What overbooking is
Airlines deliberately sell more tickets than seats available — they bank on a percentage of passengers not turning up. When too many show, the airline has to remove people from the flight. Under EU261, anyone involuntarily bumped is owed a fixed compensation amount.
Volunteer vs involuntary
The airline must first ask for volunteers and negotiate terms. If you accept a deal voluntarily (cash, vouchers, an upgrade on a later flight), that's the contract — you can't then claim the EU261 amount on top. But if you were involuntarily denied boarding, you're protected by law.
How much you're owed
| Distance | Compensation |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| Intra-EU > 1,500 km, or 1,500–3,500 km | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km extra-EU | €600 |
The airline must also refund the ticket or rebook you. These are separate rights — accepting the rebooking does not waive the compensation.
If you were paid less than €250
Some airlines hand out €100 vouchers at the gate and call it settled. It isn't. EU261 amounts are cash, in euros, per passenger. Anything else is a goodwill gesture that doesn't extinguish your statutory right.