Denied Boarding Types: When Are You Entitled to Compensation

Being denied boarding can be one of the most frustrating parts of air travel — especially when you have a confirmed ticket and show up at the airport on time. Although it doesn’t happen too often, it’s important to know why it can occur and what your rights are under EU Regulation 261/2004 and Regulation UK 261.

Not every denied boarding case is handled the same way. There are several reasons why passengers might be refused boarding, and your right to compensation depends on the specific circumstances.

Below is an overview of the main denied boarding types and what each means for your passenger rights.

Check your compensation online.

Denied Boarding Types

Understanding the different denied boarding types helps passengers know when they’re entitled to denied boarding compensation and what rights apply under European regulations EU261 and UK261.

1. Voluntary Denied Boarding Due to Overbooking

One of the most common denied boarding types is denied boarding due to overbooking.

Overbooking is when an airline sells more tickets than there are available seats on the aircraft. Airlines do this because they expect that some passengers won’t show up.

But when more travelers show up than there are available seats, the airline may ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for certain benefits, which might include:

• Travel vouchers or cash compensation
• Complimentary hotel stays or meal vouchers
• Rebooking on a later flight

If you voluntarily give up your seat, you’re not entitled to denied boarding compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 and Regulation UK 261, since you agreed to the airline’s offer. However, you can often negotiate additional perks — such as an upgrade to business class or a higher-value voucher — before accepting the deal.

Denied boarding due to overbooking has two scenarios: Voluntary and involuntary denied boarding.

2. Involuntary Denied Boarding Due to Flight Overbooking

If no passengers volunteer to give up their seats, the airline may deny boarding involuntarily to some travelers.

In such cases, you are entitled to compensation for denied boarding provided that:

• You held a valid ticket and reservation,
• You arrived on time for check-in and boarding, and
• You were not denied boarding for personal reasons (such as missing travel documents or visa issues).

2.1 Denied Boarding Compensation Amounts

Your compensation depends on the flight distance:

When your destination is within the UK / EU:

When your destination is outside the UK / EU:

There is one exception. If the distance of your flight is greater than 3,500 kilometres, and you reach your destination with a delay between 3 to 4 hours, you will be receiving £260 not £520 (50% of the compensation). If the delay is longer than 4 hours, you will get full compensation of £520.

You can submit a claim for this compensation after your flight. The process may take some time, but you can file the claim directly through your airline’s website or use a compensation service provider — our partners offer such services to make the process easier.

2.2 Your Care Rights When You Are Denied Boarding Involuntarily

If you are denied boarding involuntarily (due to flight overbooking), the airline must offer you the choice between:

• An alternative flight to your destination,
• A full refund (the same refund as for a cancelled flight), or
• Rebooking for a later date, if available.
• You’re also entitled to meals, drinks, and accommodation while waiting for the next flight. This is called ‘right to care‘.

3. Denied Boarding Due to Visa or Passport Issues

At times, passengers may be denied boarding due to issues related to their own documentation or border requirements.

Common reasons include:

• Invalid, missing, or incorrect passport or visa
• Expired or soon-to-expire passport
• Failure to meet entry, visa, or health requirements

Denied boarding due to visa? You won’t get denied boarding compensation.

4. Denied Boarding Due to Disruptive Behaviour and Other Reasons

Other reasons for denied boarding include:

• Arriving late at the gate after completing check-in
• Security or safety-related concerns
• Disruptive or inappropriate behaviour
• Intoxication
• Refusal to follow crew instructions

In these situations, the denial of boarding is not the airline’s responsibility, and denied boarding compensation under European Regulations does not apply. Depending on your fare conditions, you may also lose the value of your ticket entirely.

Important: Always verify your passport, visa, and health entry requirements for all destinations and transit countries well before your trip to avoid issues at the airport.

5. Denied Boarding for Operational or Safety Reasons

Airlines may occasionally deny boarding for operational or safety-related reasons that are beyond their control.

Common examples include:

• Weight or balance limitations on smaller aircraft
• Aircraft changes, such as replacing a larger plane with a smaller one
• Health or safety concerns involving a passenger

These situations are considered extraordinary circumstances under EU Regulation 261/2004 and UK 261, meaning that compensation does not apply.

However, you are still entitled to assistance, which includes:

• A refund or rebooking on an alternative flight, and
• Care and support, such as meals, refreshments, and accommodation if required.

Being denied boarding can be stressful, but understanding denied boarding types makes all the difference. If you’re involuntarily denied boarding through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation.

Featured photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels