Flight overbooked

What to do right now

1. If the airline asks for volunteers, you can negotiate — most airlines start at vouchers (€200–€300) but will go up to cash and a free hotel.

2. If denied involuntarily, refuse to leave the gate without written compensation amount and a confirmed alternative flight.

3. You're entitled to refuse the rebooking and instead get a full refund. Useful if you no longer need to travel.

4. Get a printed receipt of the denial and compensation. Verbal promises are easily forgotten.

Your rights

• Same as denied-boarding: €250–€600 cash compensation + rebooking or refund.
• Care during wait: meals, refreshments, hotel if overnight.
• Volunteer compensation (vouchers, miles, upgrades) on top if you offered.
• Right to choose between alternative flight, alternative date, or full refund within 7 days.

How to claim

1. Same as denied boarding — overbooking is technically a sub-category of involuntary denial of boarding.

2. Keep the original boarding pass and any document showing the overbooking situation.

3. File within 6 weeks via airline website. Overbooking cases are easy to win because operating reasons are admitted in writing on the gate slip.

When compensation is NOT due

• You voluntarily accepted a flight change at the gate without being told you were being bumped.
• You were a no-show or arrived late at the gate.
• The alternative flight got you to your destination within 1 hour of original arrival (denied-boarding compensation is halved if rerouting is fast).

Other scenarios