Vueling Denied Boarding: Your Expert Guide on Overbooked Flights

Written By Joanna Teljeur

Last Updated: April 23, 2025

Have you ever been refused boarding a Vueling flight because there were too many passengers? If there weren’t enough seats for everyone, then your flight was probably overbooked, but you could be eligible for up to £520 (€600) in compensation. 

In this guide, we’re going to explore what it means to be denied boarding, your rights as a Vueling passenger, and how to get the compensation you deserve.

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What it Means When Vueling Overbooks Flights

Involuntary denied boarding can happen for many reasons, but if it was because the airline deliberately sold more tickets than available seats, you could be eligible for cash compensation. Here’s what usually happens when Vueling flights are oversold

Step 1: Vueling will look for volunteers

First, Vueling will look for volunteers to surrender their seats. Airlines don’t want to force passengers off a flight, so to avoid this, they’ll offer a compensation package to anyone willing to step forward. In addition to a rebooking, the airline will also offer other incentives like cash, points or miles, travel vouchers, lounge access, and seating upgrades. Passengers can negotiate with Vueling for better deals, especially as departure time nears!

Step 2: Vueling will deny some passengers the right to board

If too few passengers step up to surrender their seat, Vueling will begin choosing passengers to deny boarding. They usually begin with travellers who checked-in and showed up at the gate last. After that, they will begin selecting passengers from the lowest priced seats. 

Will Vueling Help You if You’re Denied Boarding?

Even if you’re denied boarding against your will, you won’t be left stranded. In fact, Regulations EU261 and UK261 both protect you in these situations. So if you are denied boarding, Vueling must help you get to your destination by offering:

• A replacement flight at no additional cost, or
• A refund for the unused parts of your ticket, plus a return flight to your original point of departure.

If you decide to accept an alternate flight and you have a while to wait before departure, Vueling must provide:

• Meals and refreshments if you have to wait for at least 2 hours at the airport, and
• 2 free phone calls or free access to wi-fi or email, and
• Free hotel lodging if your new flight departs the next day.

Cash Compensation for Vueling Denied Boarding

If your flight was oversold and you were involuntarily denied boarding, you could collect as much as £520 (€600) in compensation, based on the distance of your flight as seen in the table below.

It’s important to point out that Vueling compensation could be reduced by 50% if you accept a rebooking and arrive:

• Within 2 hours of your original flight for flights up to 1,500 km, 
• Within 3 hours for flights between 1,500- 3,500 km or 
• Within 4 hours for flights longer than 3,500 km.

Steps to Take if Your Denied Boarding by Vueling

Airlines must treat you fairly, but compensation - whether it’s cash or otherwise, isn’t automatic. You have to file a claim with the airline which means you will need to provide proof of what happened.

So, if you are denied boarding, be sure to take the following steps.

1. Get written confirmation explaining why you were denied boarding.
2. Request a replacement flight or a refund.
3. Ask for care and assistance if you are forced to wait for hours at the airport for your flight. If you must wait until the next day for your departure, request hotel lodging and transport.
4. Document everything. Keep all correspondence with the airline as well as boarding passes, receipts for essential purchases, and any other documents to prove that you were involuntarily denied boarding an overbooked flight.

Why Does Vueling Overbook Flights?

The short answer is that they simply want to make sure every flight is at capacity. Having every seat full maximises profits, so to meet this objective, Vueling will use a combination of data and statistics to determine what percentage of passengers are likely to miss their flight. 

While some passengers cancel at short notice, others arrive late because of missed connections or earlier delays and cancellations. Overbooking makes up the difference, ensuring that every flight is profitable.

When Denied Boarding Compensation Doesn’t Apply

As mentioned in the beginning, there are many reasons why a passenger could be denied boarding, and not all of them qualify for cash compensation. 

So, if Vueling refuses to let you board your flight for any of the reasons below, you will not be eligible for compensation.

• Posing a security or safety concern
• Presenting communicable health issues 
• Engaging in unruly behaviour towards the crew and other passengers. 
• Intoxication or acting under the influence of illegal drugs
• Interfering with the duties of the flight crew
• Failure to have the correct travel documents

How to Avoid Overbooked Flights

Here are a few things you can do to minimise your chances of having an overbooked flight in the future.

1. Always check in and arrive at the gate as early as possible
2. Get a seat assignment when you check-in or do so during the booking process! Passengers without a seat are more likely to be denied boarding.
3. Try to avoid discounted or basic economy seats. 
4. Join Vueling’s loyalty program as frequent flyers are less likely to be chosen for involuntary denied boarding.
5. Choose flights operating on off-peak days and times like during the middle of the week.

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 checkerCheck Your Flight