Air Serbia overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.
How much is flight overbooking compensation? Rules? How to get it?
To ensure that there are no empty seats at take off, often airlines sell more tickets than there are seats. This is called ‘flight overbooking’, and it’s a common practice. Unfortunately, there are situations when too many people show up for their flight, and someone has to be denied boarding. The good news is — passengers in Europe are protected against denied boarding. If you are denied boarding due to overbooking, you might be entitled to EU denied boarding compensation.
There are two ways you can claim this compensation.
Check your compensation online.
1. Air Serbia Overbooking Compensation: UK / EU Denied Boarding Regulations
Have you been denied boarding by Air Serbia?
What are your rights if it happens? In which situations are you entitled to denied boarding compensation from Air Serbia?
If you’re flying with Air Serbia, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you might be entitled to flight overbooking compensation (EU denied boarding compensation) of up to €600. All passengers who have been denied boarding by Air Serbia are entitled to receive care from the airline.
This only applies to overbookings.
If you are denied boarding because you don’t have a valid visa or your passport is about to expire, you can’t get denied boarding compensation. Also you can’t get denied boarding compensation if you voluntarily give up your seat.
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, it is when you voluntarily give up your seat and agree to travel later on a different flight.
If your Air Serbia flight is overbooked, some passengers might be denied boarding. But at first, the airline will ask if there are any volunteers. These volunteers will be given a new flight for free, instant compensation, and other perks such as a free meal, and, if the wait is long, a free hotel stay.
Even if it sounds tempting, you don’t have to accept an offer like this.
Because if you do, you can’t get denied boarding compensation from Air Serbia.
1.2 Involuntary Denied Boarding
There are situations when passengers don’t have a choice.
There are not enough people who are ready to give up their seats voluntarily. In a situation like this, people with confirmed tickets may be refused boarding. If this happens to you, you are denied boarding involuntarily. And you will be entitled to compensation.
What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?
- The airline must provide you with a new flight;
- The airline must provide you with a new flight or give you a full refund in case you decline the new flight;
- In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
- You are entitled to Air Serbia denied boarding compensation of up to €600 per passenger.
* Air Serbia 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, Air Serbia must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.
Check your compensation online.
1.3 Right to Care
All passengers travelling with Air Serbia have a right to care.
If you have to wait for 3+ hours until your new flight departs, you have a right to receive certain services from the airline for free. This is called ‘right to care’.
What does it mean for you as a passenger?
Air Serbia 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 flight departs on the next day, Air Serbia must offer you a free hotel stay and free transfer to the hotel (and back to the airport). 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 Air Serbia Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?
How to claim Air Serbia overbooking compensation (denied boarding compensation)?
You can claim compensation yourself or you can work with professionals.
Claiming compensation from Air Serbia yourself. The airline can be reached via email listed on their website. Alternatively, you can call the Air Serbia customer centre or fill in the contact/complaint form on their website. Refer to the above-mentioned EU Flight Compensation regulation and request denied boarding compensation. Ask for the right amount of money in the settlement, and don’t agree to any Air Serbia coupons. Don’t be surprised if it takes months until you receive denied boarding compensation Air Serbia owes you. It’s not a fast process.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
Register your Air Serbia compensation claim with the help of a flight compensation company. In this case, you don’t have to do much. Just fill in and sign one form, and the rest will be done by the company. You don’t need to communicate with the airline.
Our partners offer such services.
Check your compensation online.
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: Air Serbia Missed Connection Compensation
2.1 How Long Does It Take?
Mostly it depends on the airline.
If everything goes smoothly, you might receive compensation after 2-3 months.
If the airline refuses to pay, or ignores your claim altogether, it might take a few months as you or a flight compensation company negotiates with the airline, and, eventually, get compensation the airline owes you.
3. How Much Can You Claim?
In Europe, compensation amounts are fixed.
In most situations they range from €250 to €600.
Here is how you can calculate Air Serbia denied boarding 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
If you are claiming compensation yourself, keep in mind that you must ask for the right amount. Otherwise you might end up with a smaller compensation.
Even though compensation amounts are regulated by European laws, airlines often offer smaller compensations or even airline vouchers instead of compensation. Don’t be surprised if you are offered a smaller amount. Keep in mind that you don’t have to agree to a smaller compensation (or airline voucher). Ask for the right amount.
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 Air Serbia Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?
You might be offered a voucher or coupon instead of compensation.
If Air Serbia offers you a voucher, request a bank transfer instead. Because all airline compensations and refunds in Europe have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.
Air Serbia Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ
My flight was cheap. Will it affect my chances of getting compensation?
No, because the price of the ticket doesn’t matter.
The price also doesn’t affect the compensation amount.
If you are entitled to compensation of €600, you will get it even if your ticket was cheap.
Do I need travel insurance to claim compensation?
No, you don’t.
You can claim compensation even if you don’t have insurance. According to European regulations, every passenger whose flight has been heavily delayed can get compensation. As long as it’s a delay of at least 3 hours, and it’s due to the fault of the airline. It doesn’t matter if you have insurance or not.
Can my child/baby get compensation from Air Serbia?
Yes, of course.
The age of the passenger doesn’t matter. Children and babies can get compensation, too. Even infants who travel with a special infant ticket. If you are entitled to compensation of 600 euro, your child/baby will be too.
Can I claim compensation for another person?
Yes, you can.
Even if you weren’t on that flight yourself.
You can claim compensation for your friend, relative or family member as long as they provide you with a copy of their passport and boarding pass, and sign any documents Air Serbia/flight compensation company might ask to sign.
How far back can I claim compensation?
It depends on the laws of the country.
In many countries in Europe, the deadline is 2-3 years.
If your disrupted flight was 2-3 years ago, you might still be able to claim compensation for it.
What to do if Air Serbia is refusing to pay compensation?
Air Serbia is refusing to pay compensation even though you are entitled to it.
What to do in such a situation? The best way is to hand over your case to a flight compensation company. They will continue compensation claim process on your behalf. You won’t need to deal with the airline anymore.
Alternatively, you may contact the respective national enforcement body and ask them to help solve your case. There are national enforcement bodies in all the EU Member states.
Problems With Visa or Passport
I was denied boarding due to issues with my visa / passport. Am I entitled to compensation?
No, because it was your fault you were denied boarding.
You didn’t check your passport’s validity and your destination’s entry requirements. No airline will compensate you if you are denied boarding due to visa or passport issues.
You can only get compensation if you have been involuntarily denied boarding because of 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 Air Serbia then yes, you can.
You are protected on all Air Serbia flights. Even if it’s a flight to the EU from a country outside the EU. All thanks to European laws (EU Flight Compensation Regulation 261/2004 and the Regulation UK261).
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
With Air Serbia you can.
I am not a European. Can I get compensation?
Yes. All passengers in Europe are protected under the law.
Other Situations
Air Serbia provided me with a free hotel room and a free flight to my destination. Can I still get compensated for the delay?
Yes.
In Europe, passengers have a right to receive care from the airline no matter the reason for delay. If a flight is cancelled, affected passengers are entitled to a new flight, too.
And if your flight is eligible for compensation, it doesn’t matter if you received these services. You will get compensation anyway.
Air Serbia took me to my destination. Can I still get compensation?
You might.
As long as your flight is eligible for compensation.
Accepting a free flight doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.
What is your experience? Have you ever received Air Serbia overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about Air Serbia compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.