Notice of Overbooking of Flights If the flight is overbooked, no one will be denied a seat until airline personnel first ask for volunteers willing to give up their reservation in exchange for a payment of the airline's choosing.

Delta Air Lines follows a structured protocol for overbooked flights, beginning with a search for volunteers during the check-in process or at the gate. Delta is famous for its high compensation offers, sometimes reaching several thousand dollars in travel vouchers or gift cards for passengers willing to take a later flight. If no one volunteers, the airline moves to involuntary denied boarding, which is determined by a priority list that considers your fare class, frequent flyer status, and check-in time. Passengers bumped involuntarily are legally entitled to cash compensation (up to $1,550 depending on the length of the delay) and rebooking on the next available flight. Delta’s automated system in the "Fly Delta" app often allows you to bid for a volunteer spot in advance, making the process smoother. While they aim to avoid "bumping" whenever possible, their generous volunteer incentives usually resolve the situation before it becomes a major conflict at the boarding door.