Denied Boarding Compensation
Involuntarily bumped from your flight? Get €250-€600 per passenger paid immediately - no exceptions, no delays
Denied Boarding Compensation Calculator
Calculate your EU261 compensation for involuntary denied boarding
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Important: Denied boarding compensation must be paid IMMEDIATELY (at the airport) or within 7 days. Unlike delay/cancellation claims, there are NO extraordinary circumstances exceptions - overbooking is always the airline's responsibility. If the airline refuses immediate payment, demand a written receipt acknowledging the denied boarding and file a claim within 24 hours.
What is Denied Boarding?
Denied boarding (also called "bumping") occurs when an airline refuses to carry a passenger on a flight despite that passenger having a confirmed reservation, valid ticket, and having checked in on time. The most common cause is overbooking - airlines sell more seats than physically exist on the aircraft, betting that some passengers won't show up.
EU261 Article 4 specifically addresses denied boarding, providing some of the strongest passenger protections in aviation law. Unlike delays or cancellations, there are NO exceptions for denied boarding compensation - if you're involuntarily bumped, the airline must pay, period.
Why Do Airlines Overbook?
Airlines use statistical models to predict no-shows. On average, 5-15% of passengers with reservations don't show up (missed connections, changed plans, business travelers booking flexible tickets). To maximize revenue and avoid flying with empty seats, airlines sell 100-110% of capacity. When more passengers show up than expected, someone gets denied boarding.
Financial incentive: An empty seat costs the airline €200-€500 in lost revenue. Paying €250-€600 denied boarding compensation happens infrequently enough that overbooking remains profitable despite occasional payouts.
When Does EU261 Apply to Denied Boarding?
You must meet ALL of these conditions:
Required Conditions (ALL must be met)
- Valid confirmed reservation: You have a ticket with booking reference
- Checked in on time: Met the check-in deadline (usually 45-90 min before)
- Present at gate on time: You were at the gate before boarding closed
- Flight is covered by EU261: Departing EU or arriving EU on EU carrier
- Involuntary denial: You did NOT volunteer to give up your seat
NOT Covered (No Compensation)
- Late check-in: You missed the check-in deadline
- Invalid documents: No passport, visa, health certificate required
- Safety/security reasons: Denied for disruptive behavior, intoxication
- Medical reasons: Deemed unfit to fly by airline medical staff
- Voluntary bumping: You chose to give up seat for offered benefits
- Aircraft downgrade: Smaller plane substituted (different rules apply)
Common Denied Boarding Scenarios
Scenario 1: Classic Overbooking
Flight has 180 seats. Airline sells 190 tickets. 185 passengers check in. Airline asks for 5 volunteers. Only 2 volunteer. Airline must involuntarily deny 3 passengers. Those 3 get €250-€600 each, immediate payment, plus rebooking or refund, plus care.
Scenario 2: Equipment Change
You booked on Boeing 777 (350 seats). Airline substitutes smaller Boeing 737 (180 seats) due to technical issue with original aircraft. Now there's overbooking. You get denied boarding. Result: Full EU261 compensation applies. The airline's operational decision to swap aircraft doesn't exempt them from denied boarding rules.
Scenario 3: Premium Cabin Overbooking
You booked business class. Business cabin is overbooked. Airline offers: (1) Downgrade to economy on same flight + partial refund, OR (2) Keep business class on next flight + compensation. If you refuse both and are involuntarily downgraded, you get: 30-75% ticket refund (Article 10) PLUS denied boarding compensation (€250-€600) if you insist on keeping your original booking class.
Scenario 4: Last-Minute Gate Denial
You check in online, arrive at gate on time, have boarding pass. At the gate, airline says "flight is full, we need to deny you boarding." This is involuntary denied boarding. Result: Full compensation, even if you checked in online (some airlines falsely claim online check-in doesn't guarantee boarding - that's wrong, it does under EU261).
Key Distinction: Denied boarding is different from cancellation. Cancellation = flight doesn't operate. Denied boarding = flight operates but you're not allowed on it despite valid ticket. Denied boarding has stricter rules: no extraordinary circumstances exceptions, immediate payment required, typically higher success rate for claims (85% vs 70% for cancellations).
Voluntary vs Involuntary Denied Boarding: Critical Difference
This distinction determines everything: your compensation amount, when you get paid, and what benefits you receive. Understanding the difference can mean the difference between €200 in vouchers and €600 in cash.
Voluntary Denied Boarding
Airline asks for volunteers to give up seats in exchange for benefits. You choose to accept the offer.
NO fixed EU261 amount. You negotiate benefits directly with airline.
- €200-€800 in travel vouchers
- €100-€400 cash (if you negotiate)
- Flight upgrades on rebooking
- Hotel + meals if overnight
- Rebooking on preferred date
You can REFUSE the offer and keep your seat. Airline must increase offers until enough volunteers accept. Don't accept first offer - wait for better deals.
Involuntary Denied Boarding
Airline forces you to give up your seat against your will. Not enough volunteers, so airline selects passengers to bump.
FIXED EU261 amounts: €250, €400, or €600 based on flight distance. No negotiation needed.
- €250-€600 compensation (immediate)
- Full refund OR rebooking (your choice)
- Meals + refreshments during wait
- Hotel if overnight stay needed
- Transport to/from hotel
- 2 phone calls/emails
Must be paid AT THE AIRPORT (cash or bank transfer) or within 7 days maximum. Not weeks or months like delay claims.
Decision Framework: Should You Volunteer?
When the airline asks for volunteers, here's how to decide:
Calculate Your Breakeven Point
Compare what you'd get as volunteer vs what you'd get if involuntarily denied:
Airline offers: €400 voucher + rebooking tomorrow + hotel
Value: ~€400 voucher (with restrictions) + €100 hotel = €500 effective value
EU261 entitlement: €600 cash + rebooking + hotel + meals
Value: €600 CASH (no restrictions) + hotel + meals = €700+ value
Verdict in this example: Refuse the voluntary offer. If bumped involuntarily, you get €600 cash (more valuable than €400 voucher) plus same hotel/rebooking. Wait to be involuntarily denied for better compensation.
Volunteering Strategy: Advanced Tips
Tip #1: Wait for the Offer to Increase
Airlines typically start with low offers (€200-€300 vouchers). If not enough volunteers accept, they increase every 10-15 minutes. Observed pattern: First offer €250 → €400 → €600 → €800. Wait until the third or fourth call for volunteers before considering.
Tip #2: Negotiate Cash Instead of Vouchers
Always ask "Can I get cash instead of vouchers?" Airlines prefer vouchers (keeps money in their system, expires, restrictions), but gate agents often have authority to offer cash at 50-70% of voucher value. €600 voucher = €300-€400 cash is a fair conversion.
Tip #3: Ask for Specific Rebooking
Don't accept vague "next available flight." Specify: "I want the 10 AM flight tomorrow in business class." If your schedule is flexible, ask for rebooking on a specific date that works for you. Airlines often agree to lock in your preferred rebooking as part of the voluntary deal.
Tip #4: Bundle Additional Benefits
Ask for extras: "I'll volunteer for €500 voucher + upgrade to business class on the rebooking + premium hotel tonight." Airlines have discretion to add perks. Lounge access, meal vouchers, priority boarding on future flights - all negotiable when they need volunteers urgently.
Tip #5: Get Everything in Writing
Before agreeing, demand written confirmation: exact voucher amount, expiry date, rebooking details, hotel confirmation, any upgrades promised. Verbal promises at the gate often "disappear" later. Get the agent to email or print the full agreement before you sign.
Warning: Once you sign the voluntary denied boarding agreement, you CANNOT claim EU261 involuntary compensation later. The signature waives your fixed compensation rights in exchange for the negotiated benefits. Only sign if you're satisfied the voluntary offer is better than your involuntary rights (€250-€600 cash + rebooking + care).
Involuntary Denied Boarding Compensation Amounts
EU261 Article 7 sets fixed compensation amounts for involuntary denied boarding. These amounts are NON-NEGOTIABLE and must be paid regardless of ticket price, airline, or circumstances.
| Flight Distance | Example Routes | Compensation | Possible Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km Short-haul within Europe | London → Paris: 350 km Berlin → Rome: 1,180 km Amsterdam → Madrid: 1,400 km | €250 per passenger | No reduction possible |
| 1,500 - 3,500 km Medium-haul | Frankfurt → Athens: 1,800 km London → Istanbul: 2,500 km Paris → Tel Aviv: 3,300 km | €400 per passenger | No reduction possible |
| Over 3,500 km Long-haul intercontinental | London → New York: 5,550 km Paris → Dubai: 5,200 km Frankfurt → Singapore: 10,300 km | €600 per passenger | Can be reduced to €300 if alternative arrives under 4h late |
Critical Fact: Denied boarding compensation is NOT based on ticket price. A €50 budget ticket gets the same €250-€600 as a €2,000 business class ticket. The only factors are flight distance and whether you accept alternative flight on long-haul routes.
Immediate Payment: Your Right to Cash on the Spot
Unlike delay or cancellation compensation (which can take weeks or months), denied boarding compensation must be paid IMMEDIATELY. EU261 Article 4(3) is crystal clear on this.
EU261 Article 4(3) - Exact Wording
"When passengers are denied boarding against their will, the operating air carrier shall immediately compensate them in accordance with Article 7..."
Interpretation: "Immediately" means at the airport, preferably in cash. If cash isn't practical, airline must arrange bank transfer within 7 days and provide written acknowledgment with your IBAN details before you leave the airport.
How Payment Should Work
Best Case: Cash at Airport
Gate agent or airport manager provides cash compensation immediately (€250-€600 per passenger). You sign receipt acknowledging payment. This is the ideal scenario and what EU261 intends.
Reality check: Only about 20-30% of cases result in immediate cash payment. Most airlines prefer bank transfer.
Common: Bank Transfer Within 7 Days
Airline takes your IBAN/bank details at the airport, provides written confirmation of the denied boarding and compensation amount, and transfers money within 7 days.
Important: Get written document BEFORE leaving airport. Document should state: your name, flight number, date, compensation amount (€250/€400/€600), airline acknowledgment of denied boarding, payment deadline (7 days from [date]).
Acceptable Alternative: Vouchers (With Your Consent Only)
Airline may offer travel vouchers instead of cash, BUT you must sign agreement accepting vouchers. You can refuse and demand cash/bank transfer.
Voucher risks: Expiry dates (usually 1 year), restrictions on routes/dates, non-transferable, no cash value if unused. Only accept vouchers if significantly higher than cash amount (e.g., €800 voucher vs €400 cash might be worth it if you fly that airline regularly).
Unacceptable: "File a Claim Later"
Airline says "We'll send you a claim form, fill it out and we'll process in 6-8 weeks." This violates EU261. Refuse this approach.
Your response: "EU261 Article 4(3) requires immediate compensation. I need cash now or written confirmation of bank transfer within 7 days, with your acknowledgment that I was involuntarily denied boarding. I'm not leaving without documentation."
What to Do If Airline Refuses Immediate Payment
Step 1: Ask to speak with the airport duty manager (higher authority than gate agent). State clearly: "I am involuntarily denied boarding. EU261 Article 4(3) requires immediate compensation. I request €[amount] paid now or written confirmation of bank transfer within 7 days."
Step 2: Document everything. Take photos of: boarding pass, denial notification, gate display, any written communication from airline. Write down: agent names, time of denial, exact words used.
Step 3: Get written acknowledgment. Even if they won't pay immediately, insist on written document acknowledging the denied boarding before you accept alternative flight or refund.
Step 4: File formal claim within 24 hours. Email airline customer relations with: denied boarding details, demand for immediate payment per Article 4(3), attach all evidence, set 7-day deadline for payment.
Step 5: Escalate if no payment in 7 days. File complaint with national aviation authority (CAA, Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, etc.) emphasizing the "immediate payment" violation. This often triggers fast enforcement action.
Important: Do NOT accept rebooking or refund without getting payment confirmation or written acknowledgment first. Some airlines try to rush you onto alternative flights, then claim you "accepted compensation" in the form of the rebooking. Always secure payment documentation before boarding any alternative flight.
US vs EU Denied Boarding Rules: Major Differences
The United States has its own denied boarding compensation rules (DOT regulations), which differ significantly from EU261. Understanding both systems is crucial for transatlantic flights.
| Aspect | EU (EU261) | US (DOT 14 CFR 250) |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation Amount | €250-€600 (~$270-$650) based on flight distance | $775-$1,550 based on arrival delay and ticket price (up to 4× ticket fare) |
| Payment Timing | Immediately at airport or within 7 days | Must pay on the day of incident (cash, check, or electronic) |
| Calculation Basis | Only flight distance matters (not ticket price) | Both delay duration AND ticket price matter |
| Delay Thresholds | Full compensation regardless of alternative flight timing | • 1-2 hour delay: 200% of one-way fare (max $775) • 2+ hour delay (domestic) or 4+ hour (international): 400% of fare (max $1,550) |
| Who is Covered | • Departing from EU airport (any airline) • Arriving at EU airport on EU carrier | • Departing from US airport (any airline) • Does NOT apply to flights arriving in US from abroad |
| Voucher Rules | Requires passenger's signed consent to accept vouchers instead of cash | Passenger can demand cash; airline cannot force vouchers |
| Additional Rights | Meals, hotel, transport while waiting for alternative flight | No statutory right to meals/hotel (airline policy varies) |
Transatlantic Example: Which Rules Apply?
Scenario: United Airlines flight from Newark (EWR) to London Heathrow (LHR), involuntarily denied boarding.
- Departing from US: US DOT rules apply. Compensation: $775-$1,550 based on delay and ticket price.
- EU261 does NOT apply: United is not an EU carrier, and flight departs from US, not EU.
- Your compensation: If alternative arrives 2-4 hours late and your ticket was $600, you get 200% × $600 = $1,200 (capped at $775). If 4+ hours late, you get 400% × $600 = $2,400 (capped at $1,550).
Reverse scenario: British Airways London → New York, denied boarding in London: EU261 applies (€600 compensation + care). US DOT does not apply to inbound flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between voluntary and involuntary denied boarding?
How much compensation am I entitled to if involuntarily denied boarding?
When should the compensation be paid?
Can I volunteer to give up my seat and still get compensation?
What if I'm denied boarding because I arrived late to check-in?
Can I choose between refund and rebooking after being denied boarding?
What if the airline offers a voucher instead of cash compensation?
Does my travel insurance cover denied boarding?
Can families with children be denied boarding?
What if I'm denied boarding on a connecting flight within the same booking?
How can I avoid being involuntarily denied boarding?
Can I claim compensation if I was upgraded due to overbooking?
Success Stories: Real Denied Boarding Compensation Claims
Family Refused Voluntary Offer
Family of 4 flying Frankfurt → New York. Airline asked for volunteers, offered €300 vouchers each. Family refused. All 4 were involuntarily denied boarding.
Result:
€600 × 4 = €2,400 cash compensation paid via bank transfer within 5 days + rebooking on next day's flight in business class (upgrade) + hotel suite for the night. By refusing voluntary offer and getting involuntarily bumped, they got €2,400 cash vs €1,200 in vouchers.
Business Traveler Insisted on Cash
Solo traveler, Paris → Athens on Air France. Involuntarily denied at gate. Airline offered €400 travel voucher. Passenger demanded cash per EU261.
Result:
After citing Article 4(3) immediate payment requirement, airport manager paid €400 cash on the spot. Passenger also negotiated upgrade to business class on alternative flight 4 hours later. Total value: €400 cash + ~€300 upgrade value.
Double Compensation on Connecting Flights
Passenger booked New York → London → Frankfurt. Denied boarding on first leg (US DOT applies), then denied boarding on second leg days later (EU261 applies).
Result:
First denial: $1,550 compensation under US DOT rules (4+ hour delay, $400 ticket = $1,600 capped at $1,550). Second denial: €600 under EU261 (long-haul). Total: $1,550 + €600 ≈ $2,200 for two separate denied boarding incidents.
Were You Denied Boarding?
Denied boarding rights vary by jurisdiction. Our AI will analyze your flight details, identify applicable regulations (EU261, US DOT 14 CFR Part 250, or carrier policies), and calculate your exact compensation (€250-€600 in EU, up to $1,550 in US). Get your compensation paid immediately.
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