What Is Overbooking and How to Handle It

1. What Is Overbooking
2. What to Do in Case of Overbooking
3. Compensation for Overbooking
4. How to Avoid Overbooking

There Are Many of You, but Only One Plane.

You did everything right: bought a ticket, checked in, and are eagerly waiting to board. What could possibly go wrong? Unfortunately, a paid flight doesn’t guarantee you’ll actually fly—sometimes airlines face overbooking. Here’s what it means and how to handle it.

What Is Overbooking

Overbooking occurs when more passengers show up for a flight than there are seats available. Airlines sometimes intentionally sell extra tickets to maximize occupancy and protect themselves against no-shows. Overbooking can also happen if the airline suddenly changes the aircraft—for example, swapping an Airbus A320 (180 seats) for a Sukhoi Superjet (100 seats). Schedule disruptions, like a canceled connecting flight, can also lead to passengers being redistributed across flights. Overbooking may even occur if your inbound flight is delayed.

What’s the Difference Between a Connecting Flight and a Layover?

In Ukraine, the term “overbooking” isn’t officially recognized—it’s mostly used by foreign airlines. At check-in, staff might mention booking issues or a technical glitch. However, your rights remain the same as passengers facing overbooking elsewhere.

What to Do in Case of Overbooking

Don’t panic: at the very least, you *will* fly, as the mistake is the airline’s responsibility. The carrier must provide a seat on another flight. If you need to reach your destination as soon as possible, inform the airline staff so they can book you on the earliest available flight.

Once, I bought a suspiciously cheap Ryanair ticket to Barcelona just 5 hours before departure. I arrived at the airport an hour early, but the check-in system glitched for me and a few others. In the end, we didn’t fly. Ryanair offered another flight with compensation, but I urgently needed to be in Barcelona. The staff understood and found me a seat on the next flight from Dublin.

Compensation for Overbooking

While waiting for your new flight, you’re entitled to meals and drinks—just like with any delay or cancellation. If the next available flight is the next day, and you’re stranded, the airline must provide a hotel near the airport, transfers, and hot meals.

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How to Get Compensation for Flight Delays or Cancellations

For flights departing from the EU or Turkey (or operated by an EU-registered airline), you may be eligible for additional compensation of up to €600 if your arrival is delayed. To claim it, file a complaint—for example, through services like Compensair.

My relatives received €400 for a canceled flight from Hurghada to Istanbul in 2020. They applied via Compensair, which initially accepted but later rejected their claim, stating the flight wasn’t within the EU or Turkey. Surprisingly, two years later, a manager contacted them via messenger, reopened the case, and eventually paid out.

Filing a claim is straightforward: fill out the form with flight details, describe the situation thoroughly, and provide passport and contact info. Then, track your claim status online.

How to Avoid Overbooking

Those most at risk are passengers who buy last-minute cheap tickets from low-cost carriers and don’t check in early. If online check-in is available, use it to secure your seat (though remember the aircraft could still be swapped last-minute).

Solo travelers are also more vulnerable to overbooking. Even if you’re flying with friends or family but booked separately, the system may treat you as individual travelers—meaning someone in your group might end up on a different flight. To prevent this, book all tickets under a single reservation.