UKI was bumped from my overbooked flight. What compensation am I owed?
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.
What the Law Says
Your rights when denied boarding due to overbooking are set out in UK law, which retains the EU regulation that applied before Brexit. The rules apply to all flights departing from a UK airport, and to flights arriving in the UK operated by a UK carrier.
You are entitled to compensation if you were denied boarding against your will — i.e., you had a confirmed booking, checked in on time, and were ready to travel — and the airline overbooked the flight. This is called 'involuntary denied boarding'.
Compensation depends on the flight distance: £220 for flights of 1,500 km or less; £350 for intra-EU flights over 1,500 km and all other flights between 1,500–3,500 km; and £580 for all other flights over 3,500 km.
You are also entitled to care — including meals, refreshments, two free phone calls or emails, and — if delayed overnight — hotel accommodation and transport — from the moment your wait exceeds two hours (for short-haul) or three/four hours (for longer flights).
You may also choose either a full refund (plus, if relevant, return transport to your first point of departure) or re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity.
Statutory TextWhere a passenger is denied boarding against his or her will, the operating air carrier shall pay compensation in accordance with Article 7.
— The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, reg. 4 — Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained
Statutory Text€250 for all flights of 1 500 kilometres or less; €400 for all intra-Community flights of more than 1 500 kilometres and for all other flights between 1 500 and 3 500 kilometres; €600 for all flights not falling under (a) or (b).
— Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Art. 7(1) — Compensation for denied boarding (retained in UK law)
Statutory TextThe operating air carrier shall provide passengers with care in accordance with Article 9.
— The Air Passenger Rights and Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, reg. 4 — Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as retained
What to Do
Ask the airline for a written statement explaining why you were denied boarding and confirming your right to compensation and care.
Keep all receipts for meals, accommodation, transport and communications — you can claim these back.
Submit a written claim to the airline within 6 months (though legally you have up to 3 years to go to court).
If the airline refuses or doesn’t respond within 2 months, escalate to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) via their online complaints form.
As a last resort, issue a claim in the County Court using Money Claim Online (MCOL).
Sources
Same Question, Other Jurisdictions
Canada
Australia
Ireland
European Union
India
Singapore
South Korea
US FederalNot 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: 2026-06-08.