AirBaltic Denied Boarding Compensation

AirBaltic overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.

How much is flight overbooking compensation? How to get it?

Passengers with confirmed tickets sometimes get denied boarding. How this can happen? It happens as a result of overbooking, and it’s pretty common in the aviation industry. This is done to maximize the capacity of a flight in case of no-shows. Whenever that happens, the airline is obliged to pay EU denied boarding compensation.

There are two ways you can claim this compensation.

1. AirBaltic Overbooking Compensation: EU Denied Boarding Regulations

Have you been denied boarding by airBaltic?

What are your rights in the event of denied boarding? In which situations are you entitled to denied boarding compensation from airBaltic? And when you aren’t? When it comes to denied boarding due to overbooking, passengers have a right to compensation.

If you’re flying to or from Europe with airBaltic, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you will be entitled to flight overbooking compensation (EU denied boarding compensation) up to €600. 

This only applies to overbookings.

If you are denied boarding due to expired passport or invalid visa, you won’t get denied boarding compensation from airBaltic. Also you can’t get compensation when you voluntarily give up your seat.

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. 

Your flight is overbooked. The airline is looking for volunteers who will give up their seats and travel later, on another flight. These volunteers are offered instant compensation (money or vouchers) and free meals. This is called voluntary boarding denial.

If you agree to this, you are denied boarding voluntarily.

In this case, you aren’t entitled to denied boarding compensation from airBaltic.

You don’t have to agree to an offer like this.

1.2 Involuntary Denied Boarding

There are situations when passengers don’t have a choice.

When there are not enough volunteers, some passengers are refused boarding the plane involuntarily. If this has happened to you, know that it’s called involuntarily denied boarding, and you are eligible for compensation.

What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?

• The airline must provide you with a new flight;
• The airline must refund you fully if you don’t want to take the new flight;
• In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
• You are entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger. 

* AirBaltic 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, airBaltic must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.

1.3 Right to Care

All passengers travelling with airBaltic have a right to care.

If you are stranded at the airport due to flight delay, cancellation or denied boarding, you are entitled to receive care from airBaltic. As long as the wait is at least 3 hours.

What does it mean for you as a passenger?

AirBaltic 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 is only on the next day, airBaltic has to offer you a free hotel stay and free transfer. If you accept this, your chances of getting compensation won’t be affected.

Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.

2. How to Claim airBaltic Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?

You can claim compensation yourself.

The other option is to work with professionals. 

Claiming compensation from airBaltic yourself. Visit airBaltic’s website and find the contact/claim form. Fill in the form. Give your flight details. Request denied boarding compensation, referring to the above mentioned EU Flight Compensation regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Request the right compensation amount and don’t agree to any airBaltic coupons. Keep in mind that it may take months until you receive the denied boarding compensation airBaltic owes you.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

Register your airBaltic compensation claim with the help of a flight compensation company. In this case, you don’t have to do much. It will take only minutes of your time. Just fill in the compensation claim form, and the rest will be done by a flight compensation company. Our partners offer such services.

Read more: AirBaltic Missed Connection Compensation

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

Every case is different.

If everything goes smoothly, you might get your airBaltic denied boarding compensation in 2-3 months. If not, it could take more. If the airline wrongly refuses to pay compensation, you will have to take the case to a national enforcement body or court. If that’s the case with your flight, it will add at least a couple of months to the whole process. 

3. How Much Can You Claim?

In the EU, compensation amounts are fixed.

In most situations they range from €250 to €600.

Here is how you can calculate airBaltic compensation yourself:

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

If you are claiming compensation on your own, it is important you demand the right amount. Otherwise, the airline might offer you a smaller amount. Keep in mind that you don’t have to agree to the smaller compensation. Request the amount you are entitled to. The compensation amounts are regulated by the European Union, not the airline.

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 AirBaltic Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?

According to the law, compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

AirBaltic just like most airlines, may initially offer you a voucher refund instead of money. Request a bank transfer instead. Because all airline compensations and refunds in the EU have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.

AirBaltic Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ

Problems With Visa or Passport

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received airBaltic overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about airBaltic compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.