Flight overbooking compensation — claim flight compensation!

What is flight overbooking and why do airlines overbook flights?

Overbooking, which happens when airlines sell more tickets than seats available on the plane, occurs more often than you could imagine. They do this in hopes that some passengers would be “no-shows” and that, in the end, all passengers could board the plane.

However, if a flight is overbooked, and all passengers show up, airlines have to find volunteers to give away their seats. In exchange, they can offer vouchers, miles, or other compensation options. If no volunteers are found, airlines must deny boarding to some passengers for the plane to depart. And this is when it gets interesting for you — in the event of denied boarding, according to the British and EU regulations, passengers are entitled to flight overbooking compensation of up to €600 per passenger!

Want to know more about your passenger rights when your flight is overbooked, and you were denied boarding? Continue reading! 

Is flight overbooking legal?

Unfortunately, flight overbooking is quite unfair to passengers, but it is allowed. However, according to the Regulation EC 261/2004, you may be entitled to fligh compensation if you were denied boarding due to overbooking under one of these circumstances. 

1. You travelled with an airline headquartered in the UK or the EU
2. You travelled with an airline headquartered outside of the UK or the EU but the flight took off from the UK or the EU.

Can I claim compensation for denied boarding caused by overbooking?

If your flight was overbooked and the airline denied you boarding, you could claim flight overbooking compensation under the European regulation EU261 if:

• Your flight was operated by a European airline and/or departing from Europe
• You were denied boarding (in other words, you did not give away your seat willingly!)
• The airline offered you a replacement flight, but it arrived more than 2 hours later at your destination. You can also claim compensation if no replacement flight was offered to you.

Can I ask for a ticket refund if my flight was overbooked?

Yes, if you were denied boarding due to overbooking, you might be eligible for a ticket refund, alongside flight overbooking compensation. Under the EU261 regulation, you can claim a full monetary refund of your flight ticket in the event that you no longer wish to travel after being denied boarding. In other words, even if the airline offers you a replacement flight, you can reject it and take a ticket refund instead. If no replacement flight is offered, you can also claim a ticket refund.

Please remember that flight compensation is separate from a ticket refund. In certain circumstances, you might be entitled to both.

I gave away my seat willingly, am I still entitled to flight overbooking compensation?

Unfortunately, if your flight was overbooked and you decided to give away your seat willingly, you wouldn’t be able to get flight compensation for the overbooked flight.

Flight compensation in the event of an overbooked flight relies on the principle of denied boarding. This is why, when flight overbooking occurs, airlines first try to find volunteers to give away their seats and offer vouchers, miles, another flight, etc. By accepting their offer - be it a voucher, miles, or monetary compensation - you relinquish your rights as an air passenger! No matter how enticing their offers may seem, it is important that you do not give up your seat if your flight is overbooked! 

Even if the airline offers seem valuable, remember that in the event of denied boarding you could get flight compensation of up to €600 per passenger and the full refund of your plane ticket — which could be a lot more than the compensation offered by the airline to give up your seat! 

How much flight compensation am I entitled to in the event of a flight overbooking?

According to the EU261, if your flight was overbooked, the amount of compensation you’d be entitled to would depend on the distance of your flight.

How long do I have to claim flight overbooking compensation for my overbooked flight?

The time limit to claim your compensation depends on your flight itinerary. This depends specifically on the legislation in (a) the country of departure, (b) the country of arrival, and (c) the country where the airline's headquarters is located. 

For example, if you were departing from the UK or flying on a British airline, you can claim for up to 6 years after your denied boarding!

But let’s say you were denied boarding for a flight operated by Iberia from Paris to Amsterdam, you could claim flight compensation up to:

• 5 years (French and Spanish law)
• 2 years (Dutch law)

Flight-Delayed.com's experts and legal teams will always ensure that your claim is applied in the most favourable legislation!

How can I claim flight compensation for a flight overbooking?

Claim now with Flight-Delayed.com — the easiest and quickest way to claim flight compensation for your overbooked flight!

Trusting us with your claim will allow you to maximize your chances of success. From the moment you submit your claim, our team of experts will take care of the process for you! We will handle the whole process on your behalf, including going to court if needed. No win, no fee. 

We work on a No Win, No Fee basis - meaning we only win if you do! Check out our price list page for the details on our fees. Ready to claim your compensation for your overbooked flight?

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