What is the difference between voluntary and involuntary boarding denial?

Gate agents can offer passengers a number of benefits, including airline travel credits and hotel rooms in order to avoid involuntary boarding denials. When a passenger chooses not to fly in exchange for some form of compensation chosen by their airline, this is known as a voluntary boarding denial.



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Most airlines oversell flights, and sometimes this leads to airlines having to bump passengers. This can come in two forms — voluntary and involuntary denied boarding.

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Most airlines oversell flights, and sometimes this leads to airlines having to bump passengers. This can come in two forms — voluntary and involuntary denied boarding.

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Usually, airlines decide to bump those on an overbooked flight who have fewer privileges such as lower-fare tickets and late bookings. People who booked earlier or paid more for their ticket will usually get to stay on board. Another deciding factor is the type of ticket that was purchased.

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More people are also getting bumped: According to a consumer report from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the rate of passengers who were involuntarily denied boarding in the first quarter of 2022 was 0.44 per 10,000 passengers, which is more than five times greater than the 2021 figure (0.08) and bigger than . ...

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If there are not enough passengers who are willing to give up their seats voluntarily, an airline may deny you a seat on an aircraft based on criteria that it establishes, such as the passenger's check-in time, the fare paid by the passenger, or the passenger's frequent flyer status.

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The law prohibits air carriers from denying a revenue passenger traveling on a confirmed reservation permission to board, or involuntarily removing that passenger from the aircraft, once a revenue passenger has checked in for the flight after the check-in deadline and had his or her ticket scanned.

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Frontier Airlines bumped the biggest proportion of passengers of the 15 largest US carriers in early 2023. Of every 10,000 Frontier passengers, 3.73 were involuntarily denied boarding due to oversales, the DOT said. Allegiant, Delta, Endeavor, and Hawaiian didn't bump any passengers in the quarter, per the DOT.

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Overbooked flight compensation under US regulations
If the airline does not make any substitute travel arrangements for you, you are entitled to 400% of the one-way fare price, not to exceed $1,350 as well as any optional fees paid as part of your reservation (e.g. bag fees, seat upgrades, etc.).

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Except as provided below, the airline must give each passenger who qualifies for involuntary denied boarding compensation a payment by cash or check for the amount specified above, on the day and at the place the involuntary denied boarding occurs.

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Send a demand letter to the airline (also known as an airline complaint letter). File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation. File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). File a small claims lawsuit against the airline.

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Generally, yes you can sue an airline in small claims court. The U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”), which is a federal agency that regulates airlines operating in the U.S, even publishes a Consumer's Guide to Small Claims Court.

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Cancelled flights: you may be eligible for compensation if your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before it was due to depart. Overbookings: you are owed compensation any time you are denied boarding through no fault of your own — so long as you didn't voluntarily give up your seat.

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