What can I do if my flight is overbooked?

Sometimes a flight can be overbooked. This means the airline has sold more tickets than there are seats on the plane. Usually, this isn’t a problem because some passengers cancel their flight. But if everyone shows up, there won’t be enough seats for all. In that case, the airline must provide a solution.

A young man holds a smartphone in one hand and makes a confused or skeptical facial expression while raising the other hand with an open palm.

Giving up your seat voluntarily

The airline will first ask if any passengers are willing to give up their seat voluntarily. If you do, the airline must offer you compensation and/or other benefits. You are also entitled to:

  • Another flight to your destination, or
  • A refund of your ticket

Being denied boarding

If there aren’t enough volunteers, the airline may decide to deny you boarding. In this case, you are also entitled to:

  • Another flight to your destination, or
  • A refund of your ticket

Your right to care

If you have to wait for another flight, you are entitled to free care. This means the airline must provide:

  • Free meals and drinks appropriate to the waiting time
  • Free access to email, fax, or messaging services (two messages)
  • Free hotel accommodation if you need to wait one or more nights
  • Free transport between the hotel and the airport

Compensation for overbooking

If you choose another flight, you may be entitled to financial compensation. The amount depends on the distance of your flight:

  • € 250 for flights up to 1500 km
  • € 400 for flights over 1500 km within the EU
  • € 400 for flights between 1500 and 3500 km outside the EU
  • € 600 for flights over 3500 km

Compensation will be reduced by 50% if you take a replacement flight and the resulting delay is limited. If you were informed at least two weeks before departure about the overbooking, you are not entitled to compensation.

Note: You are only entitled to compensation if your flight departs from or arrives in an EU country, Norway, Iceland, or the United Kingdom. If you fly from outside the EU to one of these countries, this only applies if the flight is operated by an EU airline.

Need help with a complaint?

The European Consumer Centre (ECC) offers free legal advice and can assist you with making a claim against a non-Dutch airline based in the EU, Norway, Iceland, or the United Kingdom.

If your complaint is about a Dutch airline, please contact:

Please note that the above links refer to Dutch websites.