Passenger Rights When Denied Boarding: What You Need to Know

Reasons for Denied Boarding:

Overbooking: Airlines sometimes oversell flights to compensate for no-show passengers. If all passengers show up, some may be involuntarily bumped from the flight. Safety or Security Concerns: Airlines may deny boarding for safety reasons, such as improper travel documents, intoxication, or disruptive behavior.

Voluntary vs. Involuntary Denied Boarding:

Voluntary Bumping: If the airline asks for volunteers to give up their seats, they may offer compensation, such as travel vouchers, upgrades, or cash.

Involuntary Bumping: If there are not enough volunteers, airlines may deny boarding involuntarily. In such cases, passengers are entitled to compensation and other rights.

Compensation Entitlements:

EU Regulation 261/2004: In the European Union, passengers denied boarding against their will may be entitled to compensation, depending on the length of delay caused by rebooking:

€250 for flights up to 1,500 kilometers

€400 for flights within the EU over 1,500 kilometers and for other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers €600 for all other flights

US Department of Transportation (DOT) Rules: In the United States, airlines must compensate passengers who are involuntarily bumped from an oversold flight. The compensation depends on the length of the delay and ticket price.