Flybe overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.
How much is flight overbooking compensation? Rules? How to get it?
What is overbooking and denied boarding? Overbooking is when airline sells more tickets than there are seats. If everyone shows up, someone is denied boarding. Overbooking of flights is a common practice nowadays. In Europe, there are laws that protect passengers in the event of denied boarding. If you are denied boarding due to overbooking, Flybe is obliged to pay EU denied boarding compensation.
There are two ways you can claim this compensation.
1. Flybe Overbooking Compensation: UK / EU Denied Boarding Regulations
Have you been denied boarding by Flybe?
What are your rights in this situation? In which cases can you get compensation from Flybe? When it comes to denied boarding due to overbooking, the rules are very simple – if you are denied boarding, you can get compensation.
If you’re flying from Europe with Flybe, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you will entitled to flight overbooking compensation (EU denied boarding compensation) up to €600. If you are flying from, to or within the UK with Flybe, and you are denied boarding due to airline overbooking— you will entitled to the UK denied boarding compensation up to £520.
This only applies to overbookings.
The UK and EU regulations apply only to situations when you are denied boarding due to overbooking. You won’t be entitled to compensation if you are denied boarding due to visa and travel document issues. Also you can’t get compensation if you give up your seat voluntarily (voluntary denied boarding).
Read more: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; Regulation UK261
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
1.1 Voluntary Denied Boarding
What is voluntary denied boarding?
Yes, there are different types of denied boarding.
Your flight is overbooked. The airline has sold more tickets than there are seats. But unfortunately everyone has showed up. The airline now has to find “volunteers” that will give up their seats and travel later, on a different flight. These volunteers might also be given food coupons, instant compensation in the form of vouchers or cash, and, in case of a long wait, a free hotel stay. This is called voluntary boarding denial.
If you are offered this, and you agree, you can’t get compensation from Flybe.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to agree to an offer like this.
1.2 Involuntary Denied Boarding
There are situations when passengers don’t have a choice.
There are not enough volunteers. Or there are no volunteers at all. Then the airline will bump passengers involuntarily. If that’s what has happened to you, know that it’s called involuntarily denied boarding. In this case, you can get denied boarding compensation from Flybe.
What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?
- Flybe must provide you with a replacement flight or give you a full refund;
- In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
- You are entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger.
* Flybe must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If you have to wait overnight, Flybe must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.
1.3 Right to Care
All passengers travelling with Flybe have a right to care.
If you have been denied boarding, and you have to wait at the airport for your replacement flight, you can get certain services from the airline for free. And it doesn’t matter if you were denied boarding voluntarily or not. All passengers who were denied boarding due to overbooking have a right to care. These are the laws in the EU/UK.
If you have to wait 3+ hours, you have a right to receive care from Flybe.
It also applies to flight delays and cancellations.
What does it mean for you as a passenger?
Flybe must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight is leaving on the next day, free accommodation and free transfer must be offered too.
Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.
2. How to Claim Flybe Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?
You can claim compensation yourself.
The other option is to work with professionals.
Claiming compensation from Flybe yourself. Use the website of Flybe to contact their customer support center. Fill in the contact form and give all the information about your flight. Refer to the above mentioned EU Flight Compensation regulation (EC) No 261/2004 or the UK Regulation 261. Request the denied boarding Flybe owes you. Keep in mind that it might take a few months until you get your compensation.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
Register your Flybe compensation claim with the help of a flight compensation company. In this case, you don’t have to do much. You have to fill in and sign one form. That’s it! The rest will be done by the company. Our partners offer such services.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
2.1 How Long Does It Take?
It depends on the situation.
For most people, it takes a few months to receive compensation from Flybe. If you are lucky, it could take less, something like 2-3 months. If you aren’t that lucky, and the airline refuses your claim, it will take longer. You will need to take your claim to court, or work with a national enforcement body. As you see, it takes time and you have to be persistent.
If all of this sounds like a hassle, work with a flight compensation company.
3. How Much Can You Claim?
In the EU and the UK compensation amounts are fixed.
In most situations they range from €250 to €600.
Here is how you can calculate Flybe compensation yourself:
When your destination is within the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
When your destination is outside the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
€600
If the distance of your flight is more than 3,500 km
If you are claiming compensation yourself, ask the right compensation amount. Otherwise, you might be offered less. Do not accept a smaller compensation than you are entitled to.
There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).
3.1 Flybe Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?
According to the law, compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.
If you are offered a Flybe voucher compensation, you don’t have to agree to it.
Flybe, just like most airlines, may initially offer you a voucher refund instead of money. Request a bank transfer, if you don’t want a coupon of any sort.
Flybe Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ
Can I get compensation if my flight ticket was very cheap?
Yes.
The price of the ticket doesn’t matter. Because you are compensated for the inconvenience. If you are entitled to €600 compensation, you will get €600, even if your ticket was very cheap. It doesn’t matter, if the ticket cost €5, €50 or €500. If you are entitled to compensation, you can get it.
Can I claim compensation even if I don’t have travel insurance?
Yes, absolutely.
According to the Regulation EC 261/2004 (and Regulation UK261), you can claim compensation even if you don’t have insurance.
You don’t have to provide insurance papers when claiming compensation.
Can my kid/baby get compensation from Flybe?
Yes.
The age of the passenger doesn’t matter. Kids and babies can get compensation, too. Even infants with a special infant ticket. If you are entitled to compensation, your child/baby will be too. Your child/baby will get the same amount as you.
These are the laws in the EU and UK.
Can I claim compensation for my friend, relative or family member?
Yes, you can.
Even if you weren’t on that flight yourself.
Ask your friend or family member to provide you with their boarding pass and passport copy. Also they will have to sign any documents Flybe may ask to sign. If you decide to work with a flight compensation company, there’s only one document to sign.
How far back can I claim compensation?
It depends on the laws of the country.
In many countries in Europe, it is possible to claim compensation for old flights too. If your flight was 2 or 3 years ago, it’s possible you still might be able to claim compensation for that flight. However, for the best results, we would recommend you to make a claim as soon as you return from your trip.
What to do if Flybe is refusing to pay compensation?
Flybe is refusing to pay compensation even though you are entitled to it.
What can you do? There are two ways how you can proceed. If you don’t want to deal with this anymore, the best way is to hand your case over to a flight compensation company for them to finish the process.
Alternatively, you may contact the respective national enforcement body and ask them to help solve your case. There are national enforcement bodies in all the EU Member states. If your flight departed from a third country, contact the NEB of your destination country.
Visa and Passport Issues
I was denied boarding due to issues with my visa / passport. Can I get compensation?
No.
You are only entitled to compensation if you have been involuntarily denied boarding because of overbooking.
If there are problems with your passport (expiration date too near) or visa, and you are denied boarding because of that, you can’t get compensation.
EU – Non-EU Flights, Regulation UK261, Tourists
I’m flying to the EU from a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If you’re flying with Flybe then yes, you can.
In case of Flybe, you are protected under the UK and EU laws. Even if your flight is outside the EU/UK, you are still protected.
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
With Flybe you can.
I am not a EU/UK citizen. Can I get compensation?
Yes.
The UK Regulation UK261 and Regulation 261/2004 protect all passengers, no matter the nationality.
Other Situations
Flybe provided me with a free hotel room and a free flight to my destination. Can I still get compensation?
Yes.
You are entitled to both right to care and a new flight to your destination.
Plus, if you are entitled to it, to compensation.
Flybe took me to my destination. Can I still get compensated?
You might.
If you arrived at least 3 hours later than scheduled, and the disruption was due to the fault of the airline, you might get compensation for your disrupted flight.
Even if you were given a new ticket to your destination, and received a free hotel stay, you are still entitled to compensation.
What is your experience? Have you ever received Flybe overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about Flybe compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.