Can I vibecode AirHelp?
KINDA · weekend projectA useful personal organizer is buildable, but AirHelp is more than the visible intake form. A local app can assess EC261 and UK261 eligibility, organize evidence, draft letters, and track deadlines. It cannot responsibly reproduce AirHelp's managed airline correspondence, cross-jurisdictional legal judgment, funded court action, and professional accountability in one sitting. This is a credible personal substitute for straightforward self-service claims, not a full replacement.
Build me a local flight-compensation claim organizer to replace AirHelp for self-service claims. Requirements: - Node 22 + Express + better-sqlite3, server-rendered pages on localhost, no frontend framework; all data in one SQLite file plus a local uploads folder. - Model passengers, bookings, multi-segment journeys, disruptions (delay, cancellation, denied boarding, missed connection), claims, evidence files, and deadlines. - Deterministic EC261 and UK261 eligibility rules in one versioned rules module: given the journey facts, output eligible / not eligible / needs manual review, the compensation band (250/400/600 EUR distance tiers), and the article relied on. Show which facts triggered which rule branch. - Compute great-circle distance from airport coordinates and timezone-safe arrival delay from user-entered flight details; no commercial flight-data API. - Attach evidence (tickets, emails, receipts) as local files on a chronological claim timeline. - Generate editable draft letters to the airline and the national enforcement body from templates; never send anything automatically. - Track stages (preparing, submitted, escalated to authority or ADR, resolved) with due dates, exported as an ICS file for my calendar. - Export a whole claim as JSON and Markdown so nothing is trapped in the app. - Say plainly in the UI and README: decision support, not legal advice; verify current rules and limitation periods yourself. - Out of scope: automatic submission, airline negotiation, lawyer engagement, court filing, accounts, sync. The staff, legal funding, and accountability are the part you cannot build. - README: setup, where data lives, backup by copying the SQLite file and uploads.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter) or copy it raw
prompt copied. verdicts flip when models improve.
five vibe-coding tips + the verdicts that changed. thursdays, free, one-click out.
People pay AirHelp to transfer the work, uncertainty, follow-up, and legal escalation to a specialist on a no-win, no-fee basis. A local tool can organize a straightforward self-service claim, but it does not negotiate with the airline, fund litigation, or take professional responsibility for a contested case.
xAirHelp staff handling airline correspondence and negotiation
xcase-specific legal judgment across jurisdictions
xlawyer access and funded legal action under a no-win, no-fee model
xcommercial flight, weather, and disruption data used to validate claims
xprofessional support and accountability when a claim becomes contested
AirHelp pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| no win, no fee | custom | — | $0 upfront; AirHelp keeps 35% of successfully recovered flight compensation |
| airhelp+ single trip protection | custom | — | 1 trip, including outbound, return, and any connecting flights |
| airhelp+ lite | — | $2.88/user | 1 year of membership; the official fee list does not publish a numeric trip allowance |
| airhelp+ smart / protect 3 trips | — | $3.84/user | 3 registered trips/year; €100 disruption payout, €200 missed-connection payout, and €100 baggage payout |
| airhelp+ pro / protect 9 trips | — | $9.61/user | 9 registered trips/year; €100 disruption payout, €200 missed-connection payout, and €100 baggage payout |
| airhelp+ usa comfort | — | $15/user | 6 registered trips/year; $200 fast disruption payout plus eligible compensation claims |
| airhelp+ usa pro | — | $20.83/user | 9 registered trips/year; $200 fast disruption payout plus eligible compensation claims |
free tierEligibility and information checks cost $0; an unsuccessful compensation claim costs $0; there is no free AirHelp+ membership.
billingsuccess-fee claim service, one-time single-trip protection, or annual AirHelp+ membership; no monthly AirHelp+ plan
hidden costsSuccessful claims lose 35%; legal action adds another 15% (up to 50% total, used in about 3% of cases). Goodwill claims cost $29.99 unless recovery is below $30 or 3,000 loyalty points. Membership benefits may require registration at least 48 hours before departure; bank/FX fees can reduce payouts.
verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗
Can I vibecode AirHelp?
Kinda. The core of AirHelp is buildable in a weekend with the prompt on this page, but there are real gaps: AirHelp staff handling airline correspondence and negotiation, case-specific legal judgment across jurisdictions. Read the honest list above before committing.
How much does AirHelp cost?
AirHelp's pricing is usage-based or varies by plan · AirHelp deducts a 35% service fee from recovered compensation. If legal action is required, it deducts an additional 15%..
What do I lose by replacing AirHelp?
Honestly: AirHelp staff handling airline correspondence and negotiation; case-specific legal judgment across jurisdictions; lawyer access and funded legal action under a no-win, no-fee model; commercial flight, weather, and disruption data used to validate claims; professional support and accountability when a claim becomes contested. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to AirHelp?
Yes: ClaimSolo (Open-source, local-first personal workspace for assessing, documenting, and tracking EC261 and UK261 flight claims.). Using prior art is also vibecoding; the prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.