Overbooked? Delayed is here to assist you with your compensation claim.

Compensation for Flight Overbooking: What Does It Mean?

Has the airline informed you that you can't board your flight due to overbooking? Caught off guard, you might be unsure about what this means. What exactly does it entail and what are your rights regarding compensation, especially in the case of flight overbooking? Is it legal? What options are available to you?

It is possible, although infrequent, that an airline might deny you boarding even if you have a ticket. In reality, this means they have sold more tickets than there are seats available, leading to overbooking, also known as flight over-reservation.

The Obligation to Compensate in Case of Overbooking.

As a result, the airline is obliged to deny access to some passengers. Since this situation is beyond your control, the airline is required to offer you compensation in the event of overbooking because they are responsible for managing ticket sales and available seats on their flights. Overbooking is not illegal, so you are fully entitled to compensation, as you could be affected at any time.

Some airlines ask for volunteers to give up their seats to avoid selecting passengers themselves. Never accept this offer, as in such cases, you will not be entitled to compensation for your overbooked flight. In this situation, the airline claims you voluntarily chose not to fly, thus absolving themselves of responsibility.

This phenomenon of overbooking occurs with all airlines that increasingly oversell tickets to counter last-minute cancellations by some passengers, which represent a significant economic loss for them. Thus, rather than flying with empty seats, they prefer to sell beyond their capacity.

If you find yourself in this situation, don't panic, Delayed is here to assist you in claiming the compensation you are entitled to for your overbooked flight. Read the following terms carefully and travel with peace of mind, fully aware of your rights!

Full plane passenger denied boarding or overbooking

Compensation for Overbooking: What Are Your Rights?

Overbooking a flight automatically grants rights to denied passengers under the European regulation dated 11 February 2004 concerning compensation and assistance for passengers in cases of denied boarding, cancellation, or significant flight delays.

They have several options available.

The airline must first offer them an alternative flight to the same destination. If you accept the option provided, be aware that the airline has obligations towards you: to provide free meals and refreshments, cover your hotel expenses and any transport between the airport and the hotel, and offer you two free communications - a text message or a phone call - until you have another flight.
If you do not accept the flight offered by the airline in case of overbooking, they are also obliged to refund your tickets. This refund must be made within 7 full days. This period is calculated from 00:00 to 24:00. The days of expiry and decision-making are not included, nor are Saturdays and Sundays. You must then wait until the start of the following week. The same applies to public holidays.

Are there cases where you would not be compensated for overbooking on your flight?

There are cases where you might not receive compensation for your overbooked flight as they are not covered by the European regulation.

Your airline is outside the European Union, in which case it is not subject to European regulations.
You have already received compensation or a settlement outside the European zone (in a country where the legislation does not fall under the EU).

For all European airlines and if your departure airport is within the European Union, the European regulation applies, giving you the right to compensation in case of overbooking on your flight. If the airline is not transparent about the reason for denying you access to a flight, seek help from Delayed so our team can connect to our internal network linked to air traffic data. We will then be able to tell you if the reason for this denial is indeed a technical issue and not an overbooking by the airline. The terms of the denial will be explicitly stated.

Do not hesitate to enforce your rights. If administrative procedures intimidate you, Delayed offers a service to ease the often time-consuming and exhausting process, giving you the opportunity to obtain the compensation you are entitled to following a denied boarding due to overbooking on your flight. Only 10% of affected passengers dare or find the time to assert their rights, with Delayed, you could be one of them!

Air traveller affected by overbooking or denied boarding on their flight

What Steps to Take for an Overbooked Flight to the European Union?

In the case of a flight overbooking, take the necessary steps to obtain your financial compensation if you do not wish or cannot board the alternative flight offered. An explanatory document must be provided by the airline's services. Follow the terms of this document carefully to receive your compensation for your overbooked flight as quickly as possible. Note that airlines have six weeks from receipt to respond. Beyond this time limit, you can file a complaint against the airline using a complaint form. Address it to the national enforcement body of the European state where the inconvenience occurred.

Additionally, you can file a compensation claim up to three years after the date of your cancelled flight, so do not hesitate to start proceedings even years later. Delayed guarantees an effective compensation service for any denied boarding experienced on a flight within the last three years.

Write a complaint letter to send to the airline's customer service by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt. You can find a template letter on the Service-Public.fr website, or the airline must provide the necessary documents for you to enforce your rights without difficulty.

What Are the Compensation Amounts for Flight Overbooking You Can Claim?

The airline is obliged to offer compensation amounts set by the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004/2004 in addition to refunding your ticket if you choose not to board another flight. These amounts vary depending on the distance of your original flight. They are the same as those for a delayed flight, as defined in the same regulation dated 11 February 2004 as two comparable issues.

For a journey over 3500 km within the European Union, you can receive compensation of 400 euros. Similarly, for a journey between 1500 km and 3500 km. For a trip under 1500 km, your compensation should amount to 250 euros.

Compensation per passenger for a delayed flight due to overbooking:

Distance	Amount
Less than 1500km	250 €
EU and over 1500km	400 €
Outside EU between 1500 and 3500km	400 €
Outside EU over 3500 km	600 €

In any case, if you are denied compensation for a flight overbooking, or if you believe the amount is insufficient for the inconvenience caused, you can contact the Directorate General of Civil Aviation -DGAC- by filling out an online form.

Are There Ways to Avoid Being Denied Boarding and Having to File a Compensation Claim?

You cannot predict overbooking as it is a sales authorisation issued by the airline's services, and of course, you have no say in this management. However, you can try to avoid it by following a few of our tips.

When booking your flight ticket, it is sometimes possible to choose your seat. Don't skip this step! Selecting your seat can indeed reduce the risk of being denied boarding. Similarly, those who pay for more expensive seats will have priority boarding. Some airlines offer so-called "Premium" seats, opt for these if you are worried about being a victim of overselling.
Customers who join the airline's loyalty programme are also less likely to be denied boarding. The airline would not look good if it refused its loyal customers to board their flight.
In the same spirit as Premium seating, it is advisable to travel first class. Admittedly, you will pay more for your flight ticket, but you will be assured of taking off. You will thus avoid the inconveniences caused by being denied boarding.
Finally, it is never a good idea to arrive last. Indeed, the last passenger to arrive is highly likely to be turned away. Airlines can more easily justify their choice when they deny a passenger boarding. To travel with peace of mind, arrive as early as possible to ensure you don't miss your flight, are not denied access, and therefore don't have to claim compensation for the flight's overbooking.

Your Flight is Overbooked: Why Choose Delayed to Obtain Compensation?

Delayed is committed to assisting you in your efforts to obtain compensation and reimbursement for your additional expenses - food, accommodation - due to your flight's overbooking. Our goal: to uphold your rights as a passenger on a flight operated by a European airline.

Responsive and efficient, our team can offer you a professional service that will allow you to come out on top of this situation. No need to get lost in the required administrative formalities, we handle all the procedures, including verifying the conditions required for your compensation.

As soon as your ticket is cancelled, contact our services and trust us to do everything possible to ensure you are compensated promptly. To do this, nothing could be simpler. Just visit our online platform. Provide all the necessary information - those related to your flight - so we can understand your situation and assess the options available to us. You also benefit from assistance that will reassure you about the compensation possibilities when a flight is cancelled.

You will, of course, be kept informed of the progress of our procedures so that you do not have to worry about them daily. Once the entire process is complete, you will receive your compensation for the flight overbooking.

Choose our assistance service and enjoy quality services with Delayed.