Glossary · At the airport

What is a overbooking?

Also called bumping, denied boarding

Overbooking is when an airline sells more seats than the aircraft has, expecting some no-shows. If everyone turns up, some passengers are 'bumped' — asked to give up their seat, usually for compensation, or denied boarding involuntarily on the busiest flights.

Checking in early and holding a confirmed seat lowers your odds of being bumped; if you are, you may be entitled to compensation depending on the route's rules.

Related terms

Basic economy
Layover

Updated July 2, 2026

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