---
title: "What is Denied boarding? | Benefit Systems"
description: "Denied boarding is the refusal to carry a passenger who holds a valid booking and arrived on time, typically because the flight is oversold."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# What is Denied boarding?

Denied boarding is the refusal to carry a passenger who holds a valid booking and arrived on time, typically because the flight is oversold.

Also called: Being bumped.

## How it works #

The process is regulated: the airline must first seek volunteers willing to give up their seat for negotiated benefits. Only then may it deny boarding involuntarily, which triggers statutory rights to compensation, care and re-routing. A passenger who volunteers is striking a private deal and gives up the flat entitlements attached to involuntary denial.

## Not to be confused with #

Denied boarding is not the same as a cancellation: in a cancellation the flight does not operate, in denied boarding it departs without the passenger.

## In German #

The German term is Nichtbeförderung. [German version of this term](/de/glossar/nichtbefoerderung)

## Related terms #

- [Overbooking](/en/glossary/overbooking): Overbooking is the deliberate sale of more seats than the aircraft has, because airlines plan for a predictable number of no-shows.
- [Flight compensation](/en/glossary/flight-compensation): Flight compensation is a flat statutory payment owed by the airline for cancellation, long delay or denied boarding, scaled by flight distance.
- [Standby](/en/glossary/standby): Standby is being placed on a list for a flight without a confirmed seat, boarding only if space remains shortly before departure.

## Articles that use this term #

- [What are you owed when you’re denied boarding?](/en/knowledge/denied-boarding)
- [What do US airlines owe you when your flight is cancelled?](/en/knowledge/us-cancellation-rights)
- [Do you have to accept a voucher instead of cash?](/en/knowledge/voucher-vs-cash)
- [Do you need a transit visa?](/en/knowledge/transit-visas)
- [What is ETIAS and who needs it?](/en/knowledge/etias)