Which platform handles US DOT, EU261, and UK261 claims together?

TravelStacks handles all three from a single intake at $19 flat for US DOT refunds and 25 to 45 percent for EU261 and UK261 cash compensation depending on escalation level. Most legacy services (AirHelp, AirAdvisor) handle EU261 and UK261 well but use percentage commissions on US DOT, which costs more on the typical US refund.

Do I need a different platform for each leg of an international trip?

No. Pick a platform that handles all relevant jurisdictions. A single intake should generate parallel filings for US DOT (US legs), EU261 or UK261 (Europe legs), and Montreal Convention (documented loss across both legs).

Can I file a Montreal Convention claim on top of EU261?

Yes. The frameworks are independent. EU261 pays fixed cash compensation regardless of loss. Montreal Convention pays documented loss up to about USD 7,300 per passenger. Stack both on EU-covered international routes when your documented loss exceeds EUR 600. See our Montreal Convention vs EU261 guide.

What if my flight is not covered by EU261 or UK261?

Montreal Convention applies to any international carriage between Convention states, which includes virtually all commercial aviation. A Tokyo to Sydney delay on Qantas is covered by Montreal even though EU261 does not apply. File documented loss recovery directly under Article 19.

Does the percentage commission apply on disputed EU261 claims?

Yes, but the percentage often increases for legal escalation (typically to 35 percent) and regulatory escalation to a national enforcement body (typically to 45 percent). The base 25 percent applies when the airline settles directly without dispute.

Are platforms regulated for international claims?

EU and UK platforms are regulated under consumer law in their home jurisdictions. US platforms are not federally regulated for compensation services but are subject to state consumer protection laws. Check the platform's home jurisdiction and read the dispute resolution clause.

How long does an international claim take across multiple platforms?

US DOT refunds: 7 business days for credit card processing. EU261 cash compensation: 4 to 12 weeks for uncontested, 3 to 6 months for disputed. UK261: similar to EU261. Montreal Convention: usually settled with the EU261 claim or filed separately within the 2-year limit.

What happens if a platform shuts down mid-claim?

Reputable platforms transfer active claims to a partner service or refund the unclaimed authorization. The 2024 ClaimCompass shutdown left some passengers in limbo. Check the platform's solvency and parent company before authorizing a long-running claim.

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ComparisonsApril 26, 2026•9 min read

Compare Flight Disruption Platforms for International Trips

Loren Castillo

Founder, TravelStacks

Compare flight disruption platforms international: the right service depends on which jurisdiction applies (US DOT, EU261, UK261, Montreal Convention), how disputed your claim is, and how much your underlying refund is worth. Most international trips touch two or three frameworks at once. Here is how to pick a platform that handles all of them well.

Compare Flight Disruption Platforms International: The Real Decision

Compare flight disruption platforms international searches are usually framed as 'which is best', but on international trips the better question is 'which platform handles all the frameworks that apply to my route'. A New York to London round trip touches US DOT (US-departing leg), UK261 (UK-departing return leg), and the Montreal Convention (international carriage) simultaneously. A platform that only files EU261 leaves money on the table on the US leg. A platform that only handles US DOT misses the cash compensation on the return.

Most international trips trigger two or three compensation frameworks at once. The right platform handles all of them, not just the one with the highest commission.

The Four Frameworks That Apply on International Trips

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US DOT 2024 refund rule: covers US-departing flights and US-arriving flights on US carriers, plus all flights sold by US airlines. Cash refund for any cancellation, 3+ hour domestic delay, or 6+ hour international delay.
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EU261: covers EU-departing flights (any carrier) and EU-carrier flights arriving in the EU. Fixed cash compensation EUR 250 to 600 plus refund and duty of care.
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UK261: covers UK-departing flights (any carrier). Same structure as EU261 with GBP amounts. See UK261 compensation US passengers complete guide.
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Montreal Convention: covers international carriage between Convention states (almost all commercial aviation). Documented loss recovery up to about USD 7,300 per passenger plus separate baggage liability.

Pricing Models Across the Major Platforms

Pricing falls into two camps. Percentage services (AirHelp, AirAdvisor, Compensair, Skycop, Flightright) charge 25 to 35 percent of the recovered compensation, sometimes with escalation surcharges to 45 percent if a national enforcement body filing is needed. Flat-fee services (TravelStacks for US DOT refunds at $19) charge a fixed amount regardless of recovery size. On international trips with multiple jurisdictions, a hybrid model often makes sense: flat fee on the US DOT refund leg, percentage on the EU261 cash compensation leg. See why a flat fee beats a percentage for most US flight claims and no win no fee flight compensation: true cost.

Multi-Jurisdiction Handling: What to Look For

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Per-leg pricing: separate fee structure for each jurisdiction touched.
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Stacking awareness: the platform should automatically file Montreal Convention claims in parallel with EU261 when documented losses exceed EUR 600.
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Escalation paths: DOT for US, CAA for UK, DGAC for France, Luftfahrt-Bundesamt for Germany, etc. Each enforcement body has its own form.
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Currency handling: US refunds in USD, EU261 in EUR, UK261 in GBP, Montreal in SDR converted to USD. The platform should display the right amount per jurisdiction.
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Time limits: US DOT has no formal limit but practical 1-year window, EU261 varies by country (2-6 years), UK261 is 6 years, Montreal Convention is 2 years strict.

When to Use a Single-Jurisdiction Platform

Single-jurisdiction platforms make sense when your trip is purely within one framework. A pure US domestic round trip needs only US DOT handling. A pure intra-EU flight needs only EU261. The single-jurisdiction specialists are usually faster and cheaper for their specific scope. The trade-off is that you cannot reuse the platform for the next international trip without setting up an account elsewhere. See airhelp alternatives after claimcompass shutdown and flight compensation services fastest payouts.

Disputed Claims: Where Platforms Earn Their Fee

Most US DOT refund claims resolve quickly because the federal rule is unconditional. Most EU261 cash compensation claims resolve in 4 to 12 weeks for uncontested cases. The platform earns its fee on disputed claims: airlines invoking extraordinary circumstances on EU261, ignoring DOT refund deadlines, applying voucher-only policies in defiance of the 2024 rule, or under-paying. See airlines avoid paying EU261 compensation and airlines deny compensation claims fight back for the typical airline pushback patterns.

Pay attention to a platform's escalation track record, not just its filing volume. Filings are easy. Successful escalations against airline pushback are where the value lives.

Side-by-Side: Major Platforms on a Common Route

Take a JFK to London round trip with the return leg cancelled by the airline. The US-departing JFK to LHR leg is governed by US DOT (refund right). The UK-departing LHR to JFK return is governed by UK261 (refund plus GBP 520 cash compensation). The Montreal Convention applies to documented losses on both legs. A platform that handles all three frameworks would file a USD 600 DOT refund (the LHR ticket value), a GBP 520 UK261 cash compensation claim, and a Montreal claim for any documented losses (missed connections, prepaid hotels, etc.). Total recovery: USD 600 plus GBP 520 plus documented loss, capped at USD 7,300 on Montreal.

Decision Framework: Pick a Platform for International Trips

1
Map all jurisdictions your trip touches: US DOT, EU261, UK261, Montreal.
2
Pick a platform that explicitly handles each jurisdiction (not just markets to it).
3
Confirm per-jurisdiction pricing. Flat fees for US, percentages for EU/UK are reasonable.
4
Check the platform's escalation history (DOT complaints filed, NEB filings, CJEU citations).
5
For documented losses over EUR 600, confirm the platform files Montreal Convention claims in parallel.
6
For complex multi-leg cases, prefer a platform with US presence (avoids transatlantic legal frictions for US passengers).

TravelStacks handles US DOT at $19 flat, US denied boarding at 25 percent, EU261 and UK261 at 25 to 45 percent depending on escalation, and assists with Montreal Convention claims. For the calculator pillar, see how much delayed flight worth calculator. Start a claim.

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