Air passenger rights in the event of denied boarding
Being denied boarding can be stressful and disruptive – especially if you arrive at the airport on time with a valid ticket and are still bumped off your flight. The good news: under UK and EU air passenger rights law, you may be entitled to denied boarding compensation of up to £520 per passenger.
In this guide, we explain what denied boarding means, the most common denied boarding reasons (including overbooking), your rights under UK261 regulations, and how to claim your denied boarding compensation in the UK quickly and easily.
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Everything you need to know about denied boarding compensation
Denied boarding can happen due to overbooking.
Compensation amounts depends on flight distance.
Airlines must offer alternative transportation.
Passengers can claim compensation up to £520.
Compensation also applies to connecting flights.
Compensation may be reduced in certain cases.
In the UK, passengers have up to 6 years to claim.
You had a flight delay or a flight cancellation? Check your rights now and increase your chances of compensation
What Is Denied Boarding?
Denied boarding occurs when an airline refuses to let you board your flight against your will, even though you:
Had a confirmed booking
Checked in on time
Held all required travel documents
Denied boarding is often referred to as being “bumped off a flight” and is most commonly caused by overbooking. Airlines sometimes sell more tickets than available seats, assuming that not all passengers will show up.
Good to know: To claim compensation, denied boarding must be against the will and with the consent of the passenger. The prerequisite is that the passengers checked in on time, all booking documents were available, and the passengers did not pose any safety or health risks to themselves or other travellers.
Voluntary vs Involuntary Denied Boarding: The Difference Explained
Voluntary denied boarding: If you volunteer to be bumped, you legally agree to give up your seat (often in exchange for vouchers or benefits). In this case, statutory compensation usually does not apply, and you cannot make a claim. However, if you volunteer to surrender your reservation, you are still entitled to an alternative flight or a refund within 7 days.
Involuntary denied boarding: If the airline does not find volunteers to give up their flight, they arbitrarily select passengers to be bumped. In this case, passengers who are denied boarding are entitled to compensation according to the UK air passenger rights regulation. Further, these passengers may also be entitled to benefits and to re-routing or reimbursement of the ticket price.
Denied Boarding Reasons – When Can Airlines Refuse Boarding?
Airlines may deny boarding for different reasons, but not all of them entitle you to compensation.
Common Reasons That DO Qualify for Denied Boarding Compensation
Overbooking (too many passengers, not enough seats)
Operational decisions by the airline (aircraft change, crew planning issues)
Reasons That Do NOT Qualify for Denied Boarding Compensation
Missing or invalid travel documents (such as missing passports, visas)
Health or safety concerns (such as illness or intoxication)
Security issues (such as disorderly behaviour towards airline staff or other passengers)
Late check-in
If the airline is responsible for the situation, you are generally entitled to denied boarding compensation.
Denied Boarding Regulations – Your Rights Under UK261
Denied boarding compensation is governed by UK261, the UK version of EU Regulation 261/2004. The rules apply when:
Your flight departs from an airport in the UK on any airline, or
Your flight arrives at an airport in the UK on an EU or UK airline, or
Your flight arrives at an airport in the EU on a UK airline.
Under these regulations, passengers who are involuntarily denied boarding are entitled to:
Fixed financial compensation of up to £520
Immediate care and assistance at the airport
A choice between a full ticket refund or a rerouting to the final destination
These rights apply regardless of the ticket price or travel class that was originally booked.
How Much Denied Boarding Compensation Can You Get?
The amount of denied boarding compensation in the UK will not depend on your actual ticket price but instead depends on the flight distance:
Short-distance flight delays of up to 1500km – You are entitled to compensation of £220
Medium-distance flight delays – between 1500km and 3500km – You are entitled to compensation of £350
Long-distance flight delays – over 3500km – You are entitled to compensation of £520
Good to know: Compensation is paid per passenger, not per booking.
Denied Boarding? Claim Your Compensation
Additional Passenger Rights: Care, Refunds & Rerouting
In addition to monetary compensation, airlines must also provide you with additional care at the airport should they deny you boarding. These include:
Care and Assistance at The Airport
A reasonable amount of free food, such as snacks and drinks (often provided in the form of vouchers)
Hotel accommodation nearby (if an overnight stay is required)
Free transport between the airport and hotel (or your home, if you are able to return here)
Two free communications (calls, emails, messages)
The airline must provide you with these items until it is able to fly you to your destination, no matter how long the delay lasts or what has caused it.
Refund or Alternative Flight
You can choose between:
A full ticket refund, or
Rerouting to your final destination at the earliest opportunity, or
Rerouting at a later date convenient for you
Sometimes, the airline might offer an alternative flight that may not be suitable to your needs (e.g. long waiting time). In this case, you are not obliged to accept their option and can book a new flight yourself. The cost of the alternative flight can then be charged to the airline later.
How Can I Get a Ticket Reimbursement for Denied Boarding?
To claim denied boarding compensation, you must show that you met your obligations as a passenger and did not give the airline a valid reason to refuse boarding.
This means that you:
Checked in on time, either online or at the airport
Had all required travel documents, such as a passport, visa (if needed), and boarding pass
Arrived at the departure gate in good time (min. 45 minutes before departure)
Behaved appropriately towards airline staff and other passengers
Did not pose a safety or health risk
Were not intoxicated
If you meet these requirements, hold a valid ticket, and were still denied boarding without a justified reason, you may be entitled to compensation for the inconvenience and disruption to your journey.
Denied Boarding? Claim Your Compensation
How to Claim Denied Boarding Compensation
Claiming denied boarding compensation does not have to be complicated.
Step 1: Keep Your Documents
Make sure to keep:
Your boarding pass or booking confirmation
Any written confirmation from the airline
Receipts for additional expenses
Step 2: Check Your Eligibility
Eligibility depends on:
Flight route
Airline
Reason for denied boarding
Step 3: Submit Your Claim
You can submit your claim directly to the airline – or let Flightright handle the entire process for you. We deal with the airline, legal correspondence, and, if necessary, court proceedings. This way, you can sit back and relax while we work for your money!
How Long Are Compensation Claims Valid in The Event of Denied Boarding?
Compensation claims can still exist years after the actual flight. In the UK, air travelers can still claim compensation up to six years after their flight (Scottish residents have 5 years). If passengers have been affected by a flight delay or cancellation in recent years, they should check whether they are entitled to compensation and how much money they could receive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Denied Boarding
How can Flightright help you?
If you were bumped off a flight, you could be entitled to up to £520 in compensation. Check your denied boarding compensation with Flightright now – it only takes a few minutes and there is no financial risk.
As leading experts in the field of air passenger rights in Europe, we are here to help. With over 15 years of experience and a 99% success rate, Flightright helps you enforce your right to compensation.
Ridley’s Path to Justice: A Triumph Over Denied Boarding with Flightright’s Help
The Challenge: Ridley’s Frustration with British Airways’ Overbooking
Ridley was looking forward to a comfortable return home from Tokyo, having secured a business-class ticket for a relaxing flight. But when he arrived at the airport, he was met with disappointing news: British Airways had oversold the flight, leaving him stranded with no seat. Despite his reserved ticket, the airline had denied him boarding without offering alternatives or compensation. Frustrated and let down, Ridley sought answers, but British Airways dismissed his requests at every turn. What was supposed to be a smooth journey back became a drawn-out struggle for justice.
Ridley’s efforts to reach British Airways dragged on for months, with each call, email, and complaint left unanswered. As his frustration grew, Ridley wondered if he’d ever see compensation for the lost flight he had paid so much for.
A Solution in Sight: Discovering Flightright’s Service
Six months after his initial claim, Ridley realized he needed a new approach. He came across Flightright, a trusted service – Europe’s leading service for air passenger rights: enforced over 500 million euros in compensation with a strong track record in handling complex air passenger rights cases. The promise of professional assistance and positive customer reviews convinced Ridley to give Flightright a try. With nothing to lose, he decided to place his trust in our services, hoping we could succeed where his own attempts had failed.
A Smooth Process: Flightright Takes Over Ridley’s Case
From the moment Ridley submitted his claim on Flightright’s website, he knew he was in capable hands. The free online compensation calculator guided him through each step, making it easy to upload his booking documents and share details of his case. “Flightright’s compensation calculator was remarkably simple to use, and their team took all the hassle off my shoulders,” Ridley recalls with appreciation. In just a few clicks, he had enlisted Flightright to advocate for his rights, freeing him from the months-long ordeal of trying to reach the airline on his own.
A Swift Win: Flightright’s Persistence Pays Off
As Flightright took on his case, Ridley received regular updates on the progress, a refreshing change after the silence he had experienced from British Airways. Flightright’s team pursued the airline relentlessly, and within a matter of weeks, Ridley finally had a resolution: British Airways agreed to pay compensation for his denied boarding. Flightright had achieved in weeks what Ridley could not accomplish in six months on his own.
With the compensation settled, Ridley received a payout, minus Flightright’s commission, that made up for the inconvenience he’d endured. The relief of finally closing the case was matched only by his gratitude for the support and transparency Flightright provided throughout.
Ridley’s Takeaway: A Grateful Recommendation for Flightright
Looking back, Ridley is grateful he turned to Flightright for help. “Flightright took care of everything in a way I could never have managed alone. They made a complex process easy and got the results I couldn’t achieve by myself,” he shares. For Ridley, Flightright’s expertise, persistence, and seamless service made all the difference.
Thanks to Flightright, Ridley’s experience transformed from a disheartening denial into a victory for his rights as a passenger. We’re thrilled to have helped Ridley achieve justice and thank him for his trust in Flightright. ❤️
Overall: Top service – a very good experience with Flightright!!!
This is the review Ridley left us after Flightright successfully helped him get compensation for his Denied Boarding
Great experience!
Not getting anywhere with compensation from British Airways?
I had been trying to get compensation from British Airways for 6 months, for denying me boarding on a business class flight back from Tokyo because they had oversold. BA ignored every attempt to contact them, so I asked Flightright to try. Within a matter if weeks, they had obtained my compensation less their commission. They kept me informed of how they were progressing the claim and took all the hassle away. Very good service if you can live with not getting everything back due to fees.
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Your flight did not go as planned?
In the event of flight delays, cancellations and overbooking, passengers may be entitled to compensation or ticket reimbursement. Flightright enforces your rights.