Denied boarding: your rights after overbooking
Did you have a confirmed reservation, valid documents and arrive on time? If the airline involuntarily denies boarding because of overbooking or operational reasons, you may claim €250, €400 or €600.
Possible compensation€250–€600
What compensation applies after denied boarding?
Fixed compensation is normally due after involuntary denied boarding. You need a valid reservation, must have arrived on time with the required documents and must have been refused because of overbooking or a covered operational reason.
Three rights that may apply together
- Fixed compensation based on flight distance.
- A choice of refund, earliest rerouting or later rebooking.
- Care while waiting, including food, hotel, transfers and communications.
Do not volunteer without understanding the offer. Giving up your seat voluntarily involves negotiated benefits and does not follow the same automatic compensation rules as involuntary denial.
Four conditions to check
Confirmed reservation
Your ticket and booking were valid for the flight.
On-time arrival
You met the stated check-in and boarding deadlines.
Valid documents
Your passport, visa and other required documents were in order.
Involuntary denial
The airline refused you against your wishes for overbooking or operational reasons.
Ask for written confirmation of the reason and the airline’s notice explaining your compensation and assistance rights.
Volunteer or denied against your will?
The legal treatment changes depending on whether you agreed to give up the seat.
You volunteer your seat
The airline should first seek volunteers. Get the payment, voucher, new flight, food and hotel confirmed in writing before accepting.
You are denied involuntarily
€250 to €600 compensation normally comes in addition to your travel choice and care rights.
Health, security or documents
Reasonable grounds, missing documents or late arrival may remove the compensation right.
Do not sign a statement saying you volunteered if you did not freely agree to give up the seat.
€250, €400 or €600: which amount?
The amount depends on distance. It may be reduced by 50% when rerouting gets you to the destination within a specified time.
€125 if arrival is no more than 2 hours late.
€200 if arrival is no more than 3 hours late.
€300 if arrival is no more than 4 hours late.
Refund, rerouting and care
The airline must offer a travel solution in addition to fixed compensation when that compensation is due.
Refund
The unused ticket and, when necessary, a return to the starting point.
Earliest rerouting
Transport to the final destination at the earliest opportunity.
Later rebooking
A new departure on a convenient date, subject to seat availability.
Care
Food, drinks, communications, hotel and transfers based on the wait.
Once you choose between refund and rerouting, the other options are generally no longer available. Check which solution best fits your journey.
What should you do immediately?
Get the reason in writing
Ask for “overbooking”, “involuntary denied boarding” or the exact operational reason.
Choose your travel solution
Refund, immediate rerouting or travel on a later date.
Request care
Food, drinks, hotel and transfers should be arranged according to the wait.
Keep your evidence
Photograph information and save all necessary receipts.
Documents to keep
Also keep any offer made to volunteers and anything you signed at the airport. This helps establish whether you actually agreed to surrender the seat.
How do you claim after denied boarding?
Identify the type of denial
Distinguish involuntary refusal from a negotiated voluntary surrender.
Collect the evidence
Include the booking, boarding pass, written reason and times.
Calculate the amount
Use flight distance and the rerouted arrival delay.
Submit the claim
Claim compensation, expenses and travel rights separately.
Explore your situation
Use the Fly Claim page that most closely matches your disruption.
Overbooking and denied boarding
Conditions, amounts and steps explained in detail.
→Your rightsPassenger rights
The EU framework applying to your journey.
→Main pageCancelled flight
Refund, rerouting and compensation.
→Main pageDelayed flight
Care and compensation after a delay.
→Related situationMissed connection
Your rights when the first flight causes a missed connection.
→Denied boarding FAQ
How much compensation applies after denied boarding?+
Depending on distance, compensation is €250, €400 or €600. It may be halved when rerouting gets you to the destination within the relevant limit.
Do I have to accept a travel voucher?+
No. Compensation should not be replaced by a voucher without your signed agreement.
What happens if I volunteer my seat?+
You negotiate benefits with the airline. Get payment, the new flight, food, hotel and transfers confirmed in writing.
Is compensation additional to the replacement flight?+
Yes. For eligible involuntary denial, fixed compensation is separate from refund, rerouting and care.
Must the airline pay for a hotel?+
Yes, when rerouting requires an overnight wait, together with the necessary transfers.
Does a visa problem qualify for compensation?+
Normally not when the required documents were invalid. If the airline made an error, keep the evidence and challenge the denial.
Were you denied boarding?
Check whether you can claim up to €600 in compensation per passenger.
No upfront fee. A commission applies only if your claim succeeds.