Online check-in, overbooking and EU compensation rights
I couldn't find an answer to this anywhere. Everything I find about overbookings is about people standing in line at the gate, after security scrutiny, and being bumped. I have read everything about it.
I will be flying soon next week within EU with a low cost airline that is not famous for being friendly to customers. I already know that my flight is full as no one can book additional tickets. Check in is not open yet, it will open 48 hours before flight. I could get a seat and a boarding card immediately for a fee if I wanted. I have no clue whether the flight is just full or overbooked.
Suppose, for some reason, that 1) the flight is already over-booked and 2) for reasons related to work and sleeping times everyone checks in and gets a free seat before me and my group
Here comes the question: according to EU rules about denied boarding and compensation, is there any difference between 1) being denied issuance of a boarding card with a seat number at online check-in phase, and 2) being denied boarding when you hold already a valid boarding card?
I think it is unlikely that the company could just say "oh, dear passenger, you were the last checking in, we have no more seats for you, forget about your trip and fly again with us". Really unlikely. I expect some form of compensation/arrangement.
Naive answer: one could always ping the arline website around check in time and be (among the) the first. It's unlikely that all passengers will be doing the same. But I am just asking a question to better know how it works.
Best Answer
being denied issuance of a boarding card with a seat number at online check-in phase,
I've never seen or heard of someone being denied a boarding pass at check in.
It it's full, they may offer you compensation to voluntarily take a different flight, but most airlines will still let you check in and give you a boarding pass just without a specific seat. It typically says "Seat assigned at gate" or "see gate agent for seat assignment".
In this case you are expected to show up at the airport and be at the gate at the appointed time.
Airlines want to minimize the cost of overbooking. So they tend to wait until late in the game to estimate how many people will actually show up. Then they are looking for volunteers to give up their seat for compensation. This typically turns into a bit of an auction. They will offer some amount of vouchers and see who goes for it. If they can't find enough volunteers at that price they often increase the offer until the numbers work
Involuntary bumping happens only rarely since it's expensive to the airline so they rather throw a money and specifically vouchers at volunteers. If they do bump, they have rules and a pecking order to select the victims. Keep in mind that a seat assignment and a boarding pass does NOT protect you from being bumped. If their internal rules say "you're it" then "you're it". You can actually be dragged off the plane even after you have already boarded. Case in point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Express_Flight_3411_incident
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Do airlines have to compensate for overbooking?
An airline is required to compensate you after involuntarily bumping you from an oversold flight in certain situations. However, there are many situations where you are not entitled to compensation.How much do airlines have to compensate for overbooking?
Overbooked flight compensation according to US regulationsDelay at arrival0-1 hour2-4 hoursUS domestic flightNo compensation400% of one-way fare (cannot exceed $1,350)International flightNo compensation200% of one-way fare (cannot exceed $675)What happens if my flight is overbooked?
If your flight is overbooked and there is a possibility that you will be denied boarding because there are too many passengers, your rights are protected by Regulation EC 261/2004. It states that, as with flight delays and cancellations, the airline must provide you with appropriate care.How do I file a EU 261 claim?
To file a EU261 claim, you must have a valid ticket and booking confirmation. Although revenue and award tickets qualify for compensation, free or reduced fares that are not available to the public are excluded from compensation.Traveling soon? Check your passenger rights
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