An essential guide to passenger rights in the face of flight overbooking

When a flight is overbooked, the passengers may be refused boarding. In Europe, the CE 261/2004 protects passengers by granting them a right to compensation, which varies according to the distance of the flight. Airlines are required to offer replacement flights or refund tickets. Passengers must be informed of their rights, and airlines must seek advice from their customers. volunteers willing to give up their seat in exchange for compensation. In the event of involuntary refusal, financial compensation is provided, ensuring a fair and optimal travel experience.

Understanding overbooking

Overbooking, or overbookingis a common practice in the airline industry. Airline companies sell more tickets than there are seats available on the plane, on the assumption that a certain percentage of passengers will not show up for boarding. However, when all passengers do show up, some are denied boarding, which can lead to frustration and inconvenience.

Your rights within the European Union

In the EU, passengers who are victims of overbooking enjoy the protection of the EC regulation 261/2004. This legislation imposes a series of requirements on airlines. passenger rights. First of all, the company has to call for volunteers willing to give up their places in exchange for compensation.

If you are denied boarding against your will, you are entitled to assistance. This includes the provision of a replacement flight, the ticket refund or financial compensation, depending on the distance of the flight concerned.

What about flights operated by American airlines?

In the United States, it's the regulations DOT which governs passenger rights in the event of overbooking. The procedure is similar to that in the EU, with financial compensation for passengers involuntarily denied boarding. As in the EU, American airlines first seek volunteers, and in the event of denied boarding, they compensate passengers according to well-defined criteria.

Assistance and compensation: requirements

To be eligible for assistance or compensation, three specific criteria must be met: the country of departure of your flight, the destination countryand the nationality of the airline involved. The airline is also obliged to clearly inform passengers of their rights, and to offer an alternative solution.

The daily practice of overbooking

It's important to understand that overbooking is a deliberate strategy by airlines to maximize revenue. Around 20 % of passengers who have booked a flight fail to show up for boarding, justifying the practice as a way of filling empty seats.

Rights and remedies in the event of overbooking

Passengers must be informed of their rights in order to guarantee optimal travel experience. In the event of an overbooked flight, airlines such as Emirates, Ryanair or SWISS may be liable to pay compensation, as explained in this article. article on Air Monténégro.

As an added protection, many airlines are particularly responsive in the event of a claim, as mentioned in this article on the most responsive airlines to passenger complaints.

Conclusion: be informed for better travel

Passengers must assert their rights to avoid any inconvenience. For more information on airline industry news, you can read the latest articles on the guarantee fund debate and the new destinations opened by Lufthansa this summer. here.

Element	Key information
Right to information	Right to be informed of rights in the event of overbooking
Volunteers	The company must look for passengers willing to give up their seats
Backup solution	Offer of an alternative flight or refund
Compensation	Compensation based on distance and delay
Alternative transport	Proposal for transport in similar conditions
Liability	Carrier liable for overbooking
Important regulations	CE 261/2004 for the EU, DOT for the USA
Knowledge of rights	Every passenger's right to know his or her guarantees
Assistance	Right to assistance while waiting for a new flight
Recurrence	Approximately 20% of passengers do not show up for boarding

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