Qatar Airways overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.
How much is flight overbooking compensation? Rules? How to get it?
Sometimes airlines sell more tickets than there are seats. And Qatar Airways may do so too. This is called ‘overbooking’, and it’s a common practice in the aviation industry. Because there are always no-shows, and this is how airlines can earn extra. Unfortunately, there are times when everyone shows up, and then someone has to be denied boarding. Whenever that happens on a flight from Europe, Qatar Airways is obliged to pay EU denied boarding compensation.
There are two ways you can claim this compensation.
1. Qatar Airways Overbooking Compensation: EU Denied Boarding Regulations
Have you been denied boarding by Qatar Airways?
What are your rights in case of boarding denial? Can you get a new flight ticket? In which situations can you get compensation if you are travelling with Qatar Airways?
If you’re flying with Qatar Airways, and your flight departs from Europe, you are protected under the EU law. If you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you might be entitled to flight overbooking compensation (EU denied boarding compensation) of up to €600.
This only applies to overbookings.
You won’t be entitled to flight overbooking compensation if you are denied boarding due to visa issues or problems with your travel documents. Or if you voluntarily give up your seat (in case of voluntary denied boarding).
Read more:
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?
As the name suggests, this is when you voluntarily agree to give up your seat.
If your flight is overbooked, and all people who booked tickets show up, there won’t be enough seats for everyone. So the airline has to look for volunteers who will give up their seats and travel later.
If you agree to something like this, it’s called voluntary boarding denial.
Usually airlines offer some perks to all volunteers. Such as a free hotel stay, free meal, instant voucher or cash compensation, discounts, etc.
But that’s it, in this case, you aren’t entitled to denied boarding compensation from Qatar Airways. It’s important to understand this.
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.
You have a confirmed flight ticket. But there are not enough seats on the plane due to overbooking. And there are not enough volunteers who agrees to give up their seats. So the airline might bump you from the plane even if you don’t agree to give up your seat. This is called involuntarily denied boarding.
In this case you have a right to denied boarding compensation from Qatar Airways.
What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?
- The airline must provide you with a new flight or give you a full refund;
- In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
- You are entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger.
In case of Qatar Airways all of this apply to flights departing from Europe.
* Qatar Airways 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, Qatar Airways must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.
1.3 Right to Care
On Qatar Airways flights from Europe you have a right to care.
If you are travelling from Europe, and you have to wait at the airport (3+ hours) due to flight delay, cancellation or overbooking, you have a right to care from Qatar Airways.
What does it mean for you as a passenger?
Qatar Airways must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If your new flight leaves only on the next day, and you aren’t in your home city, the airline has to offer you a free hotel stay and free airport transfer. Agreeing to these free services doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.
Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.
2. How to Claim Qatar Airways Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?
You can claim compensation yourself.
The other option is to work with professionals.
Claiming compensation from Qatar Airways yourself. Get in touch with Qatar Airways. You can use “Talk to an Agent” option on the airline’s website to request flight overbooking compensation. Be prepared for a lengthy process. In could take months until you receive compensation Qatar Airways owes you.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
Register your Qatar Airways compensation claim with our partners.
Just fill in the form linked on this website, and they will help you get compensation.
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: Qatar Airways Missed Connection Compensation
2.1 How Long Does It Take?
It depends on the airline.
If the airline cooperates, you might get compensation after a few weeks.
If not, the process might take a few months.
3. How Much Can You Claim?
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 Qatar Airways compensation:
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
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 Qatar Airways Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?
Compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.
Not in vouchers or discount codes. If the airline is offering you vouchers, know that you can say no. You don’t have to accept airline coupons. Ask for bank transfer instead.
And again, this applies only to Qatar Airways flights from Europe.
Qatar Airways Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ
My flight was cheap. I booked it during the sales. Can I still get full flight delay compensation?
Yes, absolutely.
That’s because the amount of compensation is fixed.
And the flight of your ticket won’t affect your chances of getting compensation. Nor the amount.
What if I don’t have a travel insurance? Can I still claim compensation?
For this you don’t need an insurance.
All thanks to the Regulation EC 261/2004 (and Regulation UK261).
All affected passengers can get compensation, even those who don’t have travel insurance.
Can my child get compensation from Qatar Airways?
Yes, absolutely.
Passenger’s age doesn’t matter, just like the price of the ticket and insurance. If the flight is delayed, all passengers have equal rights to care from the airline and flight compensation.
Can I claim compensation for someone else?
Yes, you can.
Even if you weren’t on that flight yourself.
The only thing to remember — you need to ask for a passport and boarding pass copy.
Apart from that, yes, you can file a claim for a disrupted flight for another person.
How far back can I claim compensation? Can I claim compensation for old flights?
It depends on the laws of the country.
In many European countries you can claim compensation even if your flight was 2-3 years ago. However, we would not recommend to wait that long. Make a claim as soon as you come back from your trip.
What to do if Qatar Airways is refusing to pay compensation?
Qatar Airways is refusing to pay compensation.
There are two options how you can proceed. You can hand over your case to a flight compensation company, for them to continue the negotiations with the airline on your behalf.
Or, you can contact the national enforcement body of the country your flight was from. There are national enforcement bodies in all the EU Member states.
Problems With Visa or Passport
I was denied boarding due to problems with visa / passport. Am I entitled to compensation?
No, because this isn’t the airline’s fault.
It’s your fault. You made a mistake, not the airline.
In situations like these you can’t get compensation from the airline.
EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists
I’m flying to the EU from a country outside the EU. Can I get UK/EU flight delay compensation?
If you’re flying with Qatar Airways then no, you can’t.
When it comes to European laws, in case of Qatar Airways, you are protected only on their flights departing from Europe.
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get UK/EU flight delay compensation?
Yes, you can.
The same applies to all Qatar Airways flights from the UK.
I am not a European citizen. Can I get compensation?
Yes.
The European regulations protect all passengers. Passenger’s nationality doesn’t matter. Everyone has the same rights.
Other Situations
Qatar Airways provided me with a free hotel room and a free replacement flight to my destination. Can I still get compensation for my disrupted flight?
Yes, if the flight departed from the EU / UK.
You are entitled to both care from the airline and a new flight to your destination.
If your flight is eligible to compensation, in addition to that, you are entitled to compensation.
Qatar Airways took me to my destination. Can I still get compensation?
Did you arrive 3+ hours later than scheduled?
If yes, you might be entitled to flight delay compensation from Qatar Airways. As long as the flight was from a European airport and it was delayed due to the airline’s fault.
What is your experience? Have you ever received Qatar Airways overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about Qatar Airways compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.