Winter vacations are approaching, one of the times of year when the most people travel. It’s also a peak season for lost luggage, flight cancellations, and the infamous overbooking at airports worldwide.
If you plan to travel by plane in the coming weeks, we recommend reading this article carefully to learn more about one of the most common issues in aviation. Even more if you fly in couple, as it can affect to only 1 of both.
What is Overbooking? The Most Common Type of Denied Boarding
Contrary to what you might think, overbooking is legal. It’s a practice where airlines sell more seats than are available on a plane. Why does overbooking happen? Because not everyone who buys a ticket ends up using it, whether due to personal or professional reasons. To ensure their planes are full, airlines sell more tickets than seats. This practice is regulated under (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and Council, which establishes common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in cases of denied boarding, cancellations, or significant delays.
If your flight is overbooked, it is the airline’s responsibility to seek volunteers among passengers willing to give up their seats. Often, this resolves the issue, as many travelers don’t mind changing or delaying their flight. However, in some cases, no volunteers step forward, forcing the airline to select passengers themselves. Problems arise when traveling in a group or as a couple. For example, you might be allowed to board while your partner is not, starting your vacation on a sour note.
What to Do If Your Partner Is Denied Boarding on an Overbooked Flight
If your partner is left behind, you can discuss the situation with the airline staff and request to apply the denied boarding to both of you. This would allow you to find a shared solution, such as taking a later flight together to your destination. This is called the “right to rerouting” or “right to reimbursement,” under which the airline must offer a refund or another transportation option as close as possible to the original schedule or a date of your choice.
Secondly, you are entitled to care. This means the airline must provide food and drinks for passengers affected by overbooking, as well as accommodation if an overnight stay is required, including transportation to and from the accommodation.
Finally, you may be entitled to claim compensation for overbooking, ranging from €250 to €600, depending on factors such as flight distance and ticket type. Always ensure that any agreement with the airline is documented in writing, as this will allow you to follow up on non-compliance.
Don’t forget to keep all paper or electronic receipts for expenses incurred due to the situation. Whether it’s transportation to accommodation, meals, or personal hygiene kits, without receipts, it’s impossible to prove the costs incurred for reimbursement claims.
