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Questions tagged [overbooking]

The practice of selling more goods or services than are expected to be available, usually in anticipation that some of those so entitled will cancel or fail to attend and thus supply will be more fully utilised.

Overselling.

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What rules govern forced removal from flights (due to overbooking)?

I was recently surprised to see a man roughly and forcibly physically removed from an overbooked flight by three police officers because his flight was overbooked. He was reportedly a doctor who needed to see patients the next morning, so he did…
WBT
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How does overbooking work with reserved seats?

I never understood how overbooking of flights actually works. I understand the economic principle, just not how its practically done. For the most part there are two types of airlines, low cost carriers and full service airlines. On full service…
Max Binnewies
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Why would an airline put 15 passengers at once on standby?

I've checked into a flight this morning with Delta, only to see a dreaded "Seat At Gate" message on my boarding pass. I am aware that airlines routinely overbook their flights, so normally I'd expect that 3-4 passengers would be put on standby when…
JonathanReez
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What is overbooking (of flights), and why do airlines all seem to do it?

I know that they want to "fill every seat." If you take this LITERALLY, then you'd want to overbook, because of the statistical percentage of "no shows." That, of course, leads to "bumping" when more passengers actually show up than the statistical…
Tom Au
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Which airline companies never overbook their flights?

Is there a reliable list of airway companies that overbook flights? And, is there any shorter list of companies that do overbook, but when too many passengers show up, they deal fairly with it? I had recently this problem with Iberia and was not…
Derik Gill
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Travel agency told me my hotel is overbooked, what are my rights?

Since this question will probably involve some laws, I will state that I am German and I was booking via an online site which is mediating for travel agencies. I booked a hotel on May 15 for a one week stay in Italy at Lake Garda (June 19 to 26). On…
Ian
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Can you be involuntarily denied boarding if you already checked in AND already have your seat assigned?

Some companies allow you to check-in online prior to the flight, assigning you the seats. Is it still somehow possible to be involuntarily bounced, despite having already checked in and already having an assigned seat? This assuming you don't arrive…
Edwardian Servants
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Choosing seats when checking-in online if all normal economy seats are occupied

Flying some airlines such as KLM you can only choose seats for free while checking-in online on the day before. The economy seats in KLM's case are divided in normal, favourite, extra legroom and economy comfort. I wonder, if all the normal economy…
user61718
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In the EU, what rights do you have if your rental car agency fails to deliver?

Several times in the past few years, I have made a confirmed, paid booking for a rental car, and turned up at the appointed pick-up time only to be told that no cars are available. The rental agency would then tell me that my only options are to…
Psychonaut
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Does Norwegian overbook flights?

I heard and read about other airlines but not about Norwegian. I read their website and searched for articles, blog posts but there is nothing I can find. Do they overbook flights?
Dmytro Chasovskyi
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Have I been bounced off an AirTransat flight?

A month ago I booked a connecting return flight MAN>TORONTO>HOLGUIN departing 23rd March with Air Transat. I’ve just had a call from the airline to say that due to a schedule change the outbound flight is no longer available and I can either accept…
Traveller
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Rules/guidelines about rerouting flights in the EU

We recently got denied boarding due to the carrier overbooking the flight. At the airport there was no assistance available at all. The only way to contact the airline was via email and they could only offer a flight 5 days later. So - we went home,…
Stephen Brown
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Involuntary Bumping on United

Upon checking in to my flight tomorrow, UA 2372 from IAD to LAS, I was greeted by a bidding system. I assumed United had quite the full flight or had overbooked and wanted for people to go on alternates, but I refused. In the scenario that United…
Andrew Liu
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Claim against AirEuropa (migrated from Law site)

My friend and I were supposed to fly with AirEuropa from Tel Aviv to Madrid early in the morning. Two other friends were to flight to Madrid from another country and to wait for us there. Then, taking our car in the airport we planned to drive to…
telavivian
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Overbooking: compensation for a lost hotel night?

I and my girlfriend were booked on the Wizz Air flight from BUD to MLA. At the gate, I was denied boarding due to overbooking. My girlfriend refused to fly alone and we went to the airline counter where I received a new STBY boarding pass and the…
Andrey
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