Claim agencies (“no win, no fee” flight-compensation services) advertise heavily and can feel like the easy button. For most straightforward claims they’re not worth it — they keep a big slice of money the airline owes you directly.
What they actually charge
- Typical fee: 25–35% of your payout (some higher, plus VAT or “admin” fees).
- On a €600 EU261 claim, that’s roughly €150–€210+ gone — for what is usually one letter and one escalation.
- They use the same free regulators (NEB / CAA ADR / DOT) and the same small-claims courts you can use yourself.
When DIY is the obvious choice
- The flight clearly qualifies (3+ hour arrival delay, cancellation <14 days, denied boarding) and there’s no serious “extraordinary circumstances” fight.
- You can send a letter, wait ~14 days, and escalate to the free regulator/ADR if refused.
- It’s a refund or baggage claim with clear documentation.
That’s the great majority of cases — and you keep 100%.
When an agency (or a lawyer) might make sense
- The airline disputes the facts (e.g. genuinely contested extraordinary circumstances) and it’s heading to court in a country whose system you don’t know.
- A complex, multi-passenger, or high-value claim where the time and cross-border hassle outweigh the fee.
- You simply won’t pursue it otherwise — a third of something beats 100% of nothing.
If you do use one, compare fees, check it’s reputable, and confirm whether you keep any separately-claimed expenses or just the fixed compensation.
You don’t sign away anything by trying first. Send the airline your own letter and give it ~14 days. If they pay, you’ve kept the whole amount. If they refuse, you can still escalate for free — or hand it to an agency then. There’s no downside to a DIY first attempt, and it’s usually all it takes.
Start with the right letter for your situation on the all-letters page, and look up your amount in the EU261/UK261 table or US rights guide.