Overbooking is not a very common situation at Brazilian airports, but it can end up happening due to several factors, causing great losses for some passengers, especially those who need to arrive at their destination on time.
So that you can avoid this type of situation, learn everything about overbooking: what it is, what are the main causes, what to do and how to avoid it. Check out our tips in the article below.
What is overbooking
After all, what is overbooking? This term in English is used to indicate oversold, that is, when a company sells more seats than it can offer. This practice is illegal in Brazil. However, this expression is also used to define a denied shipment
. Often, passengers check in, but when boarding, they are notified that the flight is full, and there are no places to travel due to overbooking or other reasons. In this case, the airline must reallocate the passenger to the next flight or return the amounts paid.
Main causes of overbooking Overbooking
or oversalling can occur due to a number of factors. One of the most common situations is when there is a technical problem with the aircraft that the passenger will board. Due to the urgency, the airline ends up relocating travelers to smaller planes, which may leave some customers out
of boarding. This can also occur in the case of weather problems, flight delays, connection, stopover, and even passengers who may be relocated to another plane, overcrowding the aircraft and causing overbooking.
What are your rights in the event of an overbooking?
In the event of a flight delay, passengers are entitled to material assistance, such as food, means of communication, transportation, and lodging, depending on how long the trip is delayed. If you missed your flight, it's up to the airline to relocate you as soon as possible
. In Brazil, passengers can choose to board the next flight of the same company or another company, at no additional cost. In addition, it is mandatory to compensate the passenger for the damage caused. If you prefer, it is also possible to continue traveling by other means of transport, such as bus or taxi, at no additional cost.
The passenger can still reschedule the day and time of the flight or request a refund of all amounts paid, including boarding fees. The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) also requires companies to provide immediate compensation in the event of an overbooked flight.
What to do in case of overbooking
If unfortunately you ended up being denied boarding, the ideal is to remain calm and immediately go to the airline counter to assert your rights and solve the problem, whether relocating to another aircraft or reimbursing the amounts paid.
In this case, inform yourself about your rights and assert the best alternative to minimize the problem. If you are unable to resolve the situation, the ideal is to immediately notify the National Civil Aviation Agency so that legal measures can be applied to the company
. How to avoid overbooking
Unfortunately, it is not possible to predict when an overbooking will occur. However, with some measures, you can lower the chances that your shipment will be denied.
One of them is to arrive early for check-in and other boarding procedures. If you can check in online, even better! It is also important to check the day and time of the trip in advance and to embark as soon as possible
. This is because the last to board the aircraft and check in are usually the travelers chosen by the airline to overbook.
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