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    Denied boarding and overbooked flight compensation

    Airlines sell more seats than the plane holds. When everyone turns up, someone gets "bumped". If you had a confirmed booking, checked in on time and did not give up your seat willingly, UK261 says you are owed compensation – and you can claim it straight away.

    • Bumped against your will? Compensation is due.
    • £220, £350 or £520 per person, by flight distance.
    • Plus a refund or a replacement flight – your choice.
    • Volunteers get whatever they agree with the airline instead.

    Check your claim – it's free

    Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.

    Check your claim
    Compensation amounts by flight distance
    Flight distanceUK261EU261
    Up to 1,500 km£220€250
    1,500 – 3,500 km£350€400
    Over 3,500 km£520€600
    Per passenger, if you were bumped against your will. Can be halved if the replacement flight gets you there within 2, 3 or 4 hours of your original time.

    Volunteered or bumped?

    When a flight is overbooked, the airline must first ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for benefits you agree with it – a voucher, cash or an upgrade later. If you volunteer, you get what you agreed instead of fixed compensation, so read the offer before accepting.

    If not enough people volunteer and you are refused boarding against your will, the airline must pay compensation on the spot and give you the choice of a refund or a replacement flight.

    When you're entitled to denied boarding compensation

    • You had a confirmed booking on the flight.
    • You checked in and arrived at the gate on time.
    • You were refused boarding because of overbooking or the airline's own operational reasons.
    • You were not refused for a valid reason such as health, safety, security or missing travel documents.

    How much compensation for an overbooked flight?

    The amount depends on the distance and how late the replacement flight gets you there. If the airline puts you on a flight that arrives within two hours (short flights), three hours (medium) or four hours (long) of your original time, it can pay half: £110, £175 or £260. Otherwise it is the full £220, £350 or £520 per person.

    Check your claim – it's free

    Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.

    Check your claim 020 8050 2979

    While you wait for the new flight

    If you choose to fly as soon as possible, the airline must give you a reasonable amount of food and drink, a way to make calls or send emails, and a hotel plus transport if your new flight is the next day – for as long as it takes to get you there, whatever the reason.

    Downgraded instead of bumped?

    If the airline moves you to a lower class than you paid for, it must refund part of the ticket price for that flight: 30% for flights up to 1,500 km, 50% for 1,500–3,500 km (and intra-EU flights over 1,500 km), and 75% for longer flights.

    Questions people ask

    Is overbooking legal?

    Yes, airlines are allowed to overbook. What they can't do is bump passengers against their will without paying the compensation UK261 sets out.

    I was offered a voucher to give up my seat. Should I take it?

    If you accept as a volunteer, you get what you agree and not the fixed compensation. Compare the offer with the £220–£520 you would be owed if you were bumped against your will.

    I was denied boarding because I was late to the gate. Can I claim?

    No. Compensation only applies if you checked in and reached the gate on time, or were refused for reasons such as overbooking.

    Can I claim denied boarding compensation for a past flight?

    Yes. In England and Wales you can usually claim for flights up to 6 years ago.

    How much do you charge?

    Checking your flight is free. If we win, our fee is 25% of the compensation, with no VAT. If you don't get paid, you pay nothing. If a claim has to go to a solicitor or court, the fee is 45%, and no court action starts without your OK.

    Check your claim – it's free

    Tell us your flight. If it qualifies, you sign online and our London team deals with the airline. You only pay if we win.

    Check your claim 020 8050 2979

    More flight compensation guides

    Sources

    Checked against official guidance on 2 November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.

    Questions? Call 020 8050 2979 or message us on WhatsApp.