Overbooking - what is it and how to deal with it

If you bought tickets at a very low price or decided to buy them just before departure, there is a chance that you may face the problem of overbooking. We will tell you when this can happen, what to do in such a situation and what bonuses you can get.

Overbooking – what is it?

In short, it is when there are more passengers than seats on the plane. This can happen if the airline has sold more tickets than planned to secure against empty seats, or if there have been changes in the schedule or type of aircraft - for example, a standard Airbus A320 is replaced by a small ATR 42-600, and also when airlines need to redistribute passengers to other flights after the cancellation of the previous one. Overbooking is also common in cases of delays on connecting flights.

How to secure yourself?

Most often, passengers who buy lowest prices tickets or last minute tickets and do not check-in beforehand are in risk of not getting on the plane. Some low-cost airlines may send such passengers on overbooked flights.

If you use online check-in for your flight, you will have a better chance of getting a seat on the plane, but it is still possible that the airline will replace the aircraft at the last minute.

Large airlines have clearer criteria for overbooking. For example, Air Serbia often sends those passengers who bought tickets at the cheapest fare (usually the "Economy Basic" or "Economy Light" fares) on the next flight. Similar fares were offered by Aeroflot, but so far without success.

Will the ticket price be refunded?

If you were unable to take your seat on the flight due to the fault of the airline, it is obliged to provide you with a seat on the next flight. If you need to get to your destination as soon as possible, inform the airline staff, and if there are available seats on the nearest flights, they will try to accommodate you.

If you are waiting for the next flight, you are entitled to free food and drinks, as in the case of flight delays or cancellations. If the next flight is not scheduled until tomorrow and you have to stay in the departure city, the airline is obliged to provide you with a hotel near the airport, transfer and hot meals.

If you are flying from an EU country or Turkey, or if your airline is registered in Europe, you may be entitled to additional compensation of up to 600 euros for any case that caused the delay.
Be sure to email the airline if you want to receive compensation. They are unlikely to remember you otherwise!
So, any passenger on any flight at any airport around the world can face overbooking, it's a matter of luck. What you can control is your ability to stay connected and use mobile internet even in the most unpleasant situations. Our team recommends buying eSIM mobile internet in advance to give you peace of mind. And if you have an urgent business trip or an unexpected journey, or vice versa - a pleasant surprise, you can activate a Global bundle from fedafone, which works in the most popular destinations for travelers.