Was your flight overbooked and you were denied boarding?

Overbooked flight compensation

If you are subjected to the inconvenience of an overbooking or denied boarding, the plus side is that you may be due between €250 and €600 in compensation as well as some additional services and benefits at the airport. If you meet the conditions as set out in the EU Passenger Rights Regulation, then you have a valid claim.

Use our online calculator to check whether you are entitled to flight delay compensation and then get Flightright to enforce your claim at the touch of a button.

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What are my rights in the event of an overbooking?

• You can receive a compensation between €250 and €600
• You can either get a ticket refund or alternative transportation
• Food and drinks immediately provided by the airline

What should I do if my flight is overbooked?

• Get confirmation in writing from the airline that your flight booking was changed and the reasons why
• Collect proof: Photos, receipts documenting any expenses incurred, tickets, vouchers etc.
• Insist on receiving food and refreshments at the airport
• Make use of our expertise and use our compensation calculator

What does overbooking and denied boarding mean?

It is a common practice amongst airlines to overbook their flights. They often sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane and if they do not find enough volunteers to surrender their reservations they may deny boarding to passengers against their will.

Similarly, airlines sometimes use a smaller aircraft, especially if there have not been enough bookings on the flight, to keep it profitable. In this case, some passengers may be placed on other flights.

A compensation for overbooking is due to the passenger who was denied boarding against his or her will when he or she had checked in on time, the travel documents were complete and there was no security or health risk to the flight or other passengers.

When do passengers receive compensation for overbooked flight?

If you were denied boarding against your will due to an overbooking of your flight, you may be entitled to compensation between €250 and €600. Note that the price of the ticket for the initial flight does not affect the amount of compensation. According to the European Passenger Rights Regulation, you can claim compensation even if you have booked your ticket with a low-cost airline. If you suffered a denial of boarding due to an overbooking as a business traveler you are entitled to the compensation, and not your employer. Passengers who travelled on package holidays are also able to claim. For your claim to be eligible the flight must depart within the EU or, if it lands in the EU the airline must have its headquarters in the EU. It is possible to claim on flights as far back as 6 years.

If the airline is responsible for denied boarding, air passengers are entitled to claim compensation for overbooking, the amount of which depends on the distance of the flight:

• Short distance flight delays – up to 1500 km – Passenger compensation of €250
• Medium distance flight delays – between 1500 km and 3500 km – Passenger compensation of €400
• Long distance flight delays – more than 3500km – Passengers compensation of €600

Compensation for overbooking: You are entitled to

Did you check in on time?

In order to receive denied boarding compensation, you technically have to check in on time. The German Federal Court of Justice, however, recently passed a mild ruling on check-in in favour of consumers (case reference X ZR 34/14): If the airline previously made it absolutely clear that the passenger would be denied boarding on the booked flight then, according to the Federal Court of Justice, passengers do not have to travel to the airport — but are nevertheless entitled to compensation.

We nevertheless recommend that you travel to the airport, especially in cases involving flights that are rebooked at short notice. Even if passengers are faced with long waiting times, they should not leave the gate area in case they miss information on sudden flight changes.

What if my flight was rebooked?

Flight rebookings happen mostly during package holidays. It’s either the flight time changes or passengers are booked on a completely different flight. If you arrive later at your final destination, or you depart earlier than originally booked, you might be eligible for compensation as well.

How do I apply for compensation if my flight is overbooked?

The first thing to do is confirm that you are actually eligible for compensation. The airline that actually operated the flight needs to be contacted as they may differ from the airline where you booked your flight. Indeed, it is the airline operating the flight that normally has to compensate you in the event of a denied boarding. This rule also applies to passengers who have participated in a tour package, they must contact the airline and not the tour operator. Simply enter your flight details into our compensation calculator and you will know the amount of your potential compensation within minutes.

But sometimes it is easier said than done. Many passengers tell us that it is extremely difficult to find the airline’s contact person, especially when dealing with a foreign airline. Sometimes even the customer service doesn’t respond to inquiries and this can get many passengers to give up on their pursuit. However, with the help of Flightright, Europe’s No. 1 expert on air claims, the chances of getting your compensation are enormous. We have already negotiated with over 318 different airlines and so far obtained more than 500 million euros for our customers.

If the claim check indicates that you are eligible for compensation for your overbooked flight, you can have us asserting your rights to claim immediately. The best chance of receiving your compensation in a hassle-free manner is to sign your case over to us. We know what the airlines are like and what moves they typically use to avoid paying passengers their due compensation. Our knowledge of the industry allows us to represent our customers’ interests on a level playing field with the airlines. We’ll make sure that you get the compensation you’re entitled to, even if it means going to court. We currently boast a 98% enforcement success rate, while we operate a no-win no fee basis, meaning that we only receive a commission of 20-30% + VAT if we win your case.

Which rights do I have at the airport when my flight is overbooked?

If a sudden flight overbooking occurs and you have to wait at the airport, it is mandatory for the airline to provide assistance to passengers. Regardless of the cause of the cancellation, you are entitled to receive basic assistance at the airport. Passengers must receive food and drinks as well as two free phone calls, faxes, or emails.

Alternative flight or ticket refund

If your flight is overbooked you can choose between an alternative transport or you can opt not to fly at all and to receive a refund for the price of your ticket.

Departure the following day?

If you are already at the airport when you find out that you are denied boarding and have been rebooked to a flight departing the next day, the airline has to provide you with hotel accommodation and pay for your transfers to and from the airport and hotel. You should always try to get this confirmed in writing from the airline. Airlines usually book this overnight accommodation themselves and then provide you with the details. So speak to the airline first before you go ahead to book a hotel for yourself.

How to protect my rights on a future flight?

You have planned a flight trip in the future and want to be sure you won’t miss any compensation payments in advance? No problem. You can enter your flights in advance in our compensation calculator and we will inform you if you are entitled to compensation.

Checklist: Your rights in case of flight overbooking

• You might be entitled to compensation from €250 to €600 when the airline overbooked the flight and denied boarding to you against your will
• You are immediately entitled to food and refreshments

Requirements

• You have checked in for your flight on time (generally no less than 45 minutes before departure).
• Your flight overbooking happened less than 6 years ago
• The airline is responsible for the overbooking or denied boarding
• Your flight takes off from an EU airport or you landed at an EU airport (the airline is headquartered in the EU)
• You had a confirmed booking and ticket
• You can claim compensation even if you have travelled with a tour package or had a business trip

Was your flight overbooked and you were denied boarding?

If the airline denies you transportation because the flight is overbooked, you can claim compensation under EU law.