What you need to know about Airline companies who over book your flight .
Overbooking is not illegal and every airline does it to maximise their revenue – because there is almost a zero per cent chance that every passenger will show up for their flight.
Aviation expert Alex Macheras told MailOnline Travel that, as a general rule, families will normally be prioritised.
He said: 'Airline overbooking is necessary as airlines need to ensure that they are not flying with empty seats.
'However, there are procedures in place that are implemented industry-wide, which guide both airport staff and passengers as to how an overbooking scenario should take place. In normal circumstances, if the flight was overbooked by "two seats", then the last two passengers to check in/or reach the gate, will be denied boarding. It also it appears that it can depends on how much a person has spent on their flight and if they are on a loyalty program with the airline.
'On the whole, passengers who are travelling as a family, with children, or have mobility issues would not normally be chosen for "denied boarding" on an overbooked flight. Passengers who have checked in baggage may be safer, because the process of retrieving luggage can add faff and delay. Also if you have a package holiday with the flight operator.
'It tends to be solo passengers, especially those travelling with hand luggage only – and with a high sequence number [people who check in last].'
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Are there other areas of travel where overbooking happens?
Some hotels will oversell routinely. Usually the manager will have in their back pocket some spare rooms in another hotel – where excess guests can be packed off in a taxi with a bit of cash or a free dinner for the inconvenience.
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