Voluntary Bumping

You agreed to give up your seat and take a later flight

When airlines ask for volunteers to take a later flight, any compensation agreed at the gate does not automatically waive your statutory EC261 rights. If what you accepted was less than the legal minimum, you can still claim the difference.

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Compensation

€250 – €600 (or difference from agreed comp)

Regulation

EC261 Art.4 + Art.7

Time Limit

2–6 years (varies by country)

What Counts

What is a Voluntary Bumping?

Voluntary bumping is when an airline asks for volunteers to take a later flight — usually offering travel vouchers, miles, or cash. The key legal point: agreed compensation at the gate can be less than EC261 entitles you to, and you may be able to claim the gap.

This qualifies if…

Airline asked for volunteers to free up seats (overbooking)
You agreed to take a different flight
You were given a voucher, miles, or a fixed cash sum
Your alternative flight arrived 3+ hours later than originally planned

Legal Basis

EC261 Art.7: Compensation rights apply to all passengers on overbooked flights who were not carried, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. Acceptance of a lesser sum at the gate does not waive the statutory minimum.

How Much

How much are you owed?

EC261 compensation applies based on your delay to the final destination — regardless of what was agreed at the gate.

Scenario / Distance	Example	Amount	Note
Up to 1,500 km	London → Paris	€250	—
1,500 – 3,500 km	London → Athens	€400	—
Over 3,500 km (intra-EU)	Lisbon → Helsinki	€400	—
Over 3,500 km (extra-EU)	London → New York	€600	—

Do I Qualify?

Eligibility checklist

Check these against your situation — the more you can tick, the stronger your claim.

You were asked to volunteer due to overbooking

Required

You accepted the airline's offer and took a later flight

Required

Your alternative flight arrived 3+ hours after the original

Required

The airline paid you less than the EC261 statutory amount for your route distance

Conditional

Not sure if you qualify? Submit your details via our free claim checker — we assess eligibility at no cost and no obligation.

Know Your Defences

Common excuses airlines use — and why they're wrong

"You agreed to the compensation at the gate."

EC261 rights are non-waivable under EU law. Article 15 explicitly states passengers cannot contract out of their rights. Any agreed amount that is lower than the statutory minimum can be topped up.

"You chose to take the later flight."

The choice was presented under commercial pressure. More importantly, EC261 applies to both voluntary and involuntary denied boarding when caused by overbooking. The voluntary element doesn't remove the legal right.

"We gave you a €200 voucher which is what EC261 provides."

Vouchers are not the same as cash compensation. EC261 Art.7 requires cash payment (or equivalent electronic transfer). Additionally, €200 may be less than the statutory €250–€600 for your route distance.

How It Works