Vueling overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.
How much is flight overbooking compensation? Rules? How to get it?
In the EU, you are protected against flight overbooking. If your flight is overbooked, and as a result you are denied boarding, you might be entitled to compensation. All passengers affected by overbooking are also entitled to care from the airline. Vueling is a EU airline, and it has to follow the EU laws. If you are denied boarding by Vueling, you are entitled to receive care from the airline. Also you might be entitled to EU denied boarding compensation.
There are two ways you can claim this compensation.
1. Vueling Overbooking Compensation: EU Denied Boarding Regulations
Have you been denied boarding by Vueling?
What are your rights? Can you get compensation?
If you’re flying with Vueling, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you might be entitled to flight overbooking compensation (Vueling denied boarding compensation) of up to €600.
This only applies to overbookings.
The European regulations apply only to situations when you are denied boarding due to flight overbooking. If you are denied boarding because your passport has expired or you have no visa, you can’t get compensation from your airline. Also you won’t be entitled to compensation if you voluntarily give up your seat.
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 Why Do Airlines Overbook Flights?
Airlines overbook flights to maximize revenue.
They assume that not all passengers will show up for their flight, so by overbooking, they ensure that all seats are filled. However, this strategy can backfire when too many passengers actually show up for the flight. In these cases, the airline must deny boarding to some passengers or ask some to take a later flight.
How do airlines decide which passengers to deny boarding to?
Airlines first ask passengers to voluntarily give up their seats in exchange for compensation, such as vouchers or cash. If not enough passengers volunteer, the airline will proceed with involuntary denied boarding. Each airline has its own policy for deciding which passengers to deny boarding to, but generally, they will look at factors such as the passenger’s fare class, last minute purchases, frequent flyer status, and check-in time. Passengers traveling with a group or children may also be given priority to avoid separating them.
1.2 Voluntary Denied Boarding
There are two types of denied boarding.
The main difference is — can you get compensation or not.
If your Vueling flight is overbooked, you may be asked to give up your seat in exchange for a new flight and instant compensation (cash or vouchers). If you accept this offer, it’s called voluntary boarding denial.
In this case, you aren’t entitled to Vueling denied boarding compensation.
You don’t have to agree to an offer like this.
1.3 Involuntary Denied Boarding
There are situations when passengers don’t have a choice.
If there are not enough volunteers and not enough seats, the airline needs to deny boarding to passengers with confirmed tickets without their consent. If this happens to you, know that you are denied boarding involuntarily. It’s called involuntarily denied boarding, and you are entitled to compensation.
What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?
- The airline must provide you with a new flight or give you a full refund for the flight;
- In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
- You are entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger.
* Vueling 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, Vueling must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.
1.4 Right to Care
All passengers travelling with Vueling have a right to care.
If you are stuck at the airport due to a lengthy delay, last-minute cancellation or flight overbooking, and you need to wait for your flight for 3 or more hours, you have a right to receive care from Vueling.
What does it mean for you as a passenger?
Vueling 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 departs on the next day, Vueling has to provide you with a free hotel stay and free transfer. If you agree to these free services, it won’t affect your chances of getting compensation.
Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.
This also applies if your flight is disrupted due to extraordinary circumstances.
2. How to Claim Vueling Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?
You can claim Vueling denied boarding compensation yourself.
The other option is to work with professionals.
Claiming compensation from Vueling yourself. Write an email to the airline and request denied boarding compensation. Also you can use the chat on Vueling’s website to contact the customer centre and ask for compensation. Make sure you refer to the EU Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 and mention your rights. Compensation claims take a while. It might take a few months until you get Vueling flight compensation.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
Register your Vueling compensation claim with the help of a flight compensation company. In this case, you don’t have to do much. Just fill in the compensation claim form, and the rest will be done by a team of professionals.
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.
Read more:
- How to Claim Vueling Compensation?
- Vueling Missed Connection Compensation
- Your Vueling Compensation Claim Is Rejected. What’s Next?
2.1 How Long Does It Take?
It doesn’t matter if you work with a compensation claim company, or claim compensation yourself, it’s not a fast process. It might take a while until you get your money.
Mostly it depends on the airline. If it cooperates, you can get your compensation after 2-3 months. If not, you will need to take additional steps, such as taking your case to a national enforcement body or court to solve it. If that’s the case, it might take a few months until you receive compensation.
3. How Much Can You Claim?
In the EU, compensation amounts are fixed.
In most situations they range from €250 to €600.
Here is how you can calculate Vueling 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
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 Vueling Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?
According to the law, compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.
However, Vueling may initially offer you a voucher refund instead of money. Don’t be surprised. Keep in mind that you don’t have to accept any airline vouchers as compensation. Request a bank transfer instead.
Vueling Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ
My flight was cheap/discounted. Can I get compensation?
Yes, as long as your Vueling flight is eligible to compensation.
Because the price of the ticket doesn’t matter. The cheap price of your ticket won’t lover your chances of getting compensation, nor it will affect the compensation amount.
Do I need travel insurance in order to claim compensation?
No, you don’t.
According to Regulation EC 261/2004, you can claim compensation even if you don’t have insurance.
Can my child/baby get compensation from Vueling?
Yes.
Kids and babies can get compensation, too. Even infants traveling with a special infant ticket can get compensation from the airline.
If your flight is eligible to compensation, both you and your child will get compensation.
Can I claim compensation for my friend or family member?
Yes, you can.
Even if you weren’t on that flight yourself.
Just ask your friend or family member to provide you with a copy of their passport and boarding pass. Also they might need to sign a couple of documents.
How far back can I claim compensation?
It depends on the laws of the country.
In most cases, in Europe, you can claim compensation even for flights that were 2-3 years ago. However, for the best results, we would recommend you to make a claim as soon as possible.
What to do if Vueling is refusing to pay compensation?
Vueling is refusing to pay compensation even though you are entitled to it.
What to do in such a situation? The best way is to hand over your case to a flight compensation company. They will continue the negotiations with the airline, and claim compensation on your behalf.
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.
Problems With Visa or Passport
I was denied boarding due to issues with my visa / passport. Can I get compensation?
No. The European regulations apply only to situations when you are denied boarding due to flight overbooking. If you are denied boarding because your passport has expired or you have no visa, you can’t get compensation from your airline.
EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists
I’m flying to the EU from a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If it’s a Vueling flight, you could.
As long as your Vueling flight is eligible to compensation.
You are protected on all Vueling flights.
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If it’s a Vueling, then yes.
I am not a European. Can I get compensation?
Yes.
Thanks to the Regulation 261/2004, all passengers in the EU are protected against flight disruptions. It doesn’t matter what is the passenger’s nationality.
Other Situations
Vueling provided me with a free hotel room and a free flight to my destination. Can I still get compensated for the delay?
Yes.
In Europe, passengers have a right to receive care + new ticket from the airline no matter the reason for disruption. And if you’re eligible for compensation, it doesn’t affect your chances of receiving compensation. Nor does it affect the compensation amount.
Vueling took me to my destination. Can I still get compensation?
Yes.
If you’re eligible for compensation, it doesn’t affect your chances of receiving compensation. Nor does it affect the compensation amount.
What is your experience? Have you ever received Vueling overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about Vueling compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.