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Compensation for overbooked flight

Overbooking happens when airlines sell more tickets than seats available on the plane. Make sure to have all documents handy and let us get your compensation up to 600 EUR!

When you head to a business meeting but instead you are offered a flight tomorrow and a 100eur voucher, the day clearly doesn’t go as you planned.

Overbooking usually happens when airlines sell more tickets than seats on the plane. This is a common practice based on statistics showing that an average of 10 passengers on certain routes are no-show for the flight. Each airline is monitoring routes with highest no-show rates and takes decisions internally.

What should you do if you are denied boarding due to overbooking?

As a first thing do not give up your seat voluntarily. You may be offered a voucher, miles, points or other benefits, however if you accept it you may lose your right to compensation. You should always compare the value of these benefits to official compensation you are entitled by law. Below you can see regulated compensation amounts for overbooking in Europe.

 

Distance Compensation
Less than 1500km 250EUR
Within Europe over 1500km 400EUR
Non-internal EU flight over 3500km 600EUR
Non-internal EU flight 1500-3500km 400EUR

If you are offered an alternative flight and it arrives with a delay you can claim compensation according to EC261/2004: delay compensation together with overbooking compensation.

Tip: If you are denied boarding due to overbooking, ask for a written confirmation from airlines representatives at the airport.

What options do you have in case of overbooking?

  1. You can ask for full refund if your travel didn't start yet
  2. You can ask for a ticket back to your original departure airport and refund of the unused part of the ticket (if you can prove the ticket no longer serves the purpose of your trip at the final destination)
  3. You can ask for a ticket on a later date according to your needs.
  4. You can take the alternative flight offered by airline representatives.

Unlike flight delays and cancellations, there is a regulated compensation for overbooking in the USA. See below:

Delay of arrival 0-1h 1-2h 2-4h 4h+
USA domestic flights No compensation 200% of one way fare;
can't excess 675$ 		400% of one way fare;
can't excess 1350$		 200% of one way fare;
can't excess 1350$
International flights No compensation 200% of one way fare;
can't excess 675$		 200% of one way fare;
can't excess 675$		 400% of one way fare;
can't excess 1350$

If boarding is denied due to overbooking in Canada, here is the compensation you are entitled to:

Delay of arrival Compensation
0-6 hours 900CAD
6-9 hours 1800CAD
9+ hours 2400CAD

In India overbooking is compensated as stated below:

Time between scheduled flight
and alternative flight offered		 Compensation
1 hour No compensation
Within 24 hours 200% of booked one-way basic fare
+ airline fuel charge,
capped at INR 10,000
Exceeding 24 hours 400% of booked one-way basic fare
+ airline fuel charge,
capped at INR 20,000
If Passenger deny for an alternate flight Full refund of ticket fare
+ compensation of 400% of
booked one-way basic fare
+ airline fuel charge,
capped at INR 20,000

We hope you won’t be in this inconvenient situation, however if it happens so share
with us what happened and we will defend your right on your behalf directly with the airline.