FlightCompass Help

Objective

Use FlightCompass to get a fast, plain-language view of whether EU air passenger rights may apply to your case, what kind of issue your case most closely matches, the likely compensation band at a high level where relevant, when compensation may not apply, and what evidence and deadlines matter next.

What FlightCompass checks

FlightCompass is designed for public guidance on common air passenger rights scenarios covered by EU rules, including flight delay at arrival, flight cancellation, denied boarding / overbooking, missed connection on a single booking, downgrade, and lost, delayed or damaged baggage.

• whether the journey is likely within EU air passenger rights scope
• where the flight departed from and arrived
• whether the operating airline was an EU airline when that matters
• whether the disruption affected arrival at the final destination
• whether timing, distance, and notice period may affect compensation
• whether baggage complaint deadlines may apply

When EU flight rights may apply

• your flight was within the EU, whether operated by an EU or non-EU airline
• your flight departed from the EU to a non-EU country, whether operated by an EU or non-EU airline
• your flight arrived in the EU from outside the EU and was operated by an EU airline

For connecting journeys, what usually matters is the delay at your final destination and whether the flights were on a single reservation.

Inputs you should have ready

• departure airport and destination airport
• any connecting airports
• whether all flights were on one booking / one reservation
• airline name and, if known, operating airline
• scheduled departure and arrival times
• actual departure and arrival times
• how much notice you got of any cancellation
• whether you were denied boarding and why you were told that happened
• whether you accepted re-routing and when you finally arrived
• whether your baggage was delayed, damaged, or lost
• dates for baggage delivery and complaint submission

Compensation bands at a high level

• €250 for flights of 1,500 km or less
• €400 for flights of more than 1,500 km within the EU and for other flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km
• €600 for flights of more than 3,500 km

FlightCompass presents these as guidance bands, not guaranteed payouts. For delays, the key threshold is often 3 hours or more at final destination. For cancellations, compensation may depend on notice timing and whether suitable re-routing was offered. If re-routing kept the final delay limited, compensation may be reduced by 50% in some cases.

When compensation may not apply

• the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even if reasonable measures had been taken
• you were informed of a cancellation early enough under the EU notice rules
• you were offered re-routing that kept your delay within the relevant thresholds
• you missed a connection because of airport security delays or because you did not respect boarding time
• denied boarding happened for valid health, safety, security, or document reasons
• the journey falls outside EU rights scope

Baggage rules and complaint deadlines

• damaged baggage: complain to the airline in writing within 7 days
• delayed baggage: complain within 21 days of receiving the baggage
• checked baggage: compensation may be available up to approximately €1,300

Baggage rules are different from the standard flight compensation bands. Hand baggage damage is generally only compensable if the airline was responsible.

Assistance and reimbursement basics

Even where compensation is uncertain, passengers may still have rights to care or reimbursement in some situations. Depending on the disruption, airlines may have to provide or reimburse reasonable essentials such as food and refreshments, hotel accommodation if needed overnight, transport between hotel and airport, communication support, and re-routing or ticket reimbursement depending on the case.

Evidence to keep

• booking confirmation
• e-ticket and boarding pass
• baggage tags
• airline messages and screenshots
• proof of scheduled and actual arrival times
• written reason given by the airline, if any
• receipts for meals, hotels, transport, replacement essentials, or baggage-related spending
• photos of baggage damage
• complaint emails and webform confirmations

What to do next

1. Save or screenshot the result.
2. Gather your documents and receipts.
3. Submit a written claim to the airline.
4. Keep copies of everything you send.
5. If the airline rejects the claim or does not respond, consider escalation to the relevant national enforcement or dispute-resolution route.

Limitations

• it is not a law firm or claims handler
• it cannot verify disputed facts
• it cannot prove extraordinary circumstances
• it cannot confirm airline liability in every baggage case
• it may not cover unusual multi-ticket, codeshare, or mixed-carrier edge cases perfectly
• it does not replace official advice from the airline, enforcement body, or a qualified professional

Source baseline: Your Europe — Air passenger rights: https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm

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