Passengers most likely to be 'bumped' due to an overbooked flight

Certain air passengers are more likely to be "bumped" from overbooked flights, according to new findings. It is not uncommon for flights to turn people away, despite having tickets.

This is because airlines overbook flights to compensate for expected no-shows and cancellations. However, sometimes this means there are more passengers than seats.

Now research has pinpointed the people most likely to be affected by this issue. A survey conducted by YouGov highlighted that your circumstances could make you more likely to be rejected for flights.

Business travellers were found to be more susceptible to this issue during their trips compared to holidaymakers. The survey, which was analysed by Go Compare, revealed that a significant 38% of those flying for business purposes had encountered this problem, in contrast to 16% of leisure travellers.

This is likely due to the frequency of their travel and the travelling alone. Solo travellers are at an increased risk of being impacted by overbooking.

More than a fifth (21%) of lone travellers reported having faced this issue. This is in contrast to only 12% and 16% of those journeying with family or children, respectively.

The study also indicates that travelling with friends can heighten your risk. Nearly a quarter (24%) of flyers who journeyed with friends reported having been affected by airline overbooking.

This could be because these travellers are less inclined to book package holidays compared to those travelling with family or children. Close to a fifth (19%) of travellers who booked their flights separately from their accommodation have experienced overbooking.

In comparison it occurred to just 16% of those on a package trip (where the accommodation and flights are booked together). Overall, the research estimates that approximately 6.6 million UK air passengers are denied boarding annually due to flight overbooking.

What to do if you are removed from a flight

Rhys Jones, a travel insurance specialist at Go Compare, commented: "There are several reasons why certain travellers might be more affected by overbooked flights than others. An airline might decide to deny boarding to a solo traveller over another passenger because it will be easier to rebook one person onto another flight, and it causes the least disruption as they aren't splitting up a group.

"Some passengers would also require more assistance, like families flying with small children. There isn't much you can do to prevent this from happening, but knowing your rights can help if it does.

"Typically, travel insurance doesn't cover you for overbooking, because it is seen as the airline's responsibility. They should book you onto another flight and provide any assistance or compensation required as a result of the delay.

"If you miss a connection, can't get to your accommodation in time, or have to cancel part of your trip as a result, it's also possible that you could claim compensation from your airline for these types of costs. Some insurance policies might offer optional travel disruption cover, which could protect you in the case of overbooking if your airline doesn't offer you a suitable alternative flight. It's worth checking if your provider offers this, and the details of what's included."

For further information on flight overbooking and passenger rights, visit the Go Compare website here.