Denied boarding? You may be owed up to €600.
If you were refused boarding against your will on a flight you had a confirmed seat on, EU261 or UK261 may entitle you to fixed compensation on top of a refund or rerouting and care.
Checked by the FlightCompensations editorial team
Last updated 1 July 2026 · Editorial & corrections policy
Direct answer
Key takeaways
- Involuntary denied boarding (being bumped) is compensable; voluntarily giving up your seat for a benefit is not.
- You need a confirmed reservation and to have checked in / arrived at the gate on time.
- Amounts are €250, €400 or €600 based on flight distance, and are due immediately, not just as a refund.
- You also keep the right to a refund or rerouting and to care (meals, and accommodation where needed).
- Refusal for valid reasons — missing documents, safety, health, or late gate arrival — is not compensable denied boarding.
What qualifies — and what usually doesn't
May qualify for compensation
- You had a confirmed booking on the flight.
- You presented for boarding on time (met the check-in and gate deadlines).
- You were refused boarding against your will, typically because the flight was oversold or overbooked.
- The flight departed the EU/EEA or UK, or arrived there on an EU/UK carrier.
- There were no reasonable grounds — such as documents, health or safety — for the refusal.
Usually excluded
- You volunteered to surrender your seat in return for benefits (compensation rights are then replaced by the agreed deal).
- You were reasonably refused because of missing or invalid travel documents (passport, visa).
- Boarding was refused on health, safety or security grounds, or by order of authorities.
- You arrived at the gate after the stated boarding deadline or failed to check in on time.
- The flight had no qualifying EU/EEA or UK connection under the regulations.
Rights by jurisdiction
EU Regulation 261/2004 requires airlines to first call for volunteers, then pay fixed compensation to any passenger denied boarding involuntarily who had a confirmed booking and presented on time.
Compensation of €250–€600 by distance is due in addition to a refund or rerouting and to care. The Court has confirmed denied-boarding rights are not limited to overbooking and can extend to other operational reasons for refusing a confirmed passenger.
Compensation amounts
EU261 / UK261 denied-boarding compensation by flight distance
| Flight | Amount |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 km | €250 |
| 1,500–3,500 km (and all intra-EU over 1,500 km) | €400 |
| Over 3,500 km | €600 |
Amounts may be reduced by 50% where rerouting gets you to your destination within limited extra time under Article 7(2). Per passenger and illustrative until verified.
What to do
- 1Ask the airline, in writing, for the reason you were denied boarding.
- 2Keep your boarding pass and booking confirmation as proof of a confirmed seat.
- 3Do not sign away your rights before understanding what a 'volunteer' deal gives up.
- 4Note the times you checked in and reached the gate.
- 5Keep receipts for meals, refreshments and any accommodation.
Documents to keep
How to claim
- 1Enter your flight number and date to get a preliminary assessment.
- 2Tell us whether you were bumped involuntarily or volunteered, and add your documents.
- 3We prepare and submit the claim to the airline and follow up.
- 4If compensation is recovered, you receive the airline's award and pay our fixed €39 fee.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between volunteering and being bumped?
If you accept a benefit to give up your seat, you volunteered and take that deal instead of fixed compensation. If you were refused against your will despite a confirmed seat, that is involuntary denied boarding, which may be compensable.
I was refused because my passport was expiring — can I claim?
Generally no. Refusal on reasonable grounds such as missing or invalid travel documents, health, safety or security is not compensable denied boarding.
Do I still get a refund or another flight?
Yes. Denied-boarding compensation is separate from your right to choose a refund or rerouting, and to receive care such as meals while you wait.
I arrived at the gate late and was refused — does that count?
Usually not. If you missed the boarding deadline or did not check in on time, the refusal is generally not treated as compensable denied boarding.
Check if your flight qualifies
Free in about 15 seconds. You receive the airline's compensation and pay only our fixed €39 fee after success.
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