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Overbooking: Denied Boarding Compensation in Spain
Bumped by overbooking? The airline must pay €250–€600 on the spot, plus a refund or new flight.
1. Your flight
2. What happened?
Result
Add your route to see your amount
Choose where you flew from and to (or type the distance).
3. Your rights
- ✔Right to care while you wait: meals and drinks, and a hotel plus transport if you're delayed overnight. Keep receipts; reasonable costs can be claimed back.
- ✔Delay of 5 hours or more, or a cancellation: you can choose a full refund instead of flying.
- ✔Compensation is per passenger, including children with a seat.
- ✔Claims companies take 25–35% plus VAT. Claiming yourself is free.
- ✔You can ask for cash: you don't have to accept vouchers.
✉️ 4. Your claim letter
🧭 What to do next
- Send the letter to the airline's customer service or claims form, with your booking reference and boarding passes. Keep proof you sent it.
- Wait for the reply (the airline has a month to answer). Don't accept vouchers if you want cash.
- If they refuse or don't reply: file a complaint with AESA (Spain's aviation safety agency), free and online.
- Still not paid? Go to court: up to €2,000 you don't need a lawyer or court representative (juicio verbal).
General information, not legal advice. 🔒 Everything stays on your device.
✅ Rules last checked:
📚 Official sources: Reglamento (CE) n.º 261/2004 (EUR-Lex) · AESA
We build every tool from the official rules and re-check them when they change. Always confirm with the official source before you rely on a result.
🛠️ Spotted a mistake or an out-of-date rule? Tell us
Answer: under Regulation (EC) 261/2004, a flight leaving Spain (or arriving on a European airline) 3 hours or more late pays €250 up to 1,500 km, €400 within the EU over 1,500 km or up to 3,500 km, and €600 over 3,500 km. On long flights 3–4 hours late, the airline can pay half. Nothing is due in extraordinary circumstances (weather, air traffic control).
| Route (example) | Distance | 3 h late | 4 h or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madrid → Barcelona | 483 km | 250 € | 250 € |
| Madrid → Tenerife North | 1771 km | 400 € | 400 € |
| Barcelona → Palma de Mallorca | 202 km | 250 € | 250 € |
| Madrid → Paris Charles de Gaulle | 1064 km | 250 € | 250 € |
| Barcelona → Frankfurt | 1094 km | 250 € | 250 € |
| Madrid → Bogotá | 8031 km | 300 € | 600 € |
| Madrid → Mexico City | 9067 km | 300 € | 600 € |
Per passenger, when the cause is the airline's (fault, crew, overbooking). The Canary Islands count as EU for the Regulation.
Questions people ask
How long do I have to claim in Spain?+
Spanish courts apply the general 5-year limit to EU261 compensation. Still, claim from the airline as soon as you can and keep all proof.
Does a strike count?+
If it's the airline's own staff striking, yes (EU Court of Justice). Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances.