What should you do if your flight is overbooked?

Are you waiting to board the plane and the staff have just announced that it is overbooked? When you plan to fly to your holiday destination, do you worry about what to do if you encounter an overbooking situation? Today we will give you the answer.

Yes, if you experience overbooking, i.e. the airline does not allow you to board due to overselling tickets, you are facing involuntary overbooking and are entitled to claim financial compensation of up to €600 plus extra expenses from the airline. However, in order to exercise your right, it is very important that you do the following: when you are denied boarding, before leaving the lounge, ask the airline staff to provide you with a complaint form. Fill in all the details on the form and ask them to stamp it. This will make it easier to protect your rights and claim compensation for overbooking.

In addition to the complaint form:

- Keep your boarding pass and any communication you have had with the airline.

- Take photos of the information boards and any documents you are given.

The more evidence you have, the better.

Your rights in the event of overbooking on a flight

Below, we highlight your rights if you are denied boarding due to overbooking:

- Right to assistance and information. The airline must provide you with clear information about your rights in relation to the situation that has arisen, as well as assistance (food, drink, telephone calls, etc.).

- You have the right to choose between a refund of your ticket or alternative transport.

- If the airline prevents you from boarding the plane due to overbooking, you are entitled to claim financial compensation of up to €600, depending on the distance of the flight, provided that the alternative transport offered arrives at your destination more than 3 hours after your originally scheduled departure time.

- You are entitled to reimbursement from the airline for any extra expenses you may have incurred due to overbooking. For example, if you had to spend an extra night in a hotel, the airline must reimburse you for the cost of that accommodation.

- If you volunteer not to board, you will not be able to claim compensation, but the airline usually offers certain benefits, such as boarding the next flight in a higher class, discounts on future trips, etc.

If you do not record what happened at the same place and time, the airline may later make it more difficult to recognise your right to compensation.

Therefore, filling out and requesting a stamp on the complaint form at the boarding gate is your best proof that you have been a victim of overbooking.

If you have been involved in a case of overbooking and the airline does not respect your rights, please contact us.