Denied boarding

What to do right now

1. Don't accept verbal vouchers. Insist on the written compensation in cash or bank transfer — vouchers can be tied to the same airline.

2. If the airline asks for volunteers (overbooking), negotiate: airlines often offer €200–€400 voucher initially but will pay €600+ cash if pushed.

3. If denied involuntarily, you keep all rights even if you also receive volunteer compensation.

4. Get the denial reason in writing. 'Overbooking' is not extraordinary circumstances; you're owed compensation.

Your rights

• Compensation €250–€600 by distance (short / mid / long haul).
• Choice of: rebooking on next flight, alternative date at your convenience, OR full refund within 7 days.
• Care during wait: meals, refreshments, accommodation if overnight.
• Volunteer compensation in addition (vouchers, miles, cash) if you accepted to give up your seat.

How to claim

1. File the claim within 6 weeks. Denied boarding is one of the easiest categories to claim — keep your boarding pass and the denial slip.

2. If airline refuses ('the flight wasn't full', 'we offered an alternative'), insist on EU 261. Denied boarding is binding regardless of operational reasons.

3. Use AirHelp/Click2Refund if airline drags out — denied-boarding cases settle fastest.

When compensation is NOT due

• You arrived at the gate after boarding closed (no-show, even if check-in was on time).
• You were denied for safety/health reasons (intoxication, illness, security threat).
• Your travel documents were invalid or expired (passport, visa).
• Extraordinary circumstances reduced aircraft capacity (rare for denied boarding).

Other scenarios