Don’t Get Bumped From Your Flight: Claim Overbooked Flight Compensation

Have you ever looked forward to a trip, only to find out that your flight has been overbooked? This can happen for a variety of reasons and can leave you feeling incredibly frustrated and inconvenienced. Fortunately, there are laws in place in the EU to help protect your rights as a traveler.

At ClaimFlights, we want to make sure you know what those rights are—and how you can use them to get the compensation you deserve if your flight has been overbooked.

Here, we’ll explain what overbooking is, what kind of compensation is available, and how to go about filing a claim for an overbooked flight following the EU 261 rule.

So when it comes to the hassle of dealing with an overbooked flight: don’t get bumped—get savvy!

Do EU Air Passenger Rights Apply To Your Flight?

If you’ve been bumped from a flight due to overbooking, you may be wondering if you are eligible for compensation under European Air Passenger Rights (EU Regulation 261/2004).

The answer is… Maybe – it all depends on where your flight originated and where it was headed.

Essentially, any EU-regulated flights (such as those operated by an EU airline or any foreign airline whose flight departs from an EU airport) must comply with the regulation, regardless of their destination. For instance, if you had a flight departing from Germany and headed to Hong Kong, you can still claim compensation under EU261/2004.

Similarly, if your flight was non-EU but was heading to an EU country, that also counts towards the regulation. So even if your trip was from London to New York City on a non-EU carrier – if the aircraft is registered in an EU country or the airline is based in an EU country – then the EU Air Passenger Rights apply.

Therefore, it’s important for travelers who have been bumped due to overbooking to understand which flights apply under EU261/2004. That way they can determine if they are eligible for denied boarding compensation.

What Should You Do If Your Flight is Overbooked?

If your flight is overbooked, the airline must ask for volunteers who are willing to give up their seats in exchange for compensation. Note that this doesn’t always happen, but it’s worth asking.

So, if you decide to take the compensation, you will be compensated in full according to the “Denied Boarding Regulation” by your local legislation.

Here are some tips on what to expect and what to do if you find yourself in this situation:

• Know your Rights: In many countries, passengers denied boarding due to overbooking have the right to be compensated. It’s important to know what these rights are and how much you are entitled to.
• Ask for Reimbursement: If your flight is overbooked and you’re asked to take another flight at a later time or date, you can request a full or partial refund for your tickets plus any other associated costs such as hotel and meals.
• Reimbursement of Expenses: If the overbooking forces you to make an additional journey for another route or if you decide not to travel due to the delay caused by overbooking, airlines should reimburse any reasonable expenses incurred directly as a result of the denied boarding.
• File a Complaint: If there has been misconduct on behalf of an airline related to denied boarding due to overbooking, make sure that all facts are listed in an official complaint form and send it to the respective airport authority or consumer affairs authority.

How Does Denied Boarding Compensation Work?

As a passenger, you have rights when it comes to denied boarding compensation. If you have been bumped from a flight due to overbooking, it means that the airline has failed to fulfill its part of the contract with you. As a result, it should provide compensation for your inconvenience.

Under EU 261 rules, the amount of compensation depends on the length of the delay and the distance of the flight. For example:

• For flights up to 1500km, passengers may receive €250 in compensation
• For flights within the EU between 1500-3500km and extra-EU flights between 1500-3000km, passengers may receive €400 in compensation
• For flights outside the EU longer than 3500km and extra-EU longer than 3000km, passengers may receive €600 in compensation

You may also be entitled to other benefits like meals and refreshments or hotel accommodation if your flight is delayed by more than two hours.

The amount of denied boarding compensation that airlines are obliged to provide depends entirely on how long your trip was delayed. So if you’ve been unable to board due to overbooking, make sure you know your rights as set out by EU 261 rules.

Calculating the Amount of Flight Compensation You Can Claim

When it comes to calculating compensation for an overbooked flight, the amount varies. You may be eligible to receive €250, €400, or even €600 depending on the type of flight you were denied boarding from and how long your flight was delayed.

The EU 261 regulation has some very specific rules about what type of flight compensation you can request when you’ve been bumped from a flight:

Flights up to 1,500 km

Short-haul flights up to 1,500 km qualify for a compensation of €250. This applies to direct flights or flights with two or more stops.

Flights over 1,500 km and within the EU

Flights over 1,500 km within the EU can get a compensation of €400. Again this applies in relation to direct flights or those with two or more stops.

Flights outside of the EU all over 3,500 km

Flights that are outside of the EU but more than 3,500 km could be eligible for an amount of up to €600 in compensation.

These amounts vary based on a few different conditions and not all flights will be eligible for these standardized amounts in compensation – but when it comes to claiming for an overbooked flight, these are the basic figures you’ll want to keep in mind.

How Long After a Flight Should You File a Claim?

Do you have a feeling that you were bumped from your flight and did not get the compensation you deserved? Don’t delay—the EU 261 rule ensures that you have the right to claim compensation for a denied boarding due to overbooking, up to three years after the exact incident.

But why wait so long? After all, it’s best to act as soon as possible after your flight. The sooner you file a claim, the greater your chances of success. Airlines are often more willing to settle quickly and pay out compensation benefits directly when they know they’re in violation of the EU 261 rule.

If your airline has refused your compensation claim or failed to respond after eight weeks, don’t worry – ClaimFlights can help. We specialize in making sure that stranded passengers get what they are rightfully entitled to for their denied boarding due to overbooking, and our services cover:

• Collecting full details of your flight and assessing eligibility for compensation
• Analyzing all routes and options available under EU 261 regulations
• Making sure you’re compensated what you deserve according to legal protocols
• Guiding with advice and assistance during all stages of the claiming process