Denied boarding

What does denied boarding mean?

Often, situations arise where there are more tickets sold than available seats. During such times, airlines are compelled to seek volunteers who willingly give up their seats. If a passenger voluntarily requests a waiver on flight, they are entitled to request compensation from the airline.

In cases where the airline fails to find volunteers, the airline is obligated to select passengers and refuse them boarding against their will. Indeed, at this point, the passenger has the right to request compensation. The amount of compensation here depends on the distance between the initial and final airports. For example;

Distance up to 1500 km – 250 Euros
Distance from 1500 km to 3500 km – 400 Euros
Distance over 3500 km – 600 Euros

It should be noted that denied boarding should not be caused by passenger fault. For instance, lack of necessary documents or any action that contradicts the airline’s policy.

What should we know in case of denied boarding?

The passenger must request the reason for refusal in written form from the airline. In the event such a form is not available, you may not be able to claim compensation. The passenger has the right to request an alternative flight or refund of the ticket price and purchase another ticket themselves for another flight, the cost of which can be claimed back from the airline. The airline is obliged to ensure the passenger’s comfort, offer an alternative flight, ensure accommodation, provide meal vouchers, etc.