Complete guide to compensation when denied boarding due to overbooking. Volunteer vs involuntary bumping, immediate compensation, re-routing, care. No extraordinary circumstances defence.
If you're denied boarding (bumped from a flight) due to overbooking, you're entitled to full compensation: £220-£520 depending on distance, immediate payment or bank transfer, plus re-routing to your destination, plus meals, accommodation, and transport. There is NO extraordinary circumstances defence for denied boarding - airlines cannot refuse compensation by claiming weather or technical faults. Compensation is automatic and mandatory. If airline denies boarding illegally (no volunteering process first), you can claim damages on top of compensation.
Get written confirmation of denial from airline: boarding pass marked "denied boarding", gate notice, or written letter. Record names of staff involved, exact time of denial, flight number, scheduled departure, and reason given. Ask for boarding denial certificate in writing - airlines should provide this. Photograph or film the interaction as evidence.
Before leaving airport, demand from airline: (1) Compensation in cash (£220-£520 depending on distance) paid immediately or via bank transfer, (2) Meals, accommodation, transport to accommodation (until re-routed flight departs), (3) Phone calls and emails. Airline must offer these at gate. If they refuse to pay on spot, pay your own costs and claim reimbursement later.
If airline denies compensation or fails to pay within required timeframe, send formal demand letter citing UK261/2004 Art.4. Include: booking confirmation, boarding denial certificate, flight details, distance calculation, costs incurred (meals, accommodation). Escalate to CAA ADR (free) or county court if airline refuses. Court claims are straightforward for denied boarding - high success rate.
Flight oversold. No volunteers. Staff at gate inform you you're denied boarding. You're entitled to: compensation £220-£520, meals/hotel, re-routing, phone calls, all immediately. Demand cash or bank transfer at gate. If airline refuses, pay your costs and claim reimbursement with receipts.
Airline asks for volunteers; offers £50 and seat on next flight. If insufficient volunteers, airline bumps you anyway. Demand full UK261/2004 compensation (£220-£520). Airline cannot use the low volunteering offer to reduce mandatory compensation. You're involuntarily denied and entitled to full amount.
Aircraft develops fault; flight oversells alternatives by not operating. Airline denies boarding citing technical reason. This is NOT extraordinary circumstances for denied boarding (Art. 4 has no exclusions). Demand full compensation. Airline cannot refuse by blaming technical issue; they must pay £220-£520 plus care and re-routing.
Airline immediately denies you boarding without first asking for volunteers. This violates Article 4 (volunteering requirement). You have grounds for: (1) full compensation (£220-£520), (2) additional damages claim for unlawful denial of boarding procedure, (3) care and re-routing. Claim increases when airline breaches process.
Denied boarding. Re-routed on next available flight. Final destination arrival is 8 hours after original scheduled arrival. You're entitled to: compensation (£220-£520), plus hotel/meals for overnight wait, plus additional compensation if re-routed flight is also delayed 3+ hours at final destination (UK261 Art.7 applies to re-routed flight too).
Airline pays £220 compensation but refuses to pay for meal/hotel even though you have 6-hour wait. You can demand meal reimbursement (airline's obligation under Art. 9). If airline refuses, pay yourself and claim with receipt. Compensation and care are separate obligations; both must be paid.
Use FightingBack's Flight Fight tool to calculate compensation and file your claim.
Claim Denied Boarding