Civil aviation data and new research show that 6.6 million passengers are denied flights annually, even with valid tickets and passports. This is due to an overbooking flight from the airline.
Overbooking is an incredibly common practice selling more tickets than airplane seats. Describers who don't show up for flights are often a frequent strategy, but in many cases, too many passengers arrive. “We've got a lot of money to help you,” said Rhys Jones, travel insurance expert at Go.comPare. So, if this situation needs to present itself, what can you do to prevent yourself from being shortened?
Jones said the first thing to do is to ensure the airline is that the reason you were denied your flight is due to overbooking. This prevents future disputes, misunderstandings, and potential legal issues.
The next step is to discuss the airline's intentions to bring the trip back to course. Are they going to support you? Is there any compensation for this inconvenience? Ask these questions as you are within your rights. They should also try to book you on another flight as soon as possible.
Jones said: “Don't forget to keep all relevant documents, including boarding passes, communications from the airline, and receipts for accommodation and meal costs,” because the airline is obligated to compensate for these costs. He continued. “Be aware that you can complain to the airline if necessary and even if that hasn't been resolved, file a complaint with the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme.”
A recent study by go.compare analyzed Civil Aviation Authority figures and survey data to estimate the number of passengers affected by the common practice of overbooking each year. Overall, it is estimated that around 20 million passengers per year have felt the impact of overbooking over the past decade.
About a third of affected passengers told the insurance comparison site they couldn't get on their flight.
As mentioned before, airlines are legally required to manage affected travelers by providing alternative flights, compensation and assistance. However, only 84% of those denied boarding were booked for another flight, meaning that around 1 million passengers per year did not relocate the flight. Plus, almost two-thirds of these passengers say they have lost money as a result, and less than half claim travel insurance.
This is why Go.comPare is urging passengers to understand their rights if this happens when they travel this year.
