Denied Boarding Compensation in the European Community

If you are bumped from a flight and your flight was either departing from an EU country, or if you were on an airline registered in the EU and your flight departed outside the EU for a destination within the EU, you would have the following rights:

• Reimbursement of the cost of the ticket within seven days or a return flight to the first point of departure or re-routing to the final destination;.

• Refreshments, meals, hotel accommodation, transport between the airport and place of accommodation, two free telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or emails;

• Compensation totalling:

  • - 250 euros for all flights of 1,500 kilometers or less;

  • - 400 euros for all flights within the European Community of more than 1,500 kilometers, and for all other flights between 1,500 and 3,500 kilometers;

  • - 600 euros for all other flights.

Note that in June 2010, the exchange rate was about $1.22 per euro.

Compensation for Downgrading in Service in the European Community

f an air carrier places a passenger in a class lower than that for which the ticket was purchased, the passenger must be reimbursed within seven days, as follows:

• 30% of the price of the ticket for all flights of 1500 kilometers or less.

• 50% of the price of the ticket for all intra-Community flights of more than 1500 kilometers, except flights between the European Community member states and the French overseas departments, and for all other flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometers.

• 75% of the price of the ticket for all other flights, including flights between the European Community member states and the French overseas departments.

Overbooking and Voluntary Bumping

Before an airline involuntarily bumps passengers on an overbooked flight, they will first ask for passengers who are willing to voluntarily give up their seat. Passengers considering volunteering to give up their seat should be aware of two important considerations. First, they will no longer be compensated under the denied boarding or involuntary bumping rules that are in effect for that flight. Second, a passenger who voluntarily gives up their seat is in a position to negotiate with the airline for other compensation that could be more valuable to the passenger. However, a passenger would be wise to volunteer only after the following six steps:

1. Determine whether the later flight has a confirmed reservation and whether the scheduled arrival time is acceptable.

2. Determine what will happen if the airline is unable to find a seat on the next flight or if that flight is delayed or cancelled.

3. Determine whether the airline will pay for food, lodging, or other extra costs you may incur due to taking a later flight.

4. Determine whether the compensation being offered for giving up your seat is worthwhile (hint: ask for more than what an involuntarily bumped person would get).

5. Determine what kinds of restrictions or limitations are on the travel vouchers or other compensations that are being offered.

6. Insist that any compensation be provided immediately and with any documentation needed to claim the compensation.