Denied boarding because of overbooking: what are my rights?

If you are denied boarding because of overbooking, you can choose: another flight on the same airline or another airline at no extra cost to you, or cancel the contract and get back the value of the unused part of the ticket plus compensation equal to 200% of that value. The airline does not owe denied-boarding compensation if it gives you another flight within 2 hours of the original departure time.

Steps

1. Ask the airline to explain your rights to you in writing. It must do so when it denies boarding because of overbooking.
2. If a seat is free in a higher class on the same flight, the airline must upgrade you at no charge.
3. The regulation exempts these groups from denied boarding: persons with disability, special needs passengers, first-degree relatives plus accompanying domestic workers, unaccompanied minors, and travel groups.
4. Choose: travel on another flight of the same airline or another airline, with the airline paying any cost difference. Or cancel the contract and get back the value of the unused part plus 200% compensation.
5. If you take the other flight, the flight delay rules apply to the time between the two flights.
6. The airline does not owe denied-boarding compensation if it gives you another flight within 2 hours of the original departure time.
7. Ask for care while you wait: drinks from the first hour, a meal after 3 hours, and a hotel and transport after 6 hours.
8. Complain to the airline within 60 days of the incident: contact it, visit its customer service desk, or use its app or website. Get the complaint reference number.
9. If the airline does not solve it within 7 days, escalate it to GACA on its website.