Overbooking: how passenger selection works

The first step is always the request for volunteers

The airline must first seek volunteer passengers, offering incentives (travel vouchers or money) that can increase progressively if there aren't enough candidates: a negotiation margin that's worth exploiting while waiting before accepting the first offer. Those who voluntarily agree generally waive the automatic compensation provided by law, receiving instead the compensation negotiated directly with the airline.

Involuntary denied boarding: criteria and compensation

Only if volunteers aren't enough does the airline proceed with involuntary denied boarding, selecting passengers according to internal criteria, often check-in time, fare type or frequent flyer status: the regulation doesn't impose a uniform order of exclusion at European level, leaving individual airlines to define their own criteria, except for the priority for people with disabilities and unaccompanied minors established by regulation. Those denied boarding involuntarily retain full right to standard compensation of 250, 400 or 600 euros according to distance, plus rebooking on an alternative flight and assistance during the wait. If denied boarding doesn't result from overbooking, other causes are covered in the guide on denied boarding for reasons other than overbooking.

Families and passengers with specific needs

Families with young children and passengers with specific needs are in practice excluded last from involuntary selection: a widespread practice among airlines, even if not always formally established in the general conditions of carriage.

Before accepting an offer as a volunteer, compare the proposed compensation with the actual value of the time lost and commitments at destination: you can always try to negotiate a higher amount.