Denied boarding

February 28, 2024

When an operating air carrier reasonably expects to deny boarding on a flight, it shall first call for volunteers to surrender their reservations in exchange for benefits under conditions to be agreed between the passenger concerned and the operating air carrier.

Right to compensation

In 2009 November 19th Court of Justice of the European Union in cases C-402/07 ir C-432/07 ruled, that air carriers are obliged to compensate their customers in the event of significant delay in flights (3 or more hours later).

According to EU regulations standard compensations can be paid:

  • 250* euro for all flights not exceeding 1 500 kilometers;
  • 400* euro for all flights within the EU longer than 1 500 kilometers and for all other flights between 1 500 and 3 500 kilometers;
  • 600* euro for all other flights, covered by EU regulations.

* The amount of compensation payable may be reduced by 50% if the rerouting offered allows you to arrive at your final destination close to the original scheduled arrival time (within two to four hours depending on the distance of the flight).

The approximate distance between the airports you can check by visiting this site: http://www.airportcitycodes.com/calcform.aspx

Right to care

Regardless of the cause of the denied boarding, you always have the right to receive service and assistance if your flight is denied. The airline have to let you use the phone to call someone or to send a text message, or e-mail, if you wish to do so. They should also offer you food and drinks.

Should it be necessary to stay overnight, the airline is required to pay for accommodation and the transport between the airport and the hotel. You do have to limit your costs, however.

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

  • Reimbursement within seven days, of the full cost of the ticket at the price at which it was bought, for the part or parts of the journey not made, and for the part or parts already made if the flight is no longer serving any purpose in relation to the passenger’s original travel plan, together with, when relevant, a return flight to the first point of departure, at the earliest opportunity;
  • Re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity;
  • Re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at a later date at the passenger’s convenience, subject to availability of seats.