What to do if you are denied boarding? Can you get compensation?
If you find yourself being denied boarding despite arriving at the airport on time and having all your travel documents in order, it can be a frustrating experience. This occurrence is unfortunately quite common and is often due to overbooking. To put it simply, the airline has sold more tickets than there are available seats, resulting in a situation where everyone has shown up but there are no more seats left. So, what should you do if you are denied boarding? Continue reading to gain a better understanding of your rights in this situation.
You may be entitled to denied boarding compensation.
1. What Is Denied Boarding?
Denied boarding refers to the situation when you are prohibited from boarding a plane.
There are various reasons that can lead to this occurrence.
- Invalid or expired travel documents. If you do not have a valid passport (or it is about to expire), visa, or other required travel documents for your destination, you can be denied boarding by the airline. If you lack proper identification, such as a government-issued photo ID or passport, you may be denied boarding, too.
- Missing boarding time. If you arrive late to the boarding gate and miss the designated boarding time, you may be denied entry onto the plane.
- Overbooking of flights. If your flight is overbooked, some passengers may be involuntarily denied boarding to accommodate others. It could be you, too. The selection of passengers to be bumped is usually based on a set of criteria established by the airline’s policies, which can differ from one airline to another.
- Medical concerns: If your medical condition is deemed to be a risk during the flight, you may be denied boarding. This also can occur due to health and quarantine regulations during outbreaks of contagious diseases. If you do not meet health and quarantine requirements, you may be denied boarding.
- Unruly behavior. Unruly behavior at the airport or during the boarding process may also lead to being denied entry onto the plane. You are expected to comply with airline and air travel regulations while in the airport premises.
- Security concerns. For the safety of fellow travelers, passengers who raise security concerns or display suspicious behavior may be refused boarding.
- Intoxication or drug use. Passengers who are visibly intoxicated or under the influence of drugs may be refused boarding due to their potential to cause disturbance during the flight. Airlines uphold a stringent ‘zero-tolerance’ policy regarding any form of disruptive behavior on board.
In this article, however, we will focus on situations where the fault lies with the airline rather than with you. These are situations when passengers are denied boarding due to flight overbooking.
2. Why Do Airlines Overbook Flights?
Why do airlines overbook flights?
Airlines overbook their flights for a simple reason: there are invariably passengers who don’t show up for their flight. This situation presents an opportunity for airlines to maximize their revenue by accommodating additional passengers.
3. What to Do if You Are Denied Boarding?
What to do if you are denied boarding?
What happens when a flight is overbooked?
Depending on the situation, you may be entitled to denied boarding compensation.
Step 1: Is It Voluntary Denied Boarding?
You may be asked to voluntarily give up your seat.
In the event of overbooking, airlines often seek volunteers who are willing to give up their seat and travel on another flight without any additional cost. These volunteers are typically offered various perks, ranging from cash to vouchers and discount codes.
It’s worth noting that if you choose to voluntarily give up your seat, you will most likely not be eligible to receive compensation for the overbooking incident on this particular flight.
Remember, you have the right to decline the request to volunteer if you so choose.
Voluntary denied boarding = no compensation.
Step 2: Is It Involuntary Denied Boarding?
At times, you may find yourself without any options.
Unfortunately, there are situations where you are simply denied boarding, leaving you with no say in the matter. What to do if you are denied boarding involuntarily?
In such cases, it is crucial to reach out to the airline’s representatives (you may need to make a call) to inquire about your available alternatives and the next steps to take. Remember, the airline still holds the responsibility to either transport you to your intended destination or provide a full refund if you choose so.
Furthermore, it’s important to note that you are entitled to compensation in these instances. This compensation is commonly referred to as denied boarding compensation and can amount to up to £520 per passenger.
Involuntary denied boarding = denied boarding compensation.
Step 3: Make a Decision
What to do if you are denied boarding?
Take a moment to review the options provided by your airline.
Then, carefully examine your itinerary, especially if you have multiple flights and there is a possibility of missing another one due to the delay. Keep in mind that if it’s a self-transfer flight, the responsibility falls on you if you miss it.
If you’re considering booking an alternative flight that departs soon, take the time to verify if it will truly resolve the issue caused by the delay. Ensure that the alternative flight is not delayed itself, for instance. It’s important not to rush this decision.
Once you have weighed your options and considered all the factors, make a well-informed decision.
Step 4: Remember That You Have a Right to Care
You have decided to take another flight offered by your airline.
Should your wait (until your new flight departs) exceed 3 hours, the airline is obligated to provide you with food and drink vouchers. For overnight waits, the airline should also arrange complimentary hotel accommodations and transportation to and from the hotel.
Contact your airline to inquire about the necessary procedures to avail these benefits, if they haven’t already been provided to you.
Remember, regardless of the circumstances, you have a right to care in the UK.
Step 5: Submit Your Claim for Denied Boarding Compensation
As previously mentioned, if you experience involuntary denied boarding, your airline is obligated to transport you to your intended destination or provide a full refund. Additionally, you may be entitled to overbooked flight compensation (also called “denied boarding compensation“) of £220, £350 or £520, depending on the distance of your flight.
It’s important to note that you don’t have to be a citizen of the EU or the UK to receive compensation for an overbooked flight. To ensure that you do not overlook the incident, it is advisable to promptly file a claim for flight compensation upon your return home.
If you work with a flight compensation company, oftentimes the entire process will take you less than 5 minutes. The service fee usually is between 25% to 45% of the compensation amount. Often there are no upfront fees, and if, for any reason, the company is unable to collect your compensation, it won’t cost you anything. Many operate on a “no win, no fees” basis.
Read more:
- You Are Flying With a UK Airline: Which Laws Protect You as a Passenger?
- You Are Flying With a EU Airline: Which Laws Protect You as a Passenger?
- You Are Flying With a Non-EU, Non-UK Airline: Which Laws Protect You?
By Europe and EU here on this page we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
Featured photo by Maksim Dyachuk from Pexels