SAS overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.
How much is flight overbooking compensation? Rules? How to get it?
In this case, what matters is the reason why you are denied boarding. If that has happened because of overbooking, you might be entitled to overbooking compensation. If it’s all good with your travel documents, you haven’t broken any rules, and you are still denied boarding — file a claim for compensation. You might be entitled to UK/EU denied boarding compensation.
There are two ways you can claim this compensation.
1. SAS Overbooking Compensation: UK / EU Denied Boarding Regulations
Have you been denied boarding by SAS?
If you have, that means you might be entitled to compensation from SAS. If it has happened due to overbooking of the flight, the rules are extremely simple – you have a right to compensation every single time. Because its airlines fault. They messed up, not you.
If you’re flying to or from Europe, you have these rights.
This only applies to overbookings.
Read more: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; Regulation UK261
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
1.1 Voluntary Denied Boarding
What is voluntary denied boarding?
Yes, there are different types of denied boarding.
Let’s rewind one more time, what do we understand with “flight overbooking”? According to the overbooking definition, it’s when airline sells more tickets than there are seats in hope that not everyone will come. And then… too many people come. And someone is denied boarding.
When things like this happen, airlines look for volunteers. If you agree to be a volunteer and not fly now, it’s called voluntary boarding denial.
In this case, you aren’t entitled to denied boarding compensation.
You don’t have to agree to an offer like this.
1.2 Involuntary Denied Boarding
There are situations when you don’t have a choice.
Sometimes, you don’t agree to be a volunteer, but they bump you off the flight anyway. If this is what has happened to you, know that it’s called involuntarily denied boarding. It’s against your will. And in this case you are eligible for SAS denied boarding compensation.
What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?
- You must be given a choice — a new flight or a full refund;
- In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
- You are also entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger.
*SAS must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If you have to wait overnight, and this is not your hometown, the airline must provide you with free accommodation and free airport transfer.
1.3 Right to Care
All passengers travelling with SAS have a right to care.
As already mentioned above, If you have to wait extra time, often you have a right to care. In case of SAS, the UK/EU Flight Compensation Regulations apply to most of their flights to and from the European Union and the UK. With non-European airlines, it applies only to flights departing from Europe. It applies to all situations when you have to wait 3+ hours extra.
It includes flight disruptions caused by extraordinary circumstances.
What does it mean for you as a passenger?
SAS must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. Mostly they provide that in the form of coupons. Agreeing to any of this doesn’t affect your chances of getting SAS compensation.
Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.
2. How to Claim SAS Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?
You can claim compensation yourself.
The other option is to work with professionals.
Claiming compensation from SAS yourself. Call SAS. Or, better contact SAS customer support center using their website or social media profiles. And request compensation for denied boarding that SAS owes you. Refer to the European flight compensation regulation. They will know right away what is that. These rules have been around for years.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
Alternatively, register your SAS compensation claim with an agency. There are online flight compensation companies working with cases like this. In this case, you don’t have to do much. And in many situations it takes only a few minutes of your time. Our partners offer such services.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Read more:
2.1 How Long Does It Take?
It depends on a number of factors.
Most people receive compensation in a few months. If you are a bit lucky, it takes something like 2-3 months. If you are less lucky, and the airline doesn’t want to pay compensation, it will take longer. It takes the longest, if the compensation claim has to be taken to court.
If case of the latter, it will add at least a couple of months (sometimes even 6+ months) to the whole claim process. That’s one of the reasons, why most people choose to work with specialists — flight compensation companies. Not that it’s very difficult, just time-consuming and tiring.
3. How Much Can You Claim for Denied Boarding from SAS?
In the EU and the UK compensation amounts are fixed.
In most situations they range from €250 to €600.
Here is how you can calculate SAS compensation yourself:
When your destination is within the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
When your destination is outside the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
€600
If the distance of your flight is more than 3,500 km
Claiming SAS compensation yourself? Ask the appropriate amount, and don’t agree to anything less. These rules are the same for all airlines operating in the EU.
There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).
3.1 SAS Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?
According to the law, compensations have to be paid in cash.
This is regulated by law. However, airlines do not always obey the law. Also big and well-known airlines like SAS. Airlines take advantage of people’s lack of legal knowledge and offer passengers flight coupons instead of money transfer. It may sound like a great deal at first but not so much later when you realise you don’t really have a way to spend the SAS voucher (you don’t have a time for travel, or Turkish Airlines is offering a much better deal than SAS, etc.).
Don’t agree to coupons, ask for bank transfer.
SAS Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ
My flight was super cheap. It was a last-minute deal. Can I get compensation from SAS?
Yes, because the price doesn’t matter.
The price of your ticket has no influence on this. If you are entitled to 600 euro compensation for delay, you will get 600 euro for delay, even if it was a very cheap ticket. The same rules apply also to low-cost airlines. They have to pay the same compensation like full-service airlines.
Do I need to have travel insurance for this?
No, you don’t. These are separate things.
You can claim delay compensation even if you don’t have a travel insurance. That’s actually one of the reasons why this law, this regulation — Regulation EC 261/2004, was created. It was created to protect all air passengers flying to and from Europe.
Can my kid get compensation from SAS?
Yes, 100%.
Thanks to the regulation we are talking about in this article, even infants can get compensation of up to 600 euro. In Europe, the rules are the same for all passengers.
Can I claim compensation for a friend?
Yes, you can.
You don’t even have to have a flight ticket yourself.
The only thing your friend will have to do is to give you all the paperwork (passport copy, boarding pass, etc.). And if you are doing this via a flight compensation company, your friend or relative will also have to sign any documents SAS and the company may ask to sign in order proceed.
How far back can I claim flight compensation?
It depends on the local laws of the country.
If you are flying from the EU, mostly you can claim SAS compensation also for 2-3 years old flights. At the same time, whenever possible, we would urge you to act as soon as possible. The sooner you do it, the higher chances of successful outcome and less problems.
What to do if SAS is refusing compensation claim?
SAS is refusing compensation claim even though you are entitled to it.
Try to contact the national enforcement body of the country your flight was from. There are national enforcement bodies in all the EU countries. If your flight departed from a third country, contact the NEB of your destination country. Alternatively, hand the case over to a flight compensation company — and let the professions do the job on your behalf.
Problems With Visa or Passport
I was denied boarding due to issues with my visa / passport. Will I get compensation for boarding denial?
No, it’s a 100% no.
These rules apply only to overbooking. If you don’t have the right visa, it is your fault. You made a mistake. Accordingly — you can’t ask airline to pay you compensation for that. You can only get overbooking compensation if you have been involuntarily denied boarding due to overbooking.
EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists
I’m flying to the EU from a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If you’re flying with SAS then yes, absolutely.
SAS is considered a European airline. Accordingly, you are protected on all their flights from and also to the EU, UK and EEA. You are basically protected on all their flights.
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
With SAS you can.
You can and you should be making a claim.
I am not a European citizen. Can I get SAS compensation?
Yes, these laws protect everyone.
Your nationality doesn’t matter at all.
Other Situations
SAS provided me with a free hotel room and / or a free flight to my destination. Can I still get compensated for the disruption?
Yes, you can.
Because, in Europe, you are entitled to both right to care and a new flight to your destination. The airline has to provide both whenever it’s due. That’s the rules in the EU, UK and EEA countries. Receiving the care doesn’t affect your chances of receiving the flight compensation.
SAS took me to my destination. It was later, but I got there. Can I still get compensation?
You might get compensation for delay.
There are two things you should be paying attention to. Was it at least 3 hours later than planned? Was it due to SAS problems, SAS fault? If you answered yes to both, then yes — you can get compensation for delay. You have a right to compensation (of up to €600 per passenger).
What is your experience? Have you ever received SAS overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about SAS compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.