Have you been bumped off a flight because it was overbooked?
According to the US Department of Transportation, the bumped passenger rate in the 3rd Quarter of 2023 was 0.35 per 10,000 passengers. That’s a pretty small number, so chances are, you won’t get bumped off a flight.
In this video, we’re going to look closely at what causes overbooked flights, why the practice is legal, and most importantly, what you can get in compensation if you were bumped.
IN THE USA
Although US air passenger rights are not as well protected as they are in the EU and UK, a passenger who has been denied boarding can actually receive more money in compensation than the amounts offered in other areas.
The amount of compensation you receive depends on the following conditions:
1. Whether you were booked on a US domestic flight or an international flight
2. The length of your delay at the final destination (if you chose to be rebooked)
3. How much you paid for your ticket
If you decide to make your own arrangements, then you’ll simply be refunded the full cost of your ticket including taxes and associated fees.
EUROPE
Thanks to the EU’s Regulation 261/2004, you can claim compensation for denied boarding if your flight was scheduled to depart in the EU or if it was arriving in the EU on a EU based carrier.
If you were bumped from an overbooked flight, you have the right to cash compensation and care & assistance while you wait for your rebooked flight’s departure. This consists of refreshments, meals, hotel room, transport between the airport and place of accommodation, two free telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails.
Passengers can also choose ticket cost reimbursement within seven days or a return flight to the first point of departure or re-routing (or replacement flight) to their final destination.
To help alleviate the inconvenience caused by your denied boarding incident, you are also eligible to receive cash compensation if your rebooking causes you to arrive at least 3 hours past your originally scheduled arrival time.
UK
Up until 2020, passengers who were denied boarding in the UK were covered by the laws in the EU. After Brexit, the British government adopted the same air passenger rights into a new set of regulations that is commonly known as UK 261. Under these regulations, you are entitled to following compensation for denied boarding:
£220 for short flights (under 1,500 km)
£350 for medium flights (between 1,500 and 3,500 km)
£520 for long flights (over 3,500 km)
How to Claim Compensation for Overbooking
So, if you’ve been involuntarily bumped from a flight because of overbooking, and you weren’t given your compensation right away, you might have to file a compensation claim in order to get the airline to comply.
You can do this by submitting a letter to the airline describing what happened in detail including your departure and arrival times, locations, and basic booking information along with supporting documents like statements from the airline, boarding passes, and booking receipts. Just look for the contact section on your carrier’s website and submit this information either by email or via the web form provided on the site.
You can also let our legal professionals here at AirAdvisor do all the work for you! We eliminate all the hassle and inconvenience of the claims process. Just provide us with your flight details and information, and we’ll handle the rest!
Why Trust AirAdvisor
Join over 300,000 passengers who have trusted us with their compensation claims. We’ve been protecting air passenger rights since 2017, and we have an outstanding 98% win rate. The best part? We only get paid when we win your case and deliver the compensation to your bank. It’s that easy! Get started with your claim today!
Just enter your flight details and find out how much you could claim!
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