What Is Flight Overbooking and Why Do Airlines Overbook Flights?

Flight overbooking happens when an airline sells more tickets than there are seats on the plane.

While it can sound unfair, overbooking is a common industry practice designed to account for passengers who don’t show up. The problem is that when more travellers arrive than the aircraft can accommodate, some passengers may be denied boarding.

In this article, we explain what is flight overbooking, why do airlines overbook flights, and what your rights are if you’re affected.

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What Is Flight Overbooking?

Flight overbooking happens when an airline sells more tickets than there are seats available on the aircraft. Airlines do this because they expect that some passengers won’t show up, will miss their connection, or will cancel at the last minute. The goal is to fly with a full plane instead of leaving seats empty.

It’s important not to confuse overbooking with a flight cancellation. A cancelled flight usually happens because the airline decides not to operate the flight at all, often due to operational issues, technical problems, or disruptions. With overbooking, the flight still goes ahead — but there may not be enough seats for everyone who arrives to travel.

If the airline refuses to let you board because the flight is full, this is called denied boarding. It can happen even if you have a valid ticket and checked in on time, and it may entitle you to denied boarding compensation under UK/EU air passenger rights rules. More on this below.

What is flight overbooking? Flight overbooking is when an airline sells more tickets than there are seats on the plane, expecting that some passengers won’t show up or will miss their flight. If too many passengers arrive to travel, the airline may have to deny boarding to some passengers.

Why Do Airlines Overbook Flights?

Airlines overbook flights because not every passenger who buys a ticket actually ends up travelling. Some people miss their flight, cancel at the last minute, or don’t show up at the gate on time. Missed connections are also common, especially on tight itineraries, which means some booked passengers won’t make it onto the plane.

Since empty seats mean lost revenue, airlines aim to fly with a full aircraft whenever possible. Overbooking helps them reduce financial losses by ensuring they still fill seats even when a few passengers don’t show.

To do this, airlines use historical booking data to estimate how many passengers are likely to be “no-shows” on specific routes, days, and seasons. Based on those patterns, they may sell a limited number of extra tickets to balance the risk of empty seats — although this sometimes results in too many passengers turning up and being denied boarding.

Why can airlines overbook flights? Airlines overbook flights because they expect some passengers won’t show up or will miss their connection, and they want to avoid flying with empty seats. By selling a limited number of extra tickets, airlines reduce revenue losses and keep flights as full as possible.

How Does Flight Overbooking Work? Understanding Denied Boarding

If your Loganair flight is overbooked and everyone shows up, the airline will usually ask for volunteers to take a later flight in exchange for benefits such as airline miles, instant cash compensation, hotel stay and meals.

If there aren’t enough volunteers, the airline may deny boarding involuntarily to some passengers. In that case, the airline may owe UK/EU flight compensation and care. More on this below.

Voluntary Denied Boarding

When a flight is overbooked, airlines usually start by asking for volunteers to give up their seat and take a later flight. This is known as voluntary denied boarding. Passengers who agree to travel on another flight may receive benefits such as cash or vouchers, rebooking on the next available departure, and sometimes meals, refreshments, or hotel accommodation if the delay is long. In these situations, the airline and passenger typically agree on the terms before the passenger gives up their seat.

However, if you volunteer, you may not be entitled to the standard EU/UK denied boarding compensation of up to €600, as this amount typically applies to involuntary denied boarding.

Involuntary Denied Boarding

If not enough passengers volunteer, the airline may refuse boarding to travellers involuntarily.

This means you can be denied boarding even if you have a valid ticket, checked in on time, and followed all travel requirements. Involuntary denied boarding usually gives passengers stronger legal rights, including the right to denied boarding compensation (of up to €600), care (such as food and accommodation), and the choice between a refund or re-routing to the final destination under UK261 or EU261 rules.

What Happens When a Flight Is Overbooked: Air Passenger Rights Explained

As mentioned earlier, when a flight is overbooked, the airline will usually first ask for volunteers to give up their seat and take a later flight. However, if there aren’t enough volunteers, the airline may deny boarding to some passengers involuntarily.

In these cases, passengers have strong rights, including:

• denied boarding compensation,
• rebooking or a full refund,
• the right to care under UK261 or EU261.

Yes, in some cases you can receive both: a refund and compensation, or a replacement flight and compensation (if you choose rebooking instead of a refund).

Read more: Flight Cancellation Compensation vs Refund for a Cancelled Flight: The Difference

Denied Boarding Involuntarily? Submit a Denied Boarding Compensation Claim

To claim denied boarding compensation, you must submit a request directly to the airline using its customer service team or online claims form. Include your flight details, confirmation that you were denied boarding involuntarily, and any supporting documents you have.

If the airline rejects your claim without a valid reason, you can escalate the complaint through the National Enforcement Body or an approved ADR service.

You can also use a flight compensation company, which can manage the entire claims process for you.

Understanding what is flight overbooking and why do airlines overbook flights can help you respond more confidently if it happens to you. If your Loganair flight is overbooked, you’ll know what to expect at the gate, what your options are, and when you may be entitled to compensation.

Featured photo by Earl Andre Roca from Pexels