Am I entitled to compensation if denied boarding due to overbooking?

How the answer differs across 9 jurisdictions

The Short Answer

If bumped from an overbooked flight in Canada, you have the right to compensation, rebooking, and care (e.g., meals, accommodation) under the Air Passenger Protection Regulations — unless the denial was due to safety, security, or medical reasons.

$1,200
Max compensation
3+ hrs
Delay threshold
48 hrs
Rebooking window
2019
Regulations start
AustraliaFull article
The Short Answer

If denied boarding due to overbooking on a flight within or departing Australia, you are entitled to care (meals, accommodation, communications) and compensation of up to $1,300 depending on flight distance — unless the airline can prove extraordinary circumstances.

$1,300
Max compensation
4+ hrs
Delay threshold
2 hrs
Care entitlement
7 days
Compensation deadline
The Short Answer

If you were denied boarding due to overbooking on a flight departing from or arriving in Ireland, you are entitled to compensation and assistance under EU Regulation 261/2004 — not the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1936, which does not address passenger rights for overbooking.

€250–€600
Compensation amount
2 hrs+
Delay threshold
7 days
Claim deadline
EU flights
Applies to
European UnionFull article
The Short Answer

You have the right to care (meals, refreshments, accommodation if delayed overnight), a choice between reimbursement or re-routing, and fixed compensation — €250–€600 depending on flight distance — unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances.

€250
Compensation for short-haul flights
€400
Compensation for medium-haul flights
€600
Compensation for long-haul flights
2h+
Delay threshold for care rights
The Short Answer

If an airline overbooks and denies you boarding in India, you are entitled to compensation of ₹20,000 for domestic flights and ₹40,000 for international flights, plus care (meals, calls, accommodation) and rebooking or refund — as per the Civil Aviation Requirements.

₹20,000
Domestic comp
₹40,000
Int'l comp
2 hrs
Care start time
7 days
Comp deadline
SingaporeFull article
The Short Answer

Yes, airlines in Singapore may deny boarding due to overbooking, but they must follow mandatory compensation and assistance rules under the Carriage by Air Act.

Cap. 32A
Governing Act
2001 Rev Ed
Current Edition
s. 3
Relevant Section
Compensation
Required by Law
South KoreaFull article
The Short Answer

If denied boarding due to overbooking on a flight departing from or arriving in South Korea, you are entitled to compensation of up to ₩400,000, plus care (meals, accommodation, communications) and re-routing assistance under the Aviation Business Act.

₩400,000
Max compensation
2 hrs
Care trigger
4 hrs
Compensation trigger
7 days
Claim deadline
The Short Answer

If you were denied boarding due to overbooking on a flight departing from or arriving in the UK, you may be entitled to fixed compensation of £220–£580 depending on flight distance, plus care (meals, refreshments, accommodation and communications) and reimbursement or re-routing.

£220
Short-haul flights
£350
Medium-haul flights
£580
Long-haul flights
2 hrs+
Care entitlement
US FederalFull article
The Short Answer

If you're involuntarily bumped from an overbooked U.S. domestic flight, you're entitled to cash compensation based on the delay: $0 if rebooked within 1 hour, 200% of your one-way fare (up to $1,175) for delays of 1–2 hours, or 400% of your one-way fare (up to $2,350) for delays over 2 hours.

$2,350 max
Max compensation
2+ hours
Delay threshold
400%
Highest payout rate
1 hour
No-compensation window

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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.