How to Get Turkish Airlines Compensation for Overbooking

Joanna Teljeur

By:  Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated:  12 November 2025

If you were involuntarily denied boarding from a Turkish Airlines flight, you could get as much as $2,150 in compensation!

Check if you are entitled to compensation with our free compensation calculator.

Turkish Airlines Overbooking: What it Means for Passengers

You’re at the gate, waiting to board when you hear the gate agent calling for volunteers to take a different flight because the current one is overbooked. Chances are you’re wondering how this could affect your trip.

In most cases, when a Turkish Airlines flight is overbooked, here’s what will happen.

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1. Turkish Airline agents will call for passengers willing to give up their seat 

Rather than having to prevent a ticketed passenger from boarding, most airlines, including Turkish Airlines, will first make a bid to waiting passengers to see if anyone has the flexibility to take a different flight in exchange for an agreed upon compensation package. If you step forward to surrender your seat, it is called voluntary denied boarding.

Voluntary denied boarding packages can include:

• A new flight to your destination or a full ticket refund
• Vouchers for meals and lodging as well as related transport, if needed
• Cash, travel vouchers, and other perks like lounge access or seat upgrades.

2. If Turkish Airlines can’t get enough volunteers, they will choose passengers to deny boarding

This is known as involuntary denied boarding. Usually, they will begin the selection process with those travellers who checked-in last.

If you’re chosen by the airline to involuntarily give up your seat, you will receive the following:

• A new flight to your destination or a full ticket refund
• Cash compensation up to $2,150 that you should receive immediately

If you were involuntarily downgraded to a lower seating class on your rebooked flight, you will be compensated but if you are upgraded, you don’t have to pay the difference.

 

Who is Denied Boarding on Turkish Airlines?

Airlines usually follow certain rules when it comes to bumping passengers from an overbooked flight. The most likely candidates for involuntary denied boarding are:

• Passengers without a seat assignment
• Passengers who check-in and arrive at the gate late
• Economy passengers with the cheapest fares
• Passengers without frequent flyer or loyalty status

Turkish Airlines Compensation for Overbooked Denied Boarding 

If your Turkish Airlines flight is departing from the United States, the airline must comply with the rules of the US Department of Transportation. So, if you’ve been involuntarily denied boarding an overbooked flight, you will be entitled to the following amounts based on how late you arrive at your final destination. Also, you should receive these amounts immediately without having to specifically request it.

Frequently Overbooked Turkish Airlines Routes

While you might not be able to avoid overbooked flights completely, it is helpful to know which routes are overbooked the most. Usually, the busiest routes are the ones most likely to be oversold, and this is especially true during peak travel seasons. 

Some of the busiest Turkish Airlines routes are:

• Istanbul to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Istanbul
• Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Istanbul

What to Do if You’re Denied Boarding

1. Ask why it happened. Turkish Airlines should give you a statement, outlining why you were refused boarding and the approximate compensation total. Keep this document because if you don’t receive your payout, you’ll need to file a claim. 
2. Decide on a new flight or a refund. Ask about a new flight to your destination. You do have the option to request a refund as well.
3. Ask for meals and lodging. If you choose to be rebooked and you have a while to wait at the airport, ask for meal or hotel vouchers, especially for overnight delays.
4. Avoid vouchers. You should be given your compensation immediately, but airlines like to push travel vouchers in place of cash. But remember, you have a right to cash if you prefer that over credits and vouchers.

When Compensation for Denied Boarding Doesn’t Apply

You will not receive compensation from Turkish Airlines if you were denied boarding because of the following reasons.

• You were intoxicated.
• You were interfering with or not following the instructions of the flight crew.
• You were displaying unruly behavior towards the crew and other passengers. 
• You were denied boarding because of other reasons aside from overbooking. 

Need Help with a Claim?

If you’ve been bumped from a flight and need help getting compensated, AirAdvisor is happy to assist. We’ve been protecting air passengers’ rights since 2017, and our legal team has a 98% win rate for airline compensation claims. See if your flight is eligible by entering your basic flight details into our free compensation checker.

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Author:

Joanna Teljeur

Job/Position: Senior Editor & Content Lead

Joanna Teljeur is a senior editor and writer with 15+ years of experience in editorial leadership, journalism, and content development with a focus on consumer rights, aviation law, and public-interest reporting. Her work centers on transforming complex regulatory and legal topics into clear, accurate, and accessible content for international audiences.

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