Airlines sell more tickets than there are seats because some passengers never turn up: overbooking is legal, but if you are bumped against your will you are entitled to €250, €400 or €600 in compensation, a refund or alternative flight, and care at the airport. Here is why overbooking exists, how the call for volunteers at the gate works and what to ask for if it happens to you.
Why airlines sell more tickets than seats
On almost every flight someone does not show up: they missed the bus to the airport, changed their plans or hold a flexible ticket and decided to fly later. These are known as no-shows. Every empty seat is lost revenue, so many airlines sell a few more tickets than the aircraft holds, estimating how many passengers will be missing from the figures for that route, day and time.
Most of the time the estimate works. But when everyone, or nearly everyone, turns up at the gate, there are more passengers than seats: this is denied boarding due to overbooking. EU Regulation 261/2004 does not ban the practice, but it sets out what the airline must do and what it owes you.
Volunteer or bumped: what changes for you
Before leaving anyone behind against their will, the airline must ask for volunteers willing to give up their seat in exchange for agreed benefits (a voucher, cash, a later flight). Only if there are not enough volunteers can it deny boarding to others.
| Situation | What you are owed |
|---|---|
| You volunteer | The benefits you agree with the airline, plus a choice between a refund and an alternative flight |
| You are bumped against your will | €250, €400 or €600 compensation, a refund or alternative flight, and care (meals, communication, hotel if needed) |
| You are refused for valid reasons | No compensation: for example invalid travel documents, health or safety reasons |
Be careful: if you agree to volunteer, you usually give up the compensation set by the Regulation in exchange for what the airline offers. Before you say yes, compare the offer with what you would otherwise be owed.
How much overbooking compensation is worth
The amount depends on the flight distance, not the ticket price, and is paid per passenger:
- €250 up to 1,500 km, such as Dublin–London;
- €400 from 1,500 to 3,500 km, such as Dublin–Rome, and on flights within the EU over 3,500 km;
- €600 over 3,500 km, such as Dublin–New York.
The Regulation says compensation for denied boarding must be paid immediately. In practice this often does not happen: if so, you can claim it afterwards.
What to do at the gate if you are bumped
- Do not volunteer if it does not suit you: say clearly that you want to fly.
- Ask for written confirmation of the denied boarding and the reason. The airline must also give you a written notice setting out your rights.
- Choose between a refund and an alternative flight to your destination as soon as possible.
- Ask for meals, drinks and, if you fly the next day, a hotel and transfer. If you get nothing, keep your receipts.
- Keep your boarding pass and booking: they prove you had a confirmed seat and arrived on time.
To be entitled to compensation you must have checked in and turned up for boarding within the time set by the airline.
Flights departing from the UK follow the UK version of these rules, with amounts in pounds and the Civil Aviation Authority as the regulator.
How to get your compensation
The full rules are on our overbooking compensation page. With DelayFlight24 you can check for free in 2 minutes whether you are owed compensation: if you go ahead, we handle the claim, the reminders and, if needed, court action. You pay nothing upfront and our fee is 25% + VAT only if you get compensated. If your ticket has already been refunded, compensation is still owed: see our guide to refunds and compensation.
Frequently asked questions about overbooking
Is overbooking legal?
Yes. Regulation 261/2004 does not ban it, but it requires the airline to look for volunteers first and to compensate anyone bumped against their will.
What is a no-show?
A passenger who holds a ticket but does not turn up for the flight. Airlines oversell seats precisely to cover expected no-shows.
I was moved to a flight a few hours later: am I owed anything?
Yes. If you did not volunteer, you are entitled to denied boarding compensation, on top of the alternative flight and care while you wait.
If I accept a voucher as a volunteer, can I also claim compensation?
Usually not: as a volunteer you get the benefits you agreed. That is why it pays to compare the offer with the amount you would be owed.
Do low-cost airlines overbook too?
They can, and the same rules apply: the Regulation covers every airline on flights departing from the EU and European airlines on flights arriving in the EU.
Work out your compensation now
Enter where you flew from and to: in 2 minutes you will know whether you are owed compensation and how much.
- Free check, no commitment
- No upfront costs: 25% + VAT only if we win
- We deal with the airline for you
Find out more
- Air passenger rights
- Delayed flight: when you can claim compensation
- Cancelled flight: refund and compensation
- Overbooking: what you are owed
- What our service costs
Article updated on 22/10/2026 by the DelayFlight24 editorial team.