Art. 4 EU 261 — denied boarding triggers compensation + assistance

Article 4 of EU 261/2004 covers what happens when you are denied boarding despite a valid booking and timely check-in — usually due to overbooking.

Three rights at once (Art. 4(3)):

1. Compensation under Art. 7 — €250 / €400 / €600 per passenger by distance. Not reduced by re-routing within 3 hours (unlike for delays).
2. Choice between reimbursement or re-routing (Art. 8) — reimbursement within 7 days, or substitute transport at the earliest opportunity, or later on a date of your choice.
3. Care during the wait (Art. 9) — meals, phone calls, hotel + transport for overnight stays.

Volunteers first (Art. 4(1)): the carrier must first ask for volunteers to give up the flight in exchange for agreed benefits. Only after that may they involuntarily deny boarding. If you give up voluntarily, your rights under Art. 8 + 9 still apply, but Art. 7 compensation is replaced by what was agreed (usually a voucher).

Finnair ruling (C-22/11): denied boarding due to reorganisation after an earlier strike is not "extraordinary circumstances" — overbooking is always business risk. The carrier cannot hide behind it.

Practical: denied boarding? First demand written evidence of the refusal at the gate (email/voucher is enough). Ask if volunteers were sought — if not, that's already a procedural error.