Understand what you're owed when an airline refuses to let you board
When an airline denies you boarding (usually due to overbooking), you're entitled to €250–€600 compensation depending on flight distance, plus care (meals, accommodation, rebooking). The airline must offer compensation first before asking you to volunteer to leave. If they force you off without compensation, you have a strong legal case.
Denied boarding occurs when an airline refuses to allow you to board a flight for which you hold a confirmed ticket. This typically happens when the flight is overbooked—the airline sold more seats than available. The airline cannot force you off without first offering compensation and asking if you'll volunteer. If you're forced off without being asked or offered compensation, you have full statutory rights.
Denied boarding is different from flight delays or cancellations—you have a valid booking but are not allowed to board. This is the airline's responsibility, not a passenger issue.
Under EC Regulation 261/2004, compensation is €250 for flights up to 1,500km, €400 for 1,500–3,500km, and €600 for flights over 3,500km. This is the minimum—if the airline offers you a worse rebooking (later flight, longer journey), you may be entitled to additional damages. Additionally, you receive care: meals, accommodation (if overnight), phone calls, and a rebooking on another flight or full refund.
The airline should ask for volunteers first and offer compensation. If they force you off without asking or offering, this is a breach. You still have the right to full compensation and care.
If you voluntarily accepted an airline's offer to bump you, you cannot later claim denied boarding compensation—you agreed to it. Always negotiate the compensation amount before agreeing to give up your seat.
Yes, both. Compensation (€250–€600) is separate from care (meals, accommodation, rebooking). You don't choose—you get all of them.
No. Overbooking is the airline's commercial decision, not an extraordinary circumstance. The airline must compensate for denied boarding except in genuinely unforeseeable events (security threats, weather)—not overbooking.
In the UK, 2 years from the incident. In EU countries, up to 6 years. Claim as soon as possible—airlines often dispute old claims more aggressively.
Use our Flight Rights Tool to document your denied boarding, calculate compensation, and file a formal claim.
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