Every year, thousands of people are bumped off flights due to overbooking. Overbooking is a common practice among airlines to maximize revenue, as it is highly unlikely that every passenger will show up for their flight. In the event that all ticket holders do show up, airlines will first ask for volunteers to be re-routed. If no volunteers come forward, the airline will select passengers to be denied boarding.
Easyjet has revealed that customers who have booked a package trip with easyJet Holidays are less likely to be bumped. The company stated that their ground staff are given guidance on which groups of customers to avoid selecting for denied boarding, such as those requiring special assistance and easyJet Holidays customers.
United Airlines provides even further details about which passengers they prioritize for denied boarding. They prioritize passengers with disabilities, service animals or travel assistants, unaccompanied minors, families traveling together (for Canada departures only), and passengers who purchased their tickets under specific corporate travel agreements. The priority of other confirmed passengers may depend on factors such as fare class, itinerary, frequent flyer program membership, and time of check-in without advanced seat assignment.
Aviation expert Alex Macheras explains that families are generally prioritized in the event of overbooking. He states that airlines need to ensure they are not flying with empty seats, but there are industry-wide procedures in place to guide the process of overbooking. Normally, if a flight is overbooked by two seats, the last two passengers to check in or reach the gate will be denied boarding. These passengers are typically more understanding as they arrived late and may have risked missing the flight anyway. Families or passengers traveling with children are not usually chosen for denied boarding, while solo passengers with hand luggage and high sequence numbers are more likely to be selected.
Passengers who are denied boarding or volunteer to switch flights have rights. If there are not enough volunteers, the airline has the right to deny boarding and passengers have the same entitlement to assistance and compensation as they would if their flight was cancelled. In Europe, passengers who are bumped under the Denied Boarding Regulation (Regulation 261/2004 EC) are entitled to compensation based on the distance of the flight. The regulation provides compensation of €250 for short-haul flights (1,500km/932 miles or less), €400 for medium-haul flights (between 1,500km/932 miles and 2,175 miles), and up to €600 for long-haul flights (more than 3,500km). Compensation may be reduced if the airline offers alternative routes that arrive within two to four hours of the original scheduled arrival time.
In the US, the Department of Transportation states that travelers who are denied boarding are entitled to compensation in the form of a check or cash, depending on the ticket price and length of the delay. Gilbert Ott, founder of air travel website godsavethepoints.com, mentions that bumping can be lucrative for passengers who have flexibility, as they can secure credit towards future travel. However, it can be problematic for passengers who are not flexible.
To reduce the risk of being bumped, passengers are advised to check in early, either online or at the airport. The last passengers to check in are usually the first to be bumped, even if they meet the check-in deadline. Passengers who are forced to take another flight are entitled to compensation according to regulations in Europe and the US.
Andrew Shelton, Managing Director of Cheapflights, advises UK travelers to check in advance and mention to the check-in staff if they have concerns about overbooking and want to ensure their spot on the flight.
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