Your rights

Flight overbooking compensation

You may be entitled up to £600 overbooked flight compensation.

Unfortunately travel doesn’t always go according to plan. Read on to find out what your air passenger rights are and how to claim overbooking flight compensation.

1. Your Rights on an Overbooked Flight

i. Do Not Voluntarily Give Up Your Seat

Avoid volunteering to surrender your seat in exchange for vouchers or perks, as this might forfeit your right to additional denied boarding compensation. If the airline offers a compelling deal, you can consider it, but the final decision should be yours to make.

ii. Keep Your Travel Documents

Hold onto your boarding pass and any other travel documents. If you don’t have your boarding pass, you can use any flight document with a booking reference number. This number, typically a six-digit code comprising letters and numbers, is assigned to your flight reservation by the airline.

iii. Inquire About the Reason for Denied Boarding

Ask the airline why you’re being denied boarding. While overbooking is a common cause of denied boarding, there could be other reasons as well. This information can be crucial if you decide to file a claim and seek compensation for an overbooked flight.

iv. Request an Alternative Flight

You can ask for an alternate flight to your intended destination. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can request a refund of your fare and a return flight to your original departure point if necessary.

v. Claim Compensation for Denied Boarding

If you meet the eligibility criteria, the airline should provide you with immediate compensation once you’ve been denied boarding. This compensation is in addition to the rerouting or refund options mentioned earlier.

vi. Ask for Meal and Refreshment Coverage

If you are compelled to wait at the airport for an extended period, the airline is obligated to provide you with food and beverages to ensure your comfort. This is not merely a gesture of hospitality; in some cases, it is a legal requirement.

vii. Request Hotel Accommodations

If you are stranded overnight while awaiting an alternate flight to your destination, the airline should cover reasonable expenses for accommodations and transportation to and from the airport if needed.

viii. Retain Receipts for Additional Expenses

Keep your receipts if your denied boarding results in extra expenses, such as missing a prepaid reservation, incurring hotel costs, renting a car, or other unexpected outlays. Even passengers on international flights, including those within the EU, may be eligible to recover expenses incurred due to travel disruptions.

ix. Check Eligibility for Compensation

Evaluate whether your denied boarding situation qualifies for compensation under applicable regulations.

2. How much Overbooked Flight Compensation are you entitled to?

Airlines are obligated to provide compensation when you experience denied boarding due to overbooking. The amount of compensation you receive for an overbooked flight depends on the distance of your flight; typically, longer flights result in higher compensation. The overbooked flight compensation amount is dependent on the following two factors:

The chart below explains how much you’re eligible for based on your flight details:

Were you bumped off a flight in the last 3 years?

3. What information should I collect to claim for overbooked flight compensation?

Your compensation for denied boarding due to an overbooked flight should ideally be provided to you immediately at the airport, minimising the need for a claims process. However, if you were not compensated on the spot, don’t worry; you can still pursue a claim afterward. It’s worth noting that even when the law supports your claim, airlines may not always be prompt or enthusiastic about payment. Handy tips:

Retain all documents related to the disrupted flight, including e-tickets and boarding passes for both the affected flight and any alternative flights offered.

Seek information from the ground crew at the airport regarding the cause of the disruption.
Maintain a record of the disruption, including the actual arrival time at your final destination.

Any information you can collect, such as photographs of the airport’s departure board or any communications from the airline confirming the disruption, will prove valuable when filing your claim.