What to do if you have been denied boarding?
You have arrived to the airport in time.
Everything is in order with your travel documents, and yet you are still denied boarding? That’s happening very often actually. And the reason mostly is overbooking. To put it simply, your airline has sold more tickets than there are seats. Everyone has come. And now there are no more free seats.
What should you do if you’ve been denied boarding?
Check your compensation online!
Or continue reading to learn more about your rights.
What is denied boarding?
If you're not allowed to board a plane, this is called denied boarding.
Why is it happening?
It happens for a number of reasons.
Mostly it happens because there are some problems with your travel documents, e.g. you don't have a valid visa required by a country you're about to travel to. And sometimes it happens not because of your fault, but because of your airline's fault.
And that's what we are going to talk about in this guide.
Why do airlines overbook flights?
The reason is very simple.
Since there is always someone who doesn’t show up for his flight or someone who can’t make it, it’s airlines chance to make more money.
What to do if you have been denied boarding?
Let’s look at the options you have.
And if you could be entitled to overbooked flight compensation.
Step 1: Voluntary denied boarding
You may voluntarily give up your seat.
Whenever overbooking happens and the airline sees that there are not enough seats for everyone who have come, they will be looking for volunteers. For people who are ready to voluntarily give up their seat and travel on another flight at no extra cost. Usually some perks are offered, anything from cash to vouchers and discount codes.
If you’ve been asked to volunteer, know that you can say “No”.
If, however, you decide to give up your seat, note that due to this most likely you will not be eligible to receive overbooking compensation for this flight.
Step 2: Involuntary denied boarding
Sometimes you don't have a choice.
Unfortunately, but sometimes there will be situations when you aren’t given any choice and you are simply denied boarding.
If this has just happened, make sure to ask the airline’s representatives (you may need to make a call) about all the options and what should you do next. Because airline still has obligation to take you to your destination or give you a full refund, if you choose so. Or to take you back home, if it's all a part of a connecting flight.
And apart from that you are also entitled to compensation.
It's often called the Involuntary denied boarding compensation.
You can receive up to €600 per passenger.
Step 3: Make a decision
Look at the options offered by your airline.
Look at your itinerary once again. Especially if it’s not your only flight and you could probably miss another one because of this delay. Remember that if it's a self transfer flight, it's gonna be your responsibility if you miss it.
If you’re thinking of booking another flight leaving soon, double check if it really is going to solve the issue with your flight delay. And if it’s not delayed itself, for example. Don’t rush.
And make a decision.
Step 4: If you have to wait for more than 3 hours
You have decided to take another flight offered by your airline.
If you’ll have to wait for more than 3 hours, airline must provide you with food and drink coupons. In case of an overnight wait the airline must provide you also with free hotel accommodation and transport to and from it.
Contact your airline to ask how to get all of that, if it isn’t already given to you.
No matter the reason behind this waiting, in the EU you have the right to care.
Step 5: Submit your denied boarding compensation claim
As already mentioned, in case of an involuntary denied boarding your airline not only have to take you to where you were travelling to (or give you a full refund), but you are also entitled to compensation of €250, €400 or sometimes even €600.
That’s if you are flying to or from Europe* or with an European airline.
All thanks to Europe's Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004 (EC 261).
You don’t have to be a citizen of the EU to receive compensation for overbooked flight.
Not to forget about the incident, file a claim for flight compensation once you arrive.
When done with Refundor, it will take you less than 5 minutes.
Our team of legal specialists will take care of that.
And it will cost you only €25 + 25% of the amount of the compensation. No hidden administration fees or tax expenses. No upfront fees. And, yes, it will cost you nothing, if we're unable to collect your compensation for some reason. No win, no fees.
*By Europe and EU we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin, the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
While some of the things mentioned in this guide applies only to flights to or from Europe and flights operated by European airlines, some of it applies to all situations no matter where you are flying and with which airline.