IN CASE OF AN OVERBOOKED FLIGHT

Overbooked flight: your compensation

If you suffer the inconvenience of an overbooked flight, you may be due up to 600 Euro in compensation. In case you meet the conditions as set out in the EU Right you have a valid claim. Use the FairintheAir-calculator to check whether you are entitled to compensation.

My rights in the event of an overbooking:

You can get an alternative flight.
You can get a ticket refund.
You can receive a compensation of up to 600 Euro.
The airline has to provide you with food and drinks.

What should I do in the event of an overbooking?

Get a confirmation from the airline documenting the cause of the cancelled flight!
Gather all invoices, documents, receipts of expenses, vouchers and alternative tickets!
Make use of the free food and drinks at the airport.
Verify your compensation payment by using the FairintheAir online form.

Overbooking and denied boarding against my will?

It is a common practice amongst airlines to overbook flights. Airlines sometimes sell more flight tickets than there are seats on the aircraft. In the case that they do not find enough volunteers who give up their reservations, they try to deny boarding to some of their passengers.

Almost unbelievable, but true

In the case that an airline does not find enough volunteers who give up their reservations, they deny boarding to them against their will.

Another typical strategy is that airlines, in order to keep their business profitable, sometimes use smaller aircrafts, especially if they don't expect enough bookings on a certain flight route. In this case, some passengers may be booked on other flights.

If you were denied boarding because of an overbooking, you may be entitled to a compensation. But note: A compensation for overbooking is only due to the passenger who was denied boarding but had checked in on time with complete travel documents.

Nach geltender EU-Fluggastrechteverordnung haben Fluggäste bei Umbuchungen einen Anspruch auf eine Entschädigungszahlung. Fair In The Air kann im Normalfall einen Entschädigungsanspruch von 250 bis 600 Euro für Sie durchsetzen! Die Entschädigungssumme ist nicht abhängig vom Ticketpreis, da es sich hierbei nicht um eine Flugpreiserstattung, sondern um eine pauschale Entschädigungszahlung handelt, deren Höhe gesetzlich geregelt ist.

If you were denied boarding against your will because of an overbooking, you may be entitled to a compensation of up to 600 Euro. Note that the actual ticket price for the initial flight does not affect the amount of your compensation. According to the EU Right, air passengers can claim compensation when they are affected of a denied boarding. No matter if they fly as business travelers or on package holidays. For your claim to be eligible the flight must depart or land within the EU. In the latter case the airline has to have its headquarters in the EU. If an airline is responsible for denied boarding, passengers are entitled to claim compensation for the overbooking. The amount of compensation depends on the flight distance.

With FairintheAir it is possible to claim on flights as far back as 3 years. Use our online-calculator to check your amount of compensation!

Check-in on time

In order to receive denied boarding compensation, you need to have checked in on time. Even when the airline company previously made it absolutely clear that the flight is overbooked and passengers would be denied boarding it is important to have checked in on time - either physically or online. FairintheAir nevertheless recommends to travel to the airport. Especially because there have been situations in the past when involving flights were rebooked at short notice. Thant means: Even if air passengers are faced with extended waiting times, they should not leave the gate area immediately in order to avoid miss information on sudden changes.

My flight was rebooked

A rebooking of a flight mostly happens during package holidays. Normally either the flight time changes or travelers are booked on a different flight. In the case that passengers arrive later at their final destination or they depart way earlier than actually booked they might be eligible for compensation!

How do I get my compensation for an overbooked flight?

The first step to do is to ensure that you are eligible for a compensation payment. This can sometimes be a stressful and difficult procedure. You need to get access to flight databases, you need to compare your situation with similar cases and you must check whether your individual case is regulated by the EU law. That means, for a private person without any legal expertise it can be pretty difficult to claim for a compensation. Due to our expertise as to the efficacious cooperation with specialized lawyers FairintheAir is able to claim your rights fast and uncomplicated. Check your entitlement to compensation by using our online calculator!

In order to receive denied boarding compensation, you need to have checked in on time.

Our team is specialized in claiming your passenger rights. You benefit from our cooperation with highly experienced lawyers. The aim is to offer our customers the best possible service in this area – fair, competent and fast.

Why can it be difficult to enforce my rights as a private person?

You need to ensure that you are actually eligible for a compensation payment. This can sometimes be a complicated and stressful procedure. You need to get access to specific flight databases, you need to compare your case with similar situations and you must check whether your individual case is regulated by the European flight passenger law. That means for a private person without the legal expertise it can be quite complicated to claim for a compensation.

Eine weitere und oft angewendete Masche ist es, zu versuchen die Fluggäste mit günstigen Essensund Getränkegutscheinen zu beschwichtigen und ihnen zu suggerieren, dass keine weiteren Entschädigungsleistungen geleistet werden können.

My rights at the airport

If you have experienced a denied boarding, a flight delay or a cancelled flight you are entitled to get certain benefits like free food & drinks, free phone calls or emails at the airport. Make use of these benefits! Nevertheless you are eligible for compensation.

Delayed departure for more than one day because of an overbooking

You are able to take advantage of one night free accommodation and return transportation to/from the airport. Get a confirmation from the airline documenting the cause of the overbooked flight.

TIP: Get a confirmation from the airline documenting the cause of the overbooked flight!

Claim for refund or alternative transportation

In the case you have suffered an overbooking you have the possibility of claiming for refund (full ticket price) or the right to alternative transportation (free of charge).