AviFly vs Reclamador: 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 Reclamador to claim your flight, the difference isn’t in the law they apply — it’s the same for both — but in the fee, the scope of the business and the track record. 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 see the comparison with the biggest fee gap on the market, we have a separate guide covering AirHelp.
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Check my compensation1How do AviFly and Reclamador differ?
Both are Spanish companies that handle flight 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; what differs is the fee, the scope of the business and the accumulated track record.
Reclamador is the older and better-known of the two Spanish consumer-claims platforms. Beyond flights, it handles banking claims, inheritance disputes, insurance and other consumer matters, with a bigger legal team built up over more years in the market. Its published fee for flights is 25% + VAT out of court.
AviFly is a Spanish platform specialising exclusively in EU261 flight compensation, founded by an aviation lawyer 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: 15% against 25%, both + VAT
Unlike other comparisons, there’s no VAT trick to unpack here: Reclamador publishes its fee "+ VAT", the same way AviFly does, so VAT is added afterwards on top of the percentage in both cases and the headline figures are already comparable. A 15% + VAT fee is 18.15% of the amount recovered; a 25% + VAT fee is 30.25%. That’s a real difference, but not a chasm.
| Compensation | You keep with AviFly | You keep with Reclamador | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| €250 | €204.62 | €174.37 | €30.25 |
| €400 | €327.40 | €279 | €48.40 |
| €600 | €491.10 | €418.50 | €72.60 |
A real difference, not a chasm
Against Reclamador the gap is between €30 and €73 depending on the size of the compensation. If you want to see a comparison with a much bigger fee gap, we have a separate guide covering AviFly vs AirHelp.
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 | Reclamador |
|---|---|---|
| Out of court | 15% + IVA (18.15%) | 25% + IVA (30.25%) |
| In court | 30% + IVA (36.3%) | 40% + IVA (48.4%) |
On a €600 compensation that ends up in court, you’d keep €382.20 with AviFly against €309.60 with Reclamador, €72.60 more.
5Where Reclamador 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 Reclamador is the more sensible option.
It’s the older of the two Spanish consumer-claims companies, with more years of track record in the sector.
It handles more case types beyond flights: banking claims, inheritance disputes, insurance and other consumer matters, all with the same company.
It has a bigger legal team, built up over a longer time in the Spanish market.
6Where AviFly has the edge
A lower fee: 15% + VAT out of court (18.15% with VAT applied) against Reclamador’s 25% + VAT (30.25%); on a €600 compensation that’s €72.60 more for the passenger.
Specialised exclusively in flight compensation under EU261, with no other legal areas to manage.
Founded by an aviation lawyer with more than 5 years of experience as in-house legal counsel at international airlines.
7Verdict: AviFly or Reclamador?
Choose AviFly if...
Your flight is covered by EU261 and you want to maximise what you keep with a lower fee, once VAT is applied, from a platform that specialises only in flights.
Choose Reclamador if...
You prefer a company with a longer track record in Spain, or you also need to handle a claim in another area (banking, inheritance, insurance) with the same company.
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: a solid option if you’d rather not give up any percentage at all. 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
Is AviFly better than Reclamador for flights?
It depends on the case. For a flight covered by EU261, AviFly charges less (15% + VAT, 18.15% with VAT applied, against Reclamador’s 25% + VAT) and specialises only in flights. Reclamador has a longer track record in Spain and also handles other consumer matters, which can matter more if you also have a banking or other type of claim.
How much does Reclamador charge compared with AviFly?
Reclamador charges 25% + VAT out of court (30.25% with VAT applied) and up to 40% + VAT (48.4%) if there’s a court case, under its published fee. 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 Reclamador?
On €600, €72.60 more; on €400, €48.40 more; on €250, €30.25 more. The difference grows with the size of the compensation.
Does Reclamador charge more if the case goes to court?
Yes. Under its published fee, it adds an extra 15% + VAT on top of its usual 25%, up to 40% + VAT of the total recovered. AviFly moves from 15% + VAT to 30% + VAT.
Does Reclamador only handle flights?
No. Reclamador is a consumer-claims platform that, besides flights, handles banking claims, inheritance disputes, insurance and other legal areas. AviFly specialises exclusively in flight compensation under EU261.
Can I claim myself instead of using AviFly or Reclamador?
Yes. You can claim for free from the airline and, if it doesn’t reply satisfactorily within a month, go to AESA, whose decision has been binding on the airline since 2 June 2023 and can be enforced in court if the airline doesn’t comply. AESA charges nothing and doesn’t handle baggage, which falls under the Montreal Convention.