What to Do If Your Flight Is Overbooked?

When your flight is overbooked, then the airline has to first ask for volunteers to give up their booked seats in exchange for compensation. Some passengers may be denied boarding if the volunteers do not step forward for flight cancellation. In such situations, passengers are entitled to some listed benefits like compensation, rebookings, and general refunds.

Key Points About “Overbooked Flight Compensation”

Overbooking is a common practice among airlines. In this, they intend to sell more tickets than available seats, and then assume that not all passengers will show up. Know that when all the passengers come and the flight seems overbooked, then some travelers might be denied boarding. And if your journey got discontinued due to overbooked flights, then you will be entitled to a particular ‘compensation’. Some key points that are important to know about are as follows:

Understand Your Rights - There are certain regulations, like the U.S and all those under the European Union (EU261 Regulation) that enable passengers to have certain legal rights when bumped involuntarily. Here, the regulations and restrictions are there to protect travelers and to enforce mandate compensation when the airline is at fault.

Voluntary vs. Involuntary Denial - In case you voluntarily give up your seat in exchange for many types of perks like travel vouchers, seat upgrades, or the airline is not obligated to pay cash compensation every time. However, if you are involuntarily denied boarding due to overbooking, you have stronger legal rights to monetary compensation.

Eligibility for Compensation - In the U.S., if you’re bumped involuntarily and the airline cannot get you to your destination within one hour of the scheduled time, you may receive up to 400% of your one-way fare (maximum $1,550 as of 2024). Under EU rules, passengers can claim up to €600 depending on the distance of the flight and the length of the delay.

Airline Responsibility - Compensation only applies when the denial is due to overbooking, not weather issues, security concerns, or other extraordinary circumstances. The airline must provide a written statement explaining your rights when you’re bumped.

Getting Compensation - Do not miss out on taking the compensation from the end of the airlines. However, to claim it, you are required to have the original booking details and all relevant information. Having documents handy, saves your time for later bookings.

What are my Rights in the Event of an Overbooking?

Getting bumped by the airlines happens all the time. And here one has to be aware of the many rights and regulations that are entitled to the passenger. Firstly, the airline looks for volunteers who have no problem giving up their seats with the following compensation from the airline’s end, like travel vouchers, or a next flight booking. Either way, the volunteer does not go empty-handed for letting their travel be delayed.

And if no volunteers are there, then you are involuntarily bumped, in other words, you are entitled to overbooked flight compensation based on the length of the delay and the flight distance.

What Should I do if my Flight is Overbooked?

One has to be extra smart, where you could make out like a bandit by volunteering to get bumped from an overbooked flight. And since only a few members prefer to go the extra mile, it becomes more important to cross-check the following before signing on the dotted lines:

1. Look for the next available flights where one can confirm their ‘seat’ by avoiding the long queue and can also avoid subsequent frustrations.
2. Can request a hotel voucher if you have to stay overnight.
3. Ask for a food voucher if your flight is in the next 2-4 hours.
4. If you have time to leave the airport premises, then you can ask for transportation reimbursement.
5. There are other perks to negotiate as a volunteer, like future vouchers, lounge access, a first-class upgrade, and more.

Why do Airlines Overbook?

According to the Aviation Experts, the empty seats mean less amount of money for the airlines. To avoid this opportunity from last-minute cancellations, significant flight delays, or no-shows, it becomes common for air carriers to oversell their seats. Do you know that this practice calls for the airline amazing out at 100 percent flight capacity. The number of overbookings an airline generally deploys across the various routes, days of bookings, and others, depending upon their approach to compensating fellow passengers. Essentially, the airlines want to encourage travelers to volunteer to postpone their flights. Volunteers typically cost the airline less than if they had to bump passengers against their will, even when they receive considerable pay for the bump.

What Does Overbooking and Denied Boarding Mean?

In simple words, when an air carrier sells out more tickets than there are available seats, anticipating that some flyers ain’t going to show up. Please note that here, denied boarding is bumped–when a passenger with a final flight reservation is not allowed to board the flight, often due to overbooking.

When do passengers receive compensation for overbooked flight?

The passengers who are subjected to receive overbooked flight compensation when the scheduled flight denies boarding due to an overbooked flight, who are involuntarily bumped and have involuntarily bumped are very much entitled to compensation from the airlines, which is provided at the airport on the very same day of their departure. And in case the airline does not provide you with many facilities, then they have to provide the compensation within the next 24 hours. In addition to this compensation, the airline is also responsible for providing the customer with other transportation and meeting their requirements (such as food, beverages, and lodging) while they wait for the next aircraft.

Compensation for Overbooking: You are Entitled to

In the airline industry, overbooking flights is very common incident. It happens because airlines often intend to sell more tickets to avoid no-show cancellations. Go through the table to have a better understanding;-

Key Considerations:

• Voluntary Denial: When you accept an airline’s offer to give up your seat, please note that you are typically forfeiting your right to legal compensation. Always look deep before agreeing.
• Written Notification: Airline overbooking are legally required to provide a written explanation of your rights when boarding.
• Eligible Flights: For EU/UK rules, compensation applies if your flight departs from or arrives at an EU/UK airport and is operated by an EU/UK carrier. Do you know that in both the U.S and Canada, the rules applied for both domestic and international are handled by their respective carriers.
• Exceptions: Also, sometimes the airlines are not liable for compensation when the ‘denied boarding’ is due to some unavoidable situations, like security concerns or safety issues, not overbooking.

European Regulation on Overbooking

The European Regulation (EC) No.261/2004 sets the passenger's rights when one faces flight disruptions, which has overbooking. Know that overbooking happens when an airline sells out more tickets than the available seats, and anticipates no-shows. While its a common practice by the airlines, the EU regulation also makes sure that the passengers are well-protected when they are denied boarding due to overbooking.

Under this regulation, if you are denied boarding involuntarily, you are entitled to compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the flight distance. In addition to monetary compensation, the airline must offer you assistance, such as meals, refreshments, two free phone calls or emails, and accommodation if an overnight stay is necessary.

Moreover, the airline will either rebook you on the next upcoming flight or offer a full refund if you choose not to continue the trip. And if you voluntarily give up your seat, then the airline must negotiate compensation with you directly.

As per the regulation, it is applicable to all flight that departs from an EU airport, as well as the flights that arrive in the EU operated by an EU-based air carrier. This regulation makes sure for fair treatment for the passengers and holds the airlines accountable as when they oversell the seats beyond the capacity.

Note: It is advisable for travelers they know about their rights and claim compensation when it's applicable.

What if my Flight was Rebooked?

If your flight has been rebooked, you have a few options depending on the changes made, tailored to your preferences. One can either accept the new flight, request a different one, or request a refund if the changes are significant. If you have any doubt then feel free to speak with your chosen airline’s customer care department for more assistance.

How do I Apply for Compensation if my Flight is Overbooked?

You are entitled to reimbursement if you are denied boarding due to an overbooked flight. You must first verify that you were actually refused boarding because of overbooking in order to be eligible for this reimbursement. After that, submit a formal claim to the operating airline by providing your flight information and supporting evidence, such as your email confirmation or boarding pass. Think of submitting a complaint to the Department of Transportation (DOT) (if in the US) if the airline doesn't reply or provide sufficient compensation.

Which Rights do I Have at the Airport When my Flight is Overbooked?

For the overbooked flights, knowing the rights will make you prepare better, like rebooking, compensation, and other potential reimbursements for various expenses. Here, the airlines are legally obligated to provide care and assistance when overbooking causes a delay, like drinks, food, and potentially accommodation.

How does LowTickets help in Booking?

You can book by yourself or also take help from the customer care department of LowTickets. The steps are as follows:

Online Booking:-

• Open the website of Lowtickets.
• Go to the Manage My Booking section.
• Search for the destination you want to book your flight.
• Select the flight you want to book.
• Fill in the details of the passenger (add a child to the passenger list)
• Complete the booking through the payment.
• You will get the details of your tickets in your email.

Phone Call:-

• Open the website of LowTickets.
• Go to the Contact Us section.
• Click on it to go to the page.
• Dial the phone number, wait for the operator.
• You will be directed to a Live Person to process your booking.
• After you have shared your details with the customer care.
• You have to make the payment for your desired booking.
• Lastly, in your mail, you will receive an email from us about your ticket details.