AviFly vs AirHelp: fees, differences and when to choose each
Reviewed by José Romero Lara
EU261 aviation lawyer — 5+ years as in-house legal counsel at international airlines
If you’re deciding between AviFly and AirHelp to claim your flight, what matters isn’t which percentage sounds lower, but how much actually reaches your pocket once VAT is applied. This guide compares the two platforms head to head: the fee (with and without going to court), what each one does better, and when it makes sense to choose one over the other. If you want to compare against more companies besides AirHelp, we have a separate guide covering Reclamador, AirAdvisor and Flightright.
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Check my compensation1How do AviFly and AirHelp differ?
Both platforms handle claims under Regulation (EC) 261/2004 and work on a no-cost-upfront basis: they only get paid if they win the compensation. The law they apply is the same in both cases; what differs is the fee, the language of support, geographic reach and accumulated experience.
AirHelp is an international platform with a presence in many countries and languages. Its published standard fee is 35% of the compensation, VAT already included, and if the case goes to court it adds another 15%, also VAT included.
AviFly is a Spanish platform specialising in EU261, with support in Spanish and an aviation lawyer at the helm with more than 5 years of experience as in-house legal counsel at international airlines. Its fee is 15% + VAT out of court and 30% + VAT if it needs to go to court.
2How much is EU261 compensation before fees
Before comparing fees, it’s worth being clear that the company you choose doesn’t change what the airline owes you. Regulation (EC) 261/2004 sets compensation at €250, €400 or €600 depending on flight distance, whichever platform you claim with.
EU261 compensation by distance
Up to 1,500 km
Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Lisboa
1,500–3,500 km
Madrid–Tenerife, Barcelona–Atenas
Over 3,500 km
Madrid–Nueva York, Madrid–Bogotá
3The fee with VAT applied: the real comparison
A "15% + VAT" and a "35% VAT included" fee can’t be compared by subtracting 15 from 35: in the first, VAT is added afterwards on top of the fee; in the second, it’s already deducted from the percentage you see. Example with a €400 compensation: AviFly’s base fee is €60, VAT (21%) is €12.60, and the total deducted is €72.60. AirHelp, on that same €400, deducts €140 in one go, with VAT already included in that amount.
Compare the final percentage, not the headline
Before signing with any company, ask in writing for the total percentage that will be deducted with VAT already applied, and what happens to that percentage if the case goes to court.
| Compensation | You keep with AviFly | You keep with AirHelp | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| €250 | €204.62 | €162.50 | €42.12 |
| €400 | €327.40 | €260 | €67.40 |
| €600 | €491.10 | €390 | €101.10 |
4If the case goes to court
When the airline doesn’t pay out of court, both companies raise their fee to cover the legal process. The increase isn’t the same for both.
| Route | AviFly | AirHelp |
|---|---|---|
| Out of court | 15% + IVA (18.15%) | 35% IVA incluido |
| In court | 30% + IVA (36.3%) | 50% IVA incluido (35% + 15%) |
On a €600 compensation that ends up in court, you’d keep €382.20 with AviFly against €300 with AirHelp, €82.20 more.
5Where AirHelp has the edge: it needs saying
This comparison is written by AviFly, so it wouldn’t be honest if it only listed our own strengths. There are real situations where AirHelp is the more sensible option.
It operates in far more countries and languages than AviFly, with years of track record in the flight claim sector.
It has a much larger public review history, built up over a longer time in the market.
It has more accumulated experience with claims outside EU261 (Montreal Convention, long-haul international flights outside the EU).
6Where AviFly has the edge
A lower fee than AirHelp: 15% + VAT out of court (18.15% with VAT applied) against AirHelp’s 35%; on a €600 compensation that’s €101.10 more for the passenger.
Specialised in the Spanish market, with support and the whole process in Spanish, with no intermediary in another language.
Founded by an aviation lawyer with more than 5 years of experience as in-house legal counsel at international airlines.
7Verdict: AviFly or AirHelp?
Choose AviFly if...
Your flight is covered by EU261, it departs from a Spanish airport, and you want to maximise what you keep with Spanish-language support and a lower fee once VAT is applied.
Choose AirHelp if...
You need support in another language, your claim involves the Montreal Convention or several international jurisdictions, or you prefer a company with a longer public track record.
You can also claim for free yourself from the airline and then from AESA, whose decisions have been binding on the airline since 2 June 2023. Whichever route you choose, checking how much you’re owed first costs nothing.
Check your compensation with AviFly
No payment upfront. We only charge 15% + VAT if you get your money back.
Check my compensationFrequently asked questions
AviFly or AirHelp: which is better?
It depends on the case. For a flight covered by EU261 departing from Spain, AviFly charges less (15% + VAT, 18.15% with VAT applied, against AirHelp’s 35%) and gives native Spanish-language support. AirHelp has a bigger international presence, more languages and a larger public review history, which can matter more for claims outside EU261 or in another language.
How much does AirHelp charge compared with AviFly?
AirHelp charges 35% of the compensation, VAT included (up to 50% if there’s a court case). AviFly charges 15% + VAT out of court and 30% + VAT in court, 18.15% and 36.3% respectively with VAT applied.
How much do I actually save by choosing AviFly over AirHelp?
On €600, €101.10 more; on €400, €67.40 more; on €250, €42.12 more. The difference grows with the size of the compensation.
Does AirHelp charge more if the case goes to court?
Yes. Under its published fee, it adds an extra 15% on top of its usual 35%, both VAT included, up to 50% of the total recovered. AviFly moves from 15% + VAT to 30% + VAT.
Does AirHelp have better odds of winning my case than AviFly?
There is no public evidence that success rates differ between companies specialising in EU261: both apply the same regulation to the same facts. The real difference lies in the fee and in the language or geographic reach of support, not in the odds of winning an eligible case.
Can I switch from AirHelp to AviFly if I’ve already signed up?
If you only entered your details on AirHelp’s website or app without signing an assignment contract, yes, at no cost. If you already signed one, check whether it includes an exclusivity clause before claiming the same case with AviFly. Our guide to AirHelp alternatives covers this process in more detail.