Can I receive compensation if my flight is cancelled due to overbooked seats?
April 9, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Fred Kock
Dear travel lawyer,
I am reaching out to you as I recently had an unpleasant experience with a flight cancellation due to overbooking and am wondering if I am entitled to compensation.
The situation was as follows: I had booked a flight for my business trip to London and arrived at the airport on time to check in. However, just before boarding, I was informed that my flight was cancelled due to overbooked seats. I was naturally very upset and had to reschedule my business trip, leading to additional costs and inconvenience.
My concern now is whether I have a right to compensation in this situation. I have heard that passengers can receive compensation of up to 600 euros in case of flight cancellations due to overbooked seats according to EU Regulation 261/2004. Is this true and how can I claim this compensation?
I would greatly appreciate your assessment of my situation and request information on my rights as a passenger in this case. Are there specific steps I need to take to receive compensation? Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Friedhelm Bahr
Dear Mr. Bahr,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your situation with the flight cancellation due to overbooked seats. I am sorry to hear that you had to experience this unpleasant situation. I would like to provide you with some information about your rights as a passenger and possible steps to claim compensation.
According to EU Regulation 261/2004, passengers are indeed entitled to compensation of up to 600 euros in case of flight cancellations due to overbooked seats. This regulation protects the rights of air passengers and states that airlines must pay compensation in such cases, unless they can prove that the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided even with reasonable measures.
In your case, it appears that the cancellation was due to overbooked seats, which is not considered an extraordinary circumstance. Therefore, you are generally entitled to compensation. To claim this compensation, you should first contact the airline and make your claims in writing. You can refer to EU Regulation 261/2004 and demand payment of compensation up to 600 euros.
If the airline refuses to pay you the compensation, you can seek assistance from a mediation body or a travel law attorney to enforce your rights. It is important to keep all relevant documents such as booking confirmations, tickets, and communication with the airline to document your case.
I hope this information helps you in claiming your compensation. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Best regards,
Fred Kock
Travel Law Attorney
