Applicability scope
The tool checks whether EU passenger-rights rules may apply based on route pattern and airline context, including flights within the EU, departures from the EU, and certain arrivals into the EU operated by an EU airline.
Public Tool
Check whether EU air passenger rights may apply to your flight in minutes
FlightCompass helps travellers understand when EU rules may cover a disrupted journey, what type of support may be relevant, which compensation band may apply, and what deadlines matter for baggage issues.
Built for travellers who want a fast, plain-language answer after delay, cancellation, denied boarding, missed connection, downgrade, or baggage disruption.
Important disclaimer
FlightCompass provides informational guidance only. It is a public decision tool, not a law firm, not a claims agency, and not legal advice.
Why this exists
Most travellers do not need a long legal article — they need a fast yes-or-maybe answer
After a flight problem, people usually ask the same questions: Do EU air passenger rules even apply to this route? Does a long delay or cancellation potentially trigger compensation? Is the airline supposed to offer re-routing, reimbursement, meals, or hotel support? Does an extraordinary circumstance change the answer? If baggage is delayed or damaged, what is the reporting deadline? FlightCompass is built to turn those questions into a fast decision path.
What FlightCompass checks
Practical guidance for the questions travellers ask right after disruption
FlightCompass is built around the practical questions travellers ask right after disruption.
Disruption type
It distinguishes between delay, cancellation, denied boarding, overbooking-related denial, missed connection on a single booking, downgrade, and baggage disruption.
Compensation band reference
Where relevant, it shows the standard compensation reference bands of €250, €400, or €600 based on distance category, with plain-language context that actual entitlement depends on the facts.
Assistance and travel options
It highlights when the issue may involve meals, refreshments, hotel accommodation where relevant, communication support, reimbursement, re-routing at the earliest opportunity, or rebooking later under comparable transport conditions.
Extraordinary circumstances caveat
It explains that compensation may not be due if the carrier can show extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if reasonable measures had been taken.
Baggage deadlines
It flags the practical complaint windows commonly relevant for checked baggage issues: typically 7 days for damaged baggage and 21 days for delayed baggage after receipt.
Decision tool
Get a fast passenger-rights snapshot before you contact the airline
Use FlightCompass to check whether EU air passenger rights may apply and what your next practical step should be.
Guidance only
Compensation is not guaranteed. Final eligibility may depend on facts FlightCompass cannot verify, including extraordinary circumstances, booking structure, and the operating airline.
Common scenarios FlightCompass can triage
Choose the issue that matches your journey
Long delay
Understand when a departure delay may trigger assistance and when arrival at the final destination 3 hours or more late may point toward compensation, subject to exceptions.
Cancellation
Check when cancellation may lead to reimbursement, re-routing, return, airport assistance, and possible compensation depending on notice timing and substitute routing.
Denied boarding or overbooking
See when involuntary denied boarding may trigger compensation plus a choice between reimbursement, re-routing, or later rebooking.
Missed connection
Check whether a missed connection on a single reservation may still fall under EU passenger-rights logic based on the final arrival delay and the cause of disruption.
Downgrade
Understand when a cabin downgrade may trigger partial fare reimbursement percentages linked to route category.
Baggage disruption
Get quick guidance on delayed, damaged, or lost checked baggage, including the importance of written complaints within the relevant deadline.
How FlightCompass works
The tool is designed for fast public use with no legal jargon
Step through the issue type, route context, booking details, and timing to get a plain-language rights snapshot.
Enter the journey basics
Select the issue type and add the route pattern, airline context, ticket or booking context, and timing of the disruption.
Get a rights snapshot
FlightCompass shows whether EU rules may apply, which passenger-rights category is most relevant, and what support or compensation band may be worth checking.
See the practical next step
Review a concise summary of what to gather, what deadlines matter, and what to ask the airline for next.
Frequently asked questions
Need more context before you file a complaint?
Read the public help page for scope rules, compensation bands, baggage deadlines, evidence tips, and the tool’s limitations.