Overbooked flight compensation

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

What are my rights in the event of an overbooking?

• You can obtain a compensation between €250 and €600
• You can receive a ticket refund or alternative transportation
• Food and drinks immediately are given to you courtesy of the airline

What should I do if my flight is overbooked?

• Get confirmation from the airline that your flight booking was changed and the causes on why it happened on a piece of paper
• Collect proof: Photos, receipts documenting any expenses incurred, tickets, vouchers etc.
• Claim your food and refreshments at the airport that is rightfully yours

What does overbooking and denied boarding mean?

It is a regular practice amongst airlines to overbook their flights with too many passengers. They 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 their 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 might be entitled to compensation between €250 and €600. Note that the price of the ticket for the first plane does not affect the amount of payment. 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 had no access to boarding due to an overbooking as a business traveler you are entitled to the compensation, and not your employer. Passengers who traveled on package holidays are also eligible to claim. For your claim to be available, 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 six years.

If the airline is responsible for you not being able to board, 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

Did you check in on time?

To receive denied boarding compensation, you 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 still entitled to compensation.

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

What if my flight was rebooked?

Flight rebooking happens most of the time during package holidays. It’s either the flight time changes or passengers are booked on a different flight. If you arrive later at your final destination or you depart earlier than initially scheduled, you might be eligible for compensation as well.

Important: even if you have already received vouchers for meals and drinks from the airline, you can still claim your compensation for overbooking.

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

The first thing to do is to confirm that you are eligible for compensation. The airline that 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. Enter your flight details into our compensation calculator, and you will know the amount of your potential compensation within minutes.

However, a lot of the times, it is easier said than done. Many passengers tell us that it is challenging to find the airline’s contact details, especially with a foreign airline. Sometimes even the customer service doesn’t respond to inquiries, and these can get many passengers to give up on their pursuit. 

If you are eligible for compensation for your overbooked flight, you can have us asserting your rights to claim immediately. The highest chance of receiving your payment 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. We’ll make sure that you get the compensation you’re entitled to, even if it means taking the company to court. 

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, the airline must provide assistance to passengers. It doesn’t matter about the cause of the cancellation as you are entitled to receive the necessary support at the airport. Passengers must collect food and drinks as well as two free phone calls, faxes, or even emails.

Alternative flight or ticket refund

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

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 out on any compensation payments in advance? No problem. 

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 (usually 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, you are not eligible 
• Your flight takes off from an EU airport or you landed at an EU airport (airline is headquartered in the EU)
• You had a confirmed booking and ticket
• You can claim even if you have traveled with a tour package or had a business trip