Guide
Denied boarding compensation by region
What the published rules say if you are bumped from an oversold flight in the UK, the EU, the US and Canada, and why volunteering changes the answer.
We are not lawyers. This is legal information, not legal advice, and we are not liable for how you use it. Official sources and the decisions of regulators and courts come first. Read the disclaimer.
The short version
According to the published rules, being denied boarding on an oversold flight is treated differently from a delay. Whether you volunteered, how late you reach your destination and which country's rules apply all change what you can ask for.
Volunteering is different
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, if you volunteer to be bumped, you and the airline agree the compensation between you. Airlines often announce an offer at the gate, in cash or vouchers. You are still entitled to an alternative flight or a refund. If you are bumped without agreeing, and you checked in on time, fixed compensation applies.
United Kingdom
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the amounts depend on the flight length and how much later you arrive.
| Flight length | You arrive | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,500 km | 2 hours or more later | £220 |
| Under 1,500 km | Less than 2 hours later | £110 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | 3 hours or more later | £350 |
| 1,500 to 3,500 km | Less than 3 hours later | £175 |
| Over 3,500 km | 4 hours or more later | £520 |
| Over 3,500 km | Less than 4 hours later | £260 |
The airline must also let you choose between an alternative flight and a refund, and look after you while you wait.
European Union
According to Your Europe, EU rules distinguish between voluntary and involuntary denied boarding. Compensation under EU rules is up to €600 depending on the flight distance, and care during the wait includes meals, drinks and communication facilities. According to FIA Region I, the standard amounts are €250, €400 and €600 by distance.
United States
According to the US Department of Transportation, involuntary denied boarding on an oversold flight pays 200% of the one-way fare (airlines may cap it at $1,075) or 400% (capped at $2,150), depending on how late you arrive. It applies to domestic flights and international flights leaving the United States.
Canada
According to the Canadian Transportation Agency, denied boarding compensation depends on how late you reach your destination. We do not state the amounts here because we have not verified them from the official page. Use the link in the sources.
Next steps
Keep your booking confirmation and boarding pass, ask the airline to state the reason in writing, and claim from the airline first. The flight claim guide has wording for each step.
Sources.
Checked 02 Oct 2026. Where we could only find press reports, the text says so.
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