What a flight!

Denied boarding

You were bumped from your flight

Airlines sell more seats than the aircraft has. When too many people turn up, someone gets left behind — and that person is owed money immediately.

Volunteering versus being bumped

The airline must first ask for volunteers and negotiate benefits with them. If you volunteer, you take whatever deal you agreed, plus a refund or rerouting. If nobody volunteers and you are denied boarding against your will, the fixed EU261 compensation is due — and unlike delays, there is no waiting period.

What you get

  • €250, €400 or €600 depending on flight distance, per passenger.
  • A full refund, or a seat on the next available flight, your choice.
  • Meals, refreshments and a hotel if you have to wait overnight.

You must have been eligible to fly

The rules protect passengers with a confirmed booking who presented themselves on time and had the right travel documents. Being refused for safety, health, or missing visa reasons is not denied boarding in the legal sense.

At the gate

Ask for written confirmation that you were denied boarding and why, and note the names of the staff involved. That single piece of paper turns a disputed claim into an obvious one.

Quick answer

Airlines sell more seats than the aircraft has. When too many people turn up, someone gets left behind — and that person is owed money immediately.

Main rule
EU261 (EC 261/2004)
Potential compensation
€250–€600 per passenger
Delay threshold
Usually 3+ hours at final destination
Coverage
EU/EEA departures and qualifying arrivals

Common questions

I accepted a voucher at the gate. Can I still claim?
If you volunteered in exchange for benefits, you agreed the deal and the fixed compensation no longer applies. If you were bumped against your will, accepting a voucher does not by itself waive the claim — check what you signed.
Does this cover missing my flight because the queue was long?
No. You must have checked in on time, or been at the gate by the stated deadline, with a confirmed reservation.
What about being moved from business to economy?
That is downgrading, not denied boarding. You are owed a refund of 30-75% of the fare for that leg, depending on distance.

Primary sources

Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.