Denied boarding compensation checker
Check rights after involuntary denied boarding
Check preliminary denied-boarding compensation, refund, rerouting and care questions. Separate an involuntary refusal from volunteering to change flights.
Short answer
Denied boarding rules depend first on whether you were ready to travel with valid documents and were refused involuntarily, or voluntarily accepted an airline offer. Route, operating carrier, replacement arrival and local legal framework determine the possible payment and next steps.
Facts that change the result
Involuntary refusal
Record that you presented on time with confirmed travel documents and did not volunteer to surrender the seat.
Volunteer agreement
If you accepted vouchers, money or a later flight voluntarily, keep the exact written terms. A negotiated benefit is different from statutory involuntary-denied-boarding compensation.
Replacement arrival
Save the replacement itinerary and actual final arrival. Rerouting timing can affect the applicable amount under EU or UK rules.
U.S. boarding rights
U.S. DOT denied-boarding rules use separate conditions and payment limits. The calculator does not treat them as EU261 bands.
How to check your journey
- 1
Document check-in and gate timing
Keep the boarding pass, app status and any proof that you met the airline's check-in and boarding deadline.
- 2
Ask for the reason
Request written confirmation of overbooking, aircraft change, document concern or other reason.
- 3
Record voluntary or involuntary status
Do not rely on memory; preserve the offer or refusal notice and whether you agreed.
- 4
Keep rerouting and expenses
Save replacement-flight details, final arrival and reasonable care-expense receipts.
Check the route and disruption facts
The calculator is free, needs no signup and keeps compensation, care, refund and rerouting questions separate.
Common questions
Is overbooking the same as denied boarding?+
Overbooking is a common cause, but denied boarding can have other causes. The important distinction is whether the airline refused carriage involuntarily despite the passenger meeting applicable requirements.
What if I volunteered for a voucher?+
A voluntary agreement is normally assessed under the terms you accepted and is different from an involuntary-denied-boarding payment. Keep the full written offer.
Does missing a document qualify?+
Usually not as a straightforward involuntary-denied-boarding case if required travel documents were missing. Preserve the airline's reason and obtain case-specific advice if disputed.
What should the airline provide at the airport?+
Ask for the written reason, available rerouting or refund options, care information and any denied-boarding notice required by the applicable framework.
Official sources
Content reviewed 3 September 2026. Check the authority's current wording and the airline's current official channel before acting.