We’ve all either been a victim of, or have heard of flight overbooking at times. While it’s extremely frustrating when it happens, the level of frustration really depends on the exact airline you’re travelling with.
Some airlines are more considerate than others and provide proper compensation while others may be blatantly careless.
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Air Dolomiti’s Approach to Overbooking: An Overview
In this article, we will primarily explore the overbooking strategies and policies for Air Dolomiti. What happens when they overbook? Do they abide by the required regulations? Do you get any Air Dolomiti Compensation? If yes, how much and what’s the mode of payment?
Let’s dive in then!
What is Overbooking?
As the name suggests, Overbooking is the act of booking more tickets for a plane than its number of seats.
This is not an error or a mistake and rather a conscious tactic. It’s done so that in case some passengers do not show, the airline can still fill their seats.
The calculations are done using software and algorithms that predict the number of possible no-shows for a certain route.
Of course, the problem arises when the prediction goes wrong!
Air Dolomiti’s Policy: Balancing Demand and Capacity
Air Dolomiti is one of the few Airlines that actually shows more care about its passengers than its contemporaries. Let’s briefly discuss how it tackles the problems.
Proactive Measures to Prevent Passenger Disruption
These are simple yet extremely helpful steps, when taken.
Advanced notification
Instead of a last minute notification, if passengers are notified in advanced of the lack of seat, it causes less of a stress for both the parties. Also, alternate ways for the travel can be arranged as there’s still some time left for the deadline.
Be honest and transparent
On some tickets, overbooking policies are mentioned honestly and transparently. Passengers know their rights when this happens and the next steps. This reduces the overall stress as well.
Voluntary vs. Involuntary bumping
There are two ways passengers can be bumped when a flight is overbooked.
Voluntary bumping is the best, most peaceful way to resolve things. It’s when the airline asks for a volunteer who willingly gives up his/her seat for compensation.
In this case, the compensation isn’t decided by a rulebook and instead depends on the volunteer and the airline. A negotiation is reached and the seat is then vacated.
Involuntary bumping is when no one is ready to vacate their seat for the waiting passengers voluntarily. In this case, in accordance with EC261/2004, the airline must compensate the flyer.
Here’s a list of Air Dolomiti’s compensation rates:
- According to EC261/2004, if the Airline finds the passenger a flight that causes the passenger a delay of less than 3 hours, no compensation needs to be paid.
- €250 for flights equal to 1,500 km or less
- €400 for flights covering 1,500+ within the EU
- €400 for flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km outside of the EU;
- €600 for flights longer than 3,500 km’
Air Dolomiti rebooking procedures
Here’s what happens if you draw the short straw and your flight is overbooked with Air Dolomiti:
- Alternative flight and meal plus accommodation: The airline will find you an alternate flight. If the gap between your original and new flight is more than 2 hours, you’ll be provided meal as well as accommodation.
- Next day flights: If there are no flights available on the same day, you’ll still be provided meal and accommodations. You also have the option to completely deny the next day flight. In this case, you’d be eligible for a ticket refund.
- Collaboration with other airlines: Another option is, the Air Dolomiti staff finds you an alternate flight with another airline. They’ve internal agreements which make this possible.
Do note that Air Dolomiti adhere to EC261/2004 and will cater to your food and accommodation in case of an overbooking.
Final words on Overbooking Practices: How Air Dolomiti Manages Compensation and Rebooking
That’s it folks. By now, you must have a pretty neat idea of what’s overbooking and how airlines, specifically Air Dolomiti tackles it.
Do note that the tactics differ for each airline, and so does the compensation. The level of response you get from the airlines also is specific to each airline.
All in all, rest easy knowing most airlines adhere to govt. rules and you’re taken care of in case an issue arises.
