Your rights if you are denied boarding
Do I get compensation for denied boarding?
Some airlines routinely overbook flights because passengers sometimes don‟t turn up. They have sophisticated algorithms to help them calculate this and mostly they get it right. But sometimes too many passengers turn up and the airline has to turn some away. This is called 'denied boarding' or being 'bumped'. Fortunately it doesn't happen very often but if it does then you have a right to compensation under Reg. 261 – so long as you fall within the scope of the Regulation. You have to be leaving from an EU airport or returning to the EU on an EU licensed carrier. You have to have a confirmed reservation on the flight and you must have presented yourself for checkin:
At the time stipulated in writing by your carrier, tour operator or travel agent; or if no time is stipulated
At least 45 minutes before the published departure time
Volunteers
If the flight is overbooked the carrier must first of all call for volunteers and offer them 'benefits' to surrender their reservation. At this stage you may be offered vouchers to agree not to fly. However you should think very carefully about this. Sometimes the vouchers have very restrictive conditions attached to them such as how long they are valid for and what they cover. For instance they may only be valid for a year, they will probably not be transferable and they may not cover 'taxes, fees and charges'.
As well as vouchers you are also entitled to a refund or re-routing. But volunteers are not entitled to care and assistance e.g. refreshments, meals, phone calls or hotel accommodation so be careful to negotiate for these as well as the flight voucher. However if the airline is desperate you may be able to negotiate a more generous offer. Don't always accept the first offer. Don't accept the legal minimum, see the table below, because you will get that anyway if you are bumped against your will.
Involuntary denied boarding
If the airline can't get enough volunteers it will then deny boarding to passengers against their will. In such a case you are entitled to compensation, as well as a later flight and care and assistance. As with delay and cancellation there is a sliding scale of compensation depending upon the length of the flight and the length of the delay. This table sets out the level of compensation you are entitled to:
Length of Flight Length of Delay Amount of Compensation
0-1,500 kms Up to 2 hours £110
0-1,500 kms Over 2 hours £220
1,500-3,500 kms Up to 3 hours £175
1,500-3,500 kms Over 3 hours £350
Over 1,500 kms within the EU Up to 3 hours £175
Over 1,500 kms within the EU Over 3 hours £350
Over 3,500 kms Up to 4 hours £260
Over 3,500 kms Over 4 hours £520
No compensation is payable if the denied boarding was due to 'extraordinary circumstance' which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.