Air France overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.
What is flight overbooking? When does it happen?
How can you get denied boarding? Flight overbooking is a very common practice. It is when airlines sell more tickets than there are seats on the plane. This is done to ensure that there are no empty seats at take off. Because there are always no-shows. But when all people turn up, there are not enough space, and people with confirmed tickets have to be denied boarding. Whenever that happens, an airline is obliged to pay EU denied boarding compensation.
How much is overbooking compensation? How can you get it?
There are two ways you can claim this compensation.
1. Air France Overbooking Compensation: EU Denied Boarding Regulations
Have you been denied boarding by Air France?
What are your rights in the event of denied boarding? In which situations you are entitled to denied boarding compensation? When it comes to denied boarding in the EU, the regulations state that every passenger who is involuntarily denied boarding due to overbooking, can get denied boarding compensation from Air France.
If you’re flying to or from Europe with Air France, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you are entitled to flight overbooking compensation (EU denied boarding compensation) up to €600.
This only applies to overbookings. If you have been denied because of some other reason (like visa or passport issues), you can’t get this compensation. Also you won’t be compensated if you voluntarily give up your seat.
Read more: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; Regulation UK261
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
1.1 Voluntary Denied Boarding
What is voluntary denied boarding?
Yes, there are different types of denied boarding.
Your chances of getting compensation depends on the type of denied boarding. If you are denied boarding voluntarily, you can’t get denied boarding compensation. How does the voluntary denied boarding work?
Air France has accepted more bookings for a particular flight than there is room for. What happens if too many people come? If this happens, you may be asked to give up your seat in exchange for a new flight and instant compensation in the form of vouchers or cash. If the new flight departs only on the next day, you will be offered a free hotel stay. If you are offered compensation like this and you accept it, it’s called voluntary boarding denial.
In this case, you aren’t entitled to denied boarding compensation from Air France.
You don’t have to agree to an offer like this.
1.2 Involuntary Denied Boarding
There are situations when passengers don’t have a choice.
If you are bumped from the plane involuntarily, this is a complete different situation.
How a thing like this can happen? The flight is overbooked, and everyone shows up for their flight. But there are not enough volunteers who will give up their seats. So that’s when the airline will bump some passengers involuntarily. If this happens to you, you can get denied boarding compensation from Air France.
What else?
- The airline must provide you with a new flight or give you a full refund for the flight;
- In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
- You are entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger.
* Air France must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If you have to wait overnight, Air France must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.
1.3 Right to Care
All passengers travelling with Air France have a right to care.
If you have to wait at the airport for a new flight, you have a right to receive care. In case of Air France, the EU Flight Compensation Regulations apply to most of its flights to and from the EU and the UK. For example, if you are denied boarding, and you have to wait at the airport, you have a right to receive care from Air France. It applies to all situations when you have to wait for 3 or more hours extra.
You have a right to care also in case of flight delay and cancellation.
What does it mean for you as a passenger?
Air France must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight is leaving only on the next day, free accommodation and free transfer must be offered by Air France.
Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.
2. How to Claim Air France Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?
You can claim compensation yourself.
The other option is to work with professionals.
Claiming compensation from Air France yourself. It’s quite easy. Call or contact the airline using the contact form on their website. Alternatively, you can use social media channels. Request denied boarding compensation Air France owes you. Refer to the above mentioned EU Flight Compensation regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Keep in mind that it may take a few months until you receive the money.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
Register your Air France compensation claim with the help of a flight compensation company. In this case, you don’t have to do much. You will need to fill and sign one form. And that’s it. The compensation company will pursue compensation on your behalf. Our partners offer such services.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Read more:
- How to Claim Air France Compensation?
- Air France Missed Connection Compensation
- Your Air France Compensation Claim Is Rejected. What’s Next?
2.1 How Long Does It Take?
It depends on a number of factors.
Like the time of the year and country you are flying from.
If the airline cooperates, you can get compensation in a couple of months. Or 3 months. Something like that. Even if everything goes smoothly, it’s not a short process.
But quite often airlines aren’t that cooperative, and refuse to pay compensation. It takes a few extra emails to persuade them. If you are not successful, you will need to take the case to a national enforcement body or court. If that’s the case, it will add at least a couple of months (sometimes even 6) to the whole process.
Even though it’s not a difficult process, it certain is quite a long one. If this sounds like a hassle, work with a compensation claim company.
3. How Much Can You Claim?
In the EU compensation amounts are fixed.
In most situations they range from €250 to €600.
Here is how you can calculate Air France compensation yourself:
When your destination is within the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
When your destination is outside the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
€600
If the distance of your flight is more than 3,500 km
There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).
3.1 Air France Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?
According to the law, compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.
Air France, just like most airlines, may initially offer you a voucher refund instead of money. Request a bank transfer. According to the EU laws, all refunds and compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer. Air France voucher, no matter the value, is not the same as compensation or refund.
Air France Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ
My ticket was discounted/cheap. Can I still get compensation?
Yes, because the price of the ticket doesn’t matter.
You get compensated because you were inconvenienced. If you are entitled to 600 euro compensation, you will get 600 euro, even if your ticket was very cheap.
Do I need to have travel insurance in order to claim compensation?
No, you don’t.
According to the EU Regulations, any affected passenger can get compensation. If you are entitled to compensation, you don’t have to provide any insurance papers in order to get it.
Can my child/baby get compensation from Air France?
Yes.
The age of the passenger doesn’t matter. Kids can get compensation, too. Even infants who have a special infant ticket. If you are entitled to compensation of 600 euro, your child/baby will be too.
Can I claim compensation for another person (friend, relative, family member)?
Yes, you can.
Even if you weren’t on that flight yourself.
Just ask them to sign any papers Air France or flight compensation company asks them to sign. Also they will need to provide boarding pass and passport copy.
How far back can I claim compensation?
It depends on the laws of the country.
Many European countries allow travelers to claim compensation even for old flights, flights that were 2 or even 3 years ago. However, we would recommend you not to wait that long. Make a claim as soon as you return from your trip.
What to do if Air France is refusing to pay compensation?
Air France is refusing to pay compensation even though you are entitled to it.
What should you do? Is it possible to receive compensation from Air France. Yes. There are two ways how you can proceed.
The best way is to hand over your case to a flight compensation company. They will claim compensation on your behalf. Alternatively, you may contact the respective national enforcement body and ask them to help solve your case. There are national enforcement bodies in all the EU Member states.
Problems With Visa or Passport
I was denied boarding due to issues with my visa / passport. Am I entitled to compensation?
No.
You were denied boarding due to your own fault. Why would an airline compensate you for that? It is your responsibility to check visa requirements for your destination. Also you have to check your passport’s validity before traveling.
You can only get compensation if you have been involuntarily denied boarding because of overbooking.
EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists
I’m flying to the EU from a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If you are flying with Air France, then yes, you can.
All Air France flights are protected under the EU law.
If the disrupted Air France flight departs from a country outside the EU, you can get compensation. As long as it’s a 3+ hour delay due to the airline’s fault.
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
With Air France you can.
I am not a EU citizen. Can I claim compensation?
Yes.
The EU Regulation 261/2004 protect all passengers — tourists from overseas and Europeans alike.
Other Situations
Air France provided me with a free hotel stay and a free flight to my destination. Can I still get compensated for the delay?
Yes.
If your flight is disrupted, and it is due to the airline’s fault, you can get compensation from the airline. The free hotel stay and free flight doesn’t affect your chances of getting it.
Air France took me to my destination. Can I still get compensation?
You might.
If you arrive at least 3 hours later than scheduled, and the delay is due to the fault of the airline, you can get flight compensation from Air France. Even if you were given a new ticket to your destination, and received a free hotel stay, you are still entitled to compensation.
What is your experience? Have you ever received Air France overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about Air France compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.