Overbooked flight, voucher or compensation
Think before you volunteer your seat at the gate.
- Free claim check, fee only on success
- Up to €600 per passenger under EU 261
- A form that takes about five minutes
Airlines sell more tickets than seats, and when everyone turns up somebody is left behind. If no volunteer takes the offer, passengers can be denied boarding against their will, which is the case EU 261 is written for.
To qualify you need a confirmed ticket, an on-time check-in and a flight that left from or landed in the EU. Unlike delays, overbooking has no extraordinary circumstances to hide behind.
The gate offer is where people lose out. Agreeing to a voucher or other travel benefit can count as volunteering, and then no compensation is owed, so ask for the written reason you were refused first.
Sometimes a voucher is a good swap, especially if another flight leaves within hours and you are in a hurry. If you want the full cash amount, between €250 and €600 depending on distance, file instead.
Lennuabi says most overbooking cases settle within a few weeks, and it will take legal action if the airline rejects the claim.
Deals you can use now
| Deal | Code | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €600Free claim check, fee only if you are paid | — | The service fee is 39.7% of a successful claim and 50% if legal proceedings are needed. Nothing is charged when no compensation is recovered. |
See Lennuabi in detailFlight compensation, up to €600, pay on successCheck your flight in five minutes · Questions that follow your itinerary · Every passenger on the booking counts · Lennuabi deals with the airline for youFAQ
What should I ask the airline for at the gate?
A written confirmation that you were denied boarding because of overbooking.
Does a voucher cancel my claim?
It can. Accepting benefits voluntarily may waive your right to compensation.
Do weather excuses apply?
No, extraordinary circumstances are not relevant to an overbooked flight.
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