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Last reviewed: June 2026 · For use in England & Wales · eLitigant is a Community Interest Company (No. 16566612), not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
Quick answer
Claims companies can take 25–50% of your payout. You don’t need them: the airline must accept a direct claim for free, and free ADR can settle a dispute without court. Claim it yourself and keep 100% — here’s exactly how.
Last reviewed: 25 June 2026 · England & Wales
You’ve probably seen the adverts: “We’ll claim your flight compensation — no win, no fee!” What they don’t shout about is the cut they take. The truth is you can do exactly what they do, for free, and keep all of it.
What the claims companies actually charge
| Company | Their cut |
|---|---|
| Some claims firms | 35% (up to ~50% if it goes to court) |
| Other legal-stage firms | up to 50% at the legal stage |
| Most others | 25–40% incl. VAT |
On a single £520 claim, a 35% fee is £182 gone — £260 if it reaches court. For a family of four, that’s hundreds of pounds handed over for work you could do in an evening.
Why you don’t need them
Airlines are legally required to handle a direct claim free of charge, and they pay exactly the same whether you claim yourself or through a firm — the only difference is who keeps the money. Free ADR schemes settle most disputes without court, and small-claims fees are recoverable if you win.
The free DIY route, step by step
- Write to the airline with your flight details and the compensation due.
- Escalate free to ADR (AviationADR / CEDR) or the CAA’s PACT if you’re rejected or ignored after 8 weeks.
- Money Claim Online as a last resort — fees recoverable from the airline.
Prefer not to write it yourself?
If you’d rather not draft the letters, that’s where Chris comes in — Chris prepares your claim from your details, instead of you handing over a percentage of your payout. Either way, you keep 100% of the compensation.
Official sources
Don’t hand a claims company a third of your money.
Chris drafts your claim from your details — you send it, you keep 100%.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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