Overbooking has always been a common practice in the airline industry – especially among the UK carriers – where airlines sell more flight tickets than there are seats on the plane, banking on the fact that some passengers won’t turn up. But the tactic has been under more scrutiny of late as more and more travelers find themselves at the airport, inconvenienced by being bumped from flights. It’s thought in 2025, millions of UK passengers will be caught out by overbooking in just over a year. As families and package holiday customers are usually afforded priority and solo travelers are more likely to be left stranded by travel chaos, the increase in overbooking complaints has led to mounting anger from passengers, consumer groups and travel experts.

Overbooking is a common practice in the aviation industry, where airlines sell more tickets than the number of available seats, banking on the fact that some passengers will not show up. While this often works in the airline’s favor, it can lead to significant problems when all passengers show up for their flight, leaving the airline scrambling to deal with the excess demand.

When a flight is overbooked and more passengers show up than there are seats, the airline is forced to “bump” some travelers to a later flight. However, the process of selecting which passengers will be moved is not random. According to the founder of Dollar Flight Club, airlines tend to prioritize certain passengers over others, particularly those who check in last or who do not have assigned seats. These passengers are often first in line for the dreaded bump.

The inconvenience of being bumped from a flight can quickly turn a relaxing holiday into a stressful ordeal. However, there are ways to make your booking less likely to be targeted in the event of overbooking. While there is no surefire way to avoid it, taking a few precautionary steps can help minimize the chances of being bumped.

For instance, passengers flying with airlines like Jet2 and TUI have been given advice on how to protect themselves, especially if their flight is scheduled before noon. Flying at off-peak times, especially in the early morning or late evening, can sometimes help reduce the chances of overbooking, as these flights are generally less crowded. Checking in as early as possible and securing an assigned seat is also an effective strategy to avoid being bumped, as it makes your booking appear less appealing for the airline to move.

Some interesting findings from a Go.Compare survey shed light on which passengers are most likely to be bumped. It revealed that families flying together are among the least likely to be targeted, with only 12% of such travelers facing overbooking issues. Similarly, only 16% of those traveling with children experienced being bumped, as airlines are less likely to disrupt family groups by moving individual passengers. Those traveling on package holidays, where flights and accommodations are bundled together, were also less frequently affected, with only 16% experiencing overbooking situations.

On average, overbooking affects about 6.6 million passengers annually, according to Go.Compare’s estimates. This statistic highlights just how common the practice is and how important it is for travelers to understand their rights when it occurs.

Travel insurance expert Rhys Jones explained why airlines tend to prioritize some passengers over others in these situations. Solo travelers are often the most likely to be bumped, as they are easier to rebook onto other flights without causing significant disruption. Rebooking a solo passenger is simpler and doesn’t involve splitting up groups or families, making it a more efficient solution for the airline. This targeted approach means that passengers traveling alone may have a higher risk of being bumped than those flying in groups.

If you do end up being bumped from your flight, it is important to know your rights. The first step is to inquire with the airline staff about compensation options. Airlines are required to offer compensation in the form of meal vouchers, hotel stays, or even reimbursement for the inconvenience caused. Additionally, they should provide assistance in rebooking you onto another flight as soon as possible.

However, it’s important to note that travel insurance usually does not cover overbooking situations, as it is considered the airline’s responsibility. Insurance policies typically exclude overbooking-related issues, as it falls under the airline’s operational practices. In such cases, passengers will need to rely on the airline’s compensation policy to cover their expenses.

But overbooking still happens, and UK airlines continue to book more passengers than they have seats.Tens of thousands of passengers in the UK are bumped from flights each year. This controversial practice, although profitable for airlines, has come under criticism for inconveniencing passengers, especially when they travel solo or without preassigned seats.

In closing, overbooking may be a business as usual in the airline industry, but that doesn’t come without consequences to passengers. If you have a sense of how airlines deal with overbooked flights and you do some proactive work to make your booking less desirable from a bumping perspective, you will lower your chances of being on the receiving end of this situation. And if you ultimately do get bumped, understanding your rights — including how to ask for compensation — will help you handle the situation more effectively.