp Plus wherein you pay an annual fee of 19.99 EUR and in turn get unlimited claims with 100% compensation \u2014 no more losing out on that 35%!. While this won’t be worth it for the occasional traveler, if you take a lot of flights to\/from the EU, this will pay for itself in no time considering how often flights are delayed. In the US government\u2019s own words, \u201cThere are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed.\u201d<\/p>\n In order to apply for compensation via AirHelp, your flight must take off from the EU or land in the EU and be flown by an airline with headquarters in the EU.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, if you\u2019re flying a US airline, you won\u2019t be entitled to compensation unless that airline has its own policy stating otherwise. EU Regulation EC 261 is the main protective piece of legislation that protects passenger rights in Europe. It’s the driving force behind your ability to make a claim.<\/p>\n Under EC 261, you are entitled to file a delayed flight claim for $700 USD (600 EUR) if:<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t matter whether the airline has already provided you with food or travel vouchers \u2014 they will still owe you compensation. As long as you meet the above requirements (even if you’re not an EU resident or citizen) you’ll be covered and eligible to make a claim. You can definitely chase down an airline for compensation if you have time. Some airlines make it relatively easy while others will make you jump through hoops. If you have the time and patience, you can do it yourself and keep 100% of your compensation.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t want to do it myself. Time is money! <\/p>\n And I certainly don\u2019t need more stress in my life. <\/p>\n AirHelp\u2019s fee is pretty big but 35% to not have to deal with this was worth it to me. <\/p>\n You\u2019ll save a ton of time and increase your chances of getting compensation by using AirHelp. It has a proven track record and knows how to get your money as quickly and conveniently as possible. Is AirHelp legitimate?<\/strong> Is AirHelp free?<\/strong> What percentage does Airhelp take?<\/strong> What is considered a significant flight delay?<\/strong> Can I be compensated for a canceled flight?<\/strong> The next time your flight is canceled or delayed, don\u2019t just settle for a voucher. Take two minutes and run a claim through AirHelp. A few hundred bucks in your pocket is better than nothing, especially when you could be spending that money on your next trip! <\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: This isn\u2019t a paid advertisement. AirHelp<\/a> did not provide me any compensation to write this. This is just a review of the service as many readers keep asking me about my experience using them. <\/em><\/p>\n Book Your Flight<\/strong> Book Your Accommodation<\/strong> Don’t Forget Travel Insurance<\/strong> Want to Travel for Free?<\/strong> Need a Rental Car?<\/strong> Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip?<\/strong>
\n <\/p>\nWhat Does AirHelp Cover?<\/h3>\n
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\n <\/p>\nHow Do I Submit a Claim?<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\nDoes AirHelp Cost Money?<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\nDoes AirHelp Work for Flights in the US?<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\nHow Do the Compensation Rules Work in the EU?<\/h3>\n
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\n <\/p>\nWhy Not Just Do It Myself?<\/h3>\n
\n <\/p>\nFrequently Asked Questions<\/h3>\n
\nYep! I’ve used them before \u2014 and so have lots of my readers. They are legit and can help you get compensation for your delayed flight!<\/p>\n
\nAirHelp is free in the sense that you don’t have to pay anything. Instead, they take a cut of any compensation they collect for you. If you don’t get compensated, they don’t get paid.<\/p>\n
\nAirHelp takes 35% of your compensation.<\/p>\n
\nIn order to qualify for compensation, you need to be delayed by at least 3 hours.<\/p>\n
\nYes! As long as the flight was canceled within 14 days of departure and you were not offered a suitable alternative, you may be owed compensation.<\/p>\n\nBook Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a>. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned. <\/p>\n
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels. <\/p>\n
\nTravel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:<\/p>\n\n
\nTravel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation \u2014 all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites<\/a> to get started and see the latest best deals.<\/p>\n
\nDiscover Cars<\/a> is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best \u2014 and cheapest \u2014 rental for your trip!<\/p>\n
\nGet Your Guide<\/a> is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more. <\/p>\n