I was inspired to write this article after witnessing several airport incidents where passengers were denied boarding. And there’s more! The recent 6-zero verdict against Lufthansa Airlines related to this topic was in the headlines worldwide.
But Let’s Get To The Roots
What does Regulation EC261/2004, which establishes common rules on compensation and assistance to passengers in flight disruption situations have to say about denied boarding? It declares that you are allowed to check in on time at the airport with a valid flight reservation proof and additional travel documents.
However, if you are denied boarding by the airline because of overbooking or for operational reasons, or you do not voluntarily give up your seat to other passengers you are entitled to additional monetary compensation and the right to choose between:
- reimbursement
- rerouting
- rebooking if the airline denies your boarding.
Was Your Flight Disrupted?
Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
When Things Don’t Fly Your Way
The incidents I witnessed took place at the airport gate during boarding. The woman presented her ticket and passport to the staff. Even though she arrived at the gate on time, she was not allowed to continue her journey and was asked to leave the airport. What was the reason for this? The woman presented a valid passport and ticket, however, a visa was missing. Her frustration knew no bounds, and she blamed the airlines and the airport staff for not telling her she needed a visa.
Another situation occurred in the duty-free area of Amsterdam Airport, I spotted an elderly couple who were rather loudly sharing great holiday memories and collecting gifts for their grandchildren. At the time, I had a layover of a few hours myself and therefore paid attention to everything that was going on around me. At one point, the woman questioned whether they could make it to the gate, and the man assured her that they were close by and that there would be plenty of time to arrive there on time.
Although a facility such as an airport follows a set of rules, disruptions and dislocations of gates for flights are common, so travellers need to be on their guard.
Due to several flight delays, the location of their gate changed, but they stayed near the gate where I was waiting as well. When the time to board the plane came, the couple was stopped and informed that it was not their gate and they needed to reach their gate fast since their flight was about to leave in 10 minutes. If passengers are late to the gate, even if the plane is still on the ground and visible from the airport windows, they will not be allowed to board due to security reasons. You have probably seen videos of emotional passengers begging to be let on board, but the gates have already been closed.
Points To Consider
Passengers often react mockingly to warnings to arrive earlier at the airport. However, the warnings are there for a reason. If a traveller takes the risk to arrive to the airport half an hour before the flight is planned to take off, they must know about the possible consequences. Some things must also be taken into consideration when it comes to planning your trip:
- If you are travelling with a backpack, you will have to go through a security check only.
- If you are travelling with suitcases, you will have to queue extra at the check-in counter.
- If you are travelling to another continent or zone, you will have to go through passport control additionally.
There are apps for some airports that display queues well, but are you willing to download them all? That’s what I thought. So it is better to plan and save some extra time at the airport.
So What’s The Story With The 6 Zeros?
The German airline Lufthansa blocked travellers from boarding a connecting flight in Frankfurt in May 2022. This decision was based on the alleged misbehaviour of a few passengers. The airline did not identify specific individuals who were uncooperative, which led the U.S. Department of Transportation to determine the action was discriminatory.
The U.S. Department of Transportation fined Lufthansa $4 million, marking a record penalty for alleged civil rights violations.
Though Lufthansa disputed the U.S. Department of Transportation’s authority over an incident that had taken place outside the U.S., it settled to avoid litigation, receiving a $2 million credit for compensations already made to affected passengers. The case highlights civil rights issues in air travel, particularly concerning religious discrimination.
Was Your Flight Disrupted?
Turn your delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight into a compensation up to €600!
What Is Important To Know?
When a passenger volunteers to be bumped from a flight, the compensation is negotiated between the passenger and the airline. Typically, airlines will make an announcement at the gate offering compensation right there and then, which could be in the form of cash or vouchers. If a passenger volunteers to be bumped, they are also entitled to either an alternative flight or a refund.
If a passenger arrives on time with valid flight reservations and necessary travel documents, and they are denied boarding either due to overbooking or operational reasons—without voluntarily giving up their seat—they are legally entitled to compensation, assistance, rerouting, or reimbursement.
So if you had something similar on your recent trips and you are not sure if your experience is valid for compensation, submit your claim to www.skycop.com and we will take care of it. Don’s miss your chance to get compensated up to 600 EUR!
