Denied Boarding Claims

You were turned away from your flight. The airline planned that. Here's your bill.

Airlines deliberately oversell seats to protect their revenue. When you're bumped, EU law entitles you to up to €600 in compensation — plus meals, hotel, and rebooking at no cost.

Highest Claim Success Rate
There's no "extraordinary circumstances" defence for overbooking.
94%
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What you're owed in cash

If you are involuntarily denied boarding, your statutory compensation is fixed by flight distance.

Short-haul (up to 1,500km)€250
Medium-haul (1,500km - 3,500km)€400
Long-haul (over 3,500km)€600

Immediate "Right to Care"

Before you even leave the airport, the airline must provide these basics for free while you wait for your replacement flight:

Meals & Drinks

In reasonable relation to your waiting time.

Hotel Accommodation

If your new flight departs the next day, plus transport there.

Communication

Two phone calls, emails, or fax messages so you can alert family or work.

The Crucial Difference

Did you volunteer, or were you forced?

Airlines are legally required to ask for volunteers before bumping anyone against their will. Your rights depend entirely on what happened next.

I Volunteered

  • You agreed to give up your seat in exchange for mutually agreed benefits (e.g., flight vouchers, cash, or upgrades).
  • You maintain the right to choose between a refund or rerouting to your destination.
  • You are NO LONGER eligible for the statutory €250-€600 cash compensation.

I Was Refused (Involuntary)

  • You did not volunteer, but the airline denied you boarding anyway due to overbooking.
  • You maintain the right to choose between a full refund or alternative rerouting.
  • You ARE fully eligible for €250-€600 in statutory cash compensation.

Why they can't use the "Extraordinary Circumstances" excuse.

For delays and cancellations, airlines often reject claims by blaming the weather or air traffic control ("extraordinary circumstances").

They cannot do this for denied boarding.

Overbooking is a deliberate commercial calculation to maximise profit. When they guess wrong, it is entirely their fault. This is why our denied boarding claims have a 94% success rate.

The Gate Voucher Myth

"I accepted a food voucher at the gate. Did I waive my rights?"

No. Absolutely not.

Under EC 261 Article 15(1), airlines cannot contractually limit or waive your statutory compensation rights. Accepting a €15 meal voucher or a hotel stay is your basic right to care. It does NOT cancel your right to €600 cash.

Checklist

What Evidence Do I Need?

The more you have, the faster we win. But even if you're missing documents, we can often prove the claim using flight data.

Original Boarding Pass

Or your e-ticket/booking confirmation showing you had a confirmed reservation.

Denied Boarding Letter

Ask the gate agent for this written notice. If they refuse, that's okay too.

Photos & Receipts

Keep receipts for any out-of-pocket expenses caused by the delay.

Don't have a denied boarding letter? Don't panic. Many airlines refuse to issue them. We can prove your claim using our historical flight and capacity databases.

Frequently Asked Questions

I volunteered for a voucher, am I still eligible for cash?
No. If you voluntarily gave up your seat in exchange for benefits (like a voucher or alternative flight), you have waived your right to statutory cash compensation under EC 261. However, if you were forced to give up your seat (involuntary), you are entitled to cash regardless of what they handed you.
I was booked in Business Class but downgraded. Is that denied boarding?
No, that is considered a 'downgrade'. You are entitled to a reimbursement of 30% to 75% of your ticket price depending on the flight distance, but it is filed under a different part of the EC 261 regulation.
There was a last-minute gate change and I missed boarding. Can I claim?
If the airline closed the gate early or failed to properly announce the gate change, you might have a case. However, if you arrived at the gate after the official closing time printed on your boarding pass, this is considered a 'no-show' and you are not eligible for compensation.
Does this apply to domestic flights within a single country?
Yes, if the domestic flight is within the EU (e.g., Berlin to Munich) or the UK (e.g., London to Edinburgh), the same denied boarding regulations and compensation amounts apply based on the flight distance.
I booked through a travel agent, not directly with the airline. Who pays?
The operating airline is always legally responsible for paying your denied boarding compensation, regardless of where or how you bought the ticket.

Ready to collect what's yours?

Our denied boarding success rate is 94%. It takes 3 minutes to start your claim, and you pay nothing unless we win.

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