If you checked in on time and were denied boarding against your will because the flight was overbooked, you may be entitled to fixed compensation plus a refund or replacement flight.
Voluntary and involuntary bumping
Airlines often ask for volunteers before denying boarding. A volunteer negotiates benefits directly with the airline, so the standard fixed compensation rules may not apply in the same way.
Involuntary denied boarding is different. If you had valid documents, arrived on time and the airline removed you because there were not enough seats, UK261 protection can apply.
Your immediate choices
The airline should offer a choice between reimbursement and rerouting. If you still need to travel, ask for the earliest reasonable alternative and obtain written confirmation of the new itinerary.
Care rights can apply while you wait. Keep receipts if the airline does not provide reasonable meals, communication or accommodation.
When compensation can be reduced
The standard distance bands can be reduced by 50 percent when rerouting gets you to the final destination within specified time limits. The precise arrival delay and route distance therefore matter.
Ask the airline for written confirmation that boarding was denied because of capacity rather than documentation, safety or conduct. Those other reasons can lead to a different result.
UK261 compensation bands
These are the standard fixed amounts for an eligible claim. Cancellation and denied-boarding cases can be reduced when rerouting gets the passenger to the final destination within set time limits.
| Flight distance | Typical qualifying delay | Maximum fixed amount |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | 3 hours or more at destination | £220 per passenger |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | 3 hours or more at destination | £350 per passenger |
| Over 3,500 km | 3 to 4 hours | £260 per passenger |
| Over 3,500 km | More than 4 hours | £520 per passenger |
How to prepare a claim
- Identify the operating airline, flight number, date and full route.
- Keep the booking confirmation, boarding pass and disruption messages.
- Record the scheduled and actual final arrival times.
- Keep reasonable, itemised receipts for care the airline did not provide.
- Ask the operating airline for fixed compensation, expenses and any refund as separate items.
If the airline rejects the claim or takes more than eight weeks to respond, check whether its approved alternative dispute-resolution provider can review the case.
Common questions
What if I volunteered to take a later flight?
The benefits are usually what you agreed with the airline, so confirm the offer in writing before volunteering.
Can the airline deny boarding for passport problems?
Yes. Reasonable denial for missing travel documents is not the same as involuntary bumping for overbooking.
Sources: UK Civil Aviation Authority delay guidance, cancellation guidance and eligibility guidance. Rules and outcomes depend on the facts of each journey.