Air travel can be stressful enough, but finding out your flight has been overbooked at Hanover Airport (HAJ) can turn your travel plans upside down. Airlines often sell more tickets than available seats, leaving passengers stranded. If you’ve been denied boarding due to overbooking, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation under EU Regulation EC 261/2004.
Hanover Airport, a key international hub in northern Germany, serves millions of passengers every year. While it offers smooth connections across Europe and beyond, overbooking remains a common issue. If you’ve experienced this problem, keep reading to learn about your rights and how to claim compensation quickly and effortlessly.
Overbooking is a common airline practice where more tickets are sold than available seats. Airlines justify this by assuming that some passengers will miss their flight. However, when everyone shows up, they have no choice but to deny boarding to some passengers.
If you are denied boarding due to an overbooked flight in Hanover, you are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004. This regulation ensures that passengers receive compensation when airlines overbook flights and fail to provide a seat.
You are entitled to financial compensation if:
You had a confirmed reservation and checked in on time.
Your flight departed from an EU country (or arrived in the EU on an EU airline).
The airline denied you boarding due to overbooking and not because of personal reasons like documentation issues.
The amount of compensation depends on the flight distance:
€250 for flights up to 1,500 km
€400 for flights between 1,500 - 3,500 km
€600 for flights over 3,500 km
These amounts are per passenger, meaning a family of four could receive up to €2,400!
If you’re denied boarding due to overbooking, the airline must offer:
A replacement flight to your destination or a full refund.
Meals and drinks while you wait.
Hotel accommodation if the next flight is on the following day.
Free transport to and from the hotel.
If you find yourself stranded at Hanover Airport (HAJ) due to an overbooked flight, here’s what you should do immediately:
Airlines often try to offer travel vouchers or small compensations instead of the full amount you're entitled to. Do not accept any offers before checking your rights.
Ask the airline staff for a written confirmation stating that your flight was overbooked and you were denied boarding.
Save your boarding pass, booking confirmation, and receipts for any additional expenses like food, transport, or accommodation.
If you need to reach your destination urgently, check flights from Bremen Airport (BRE) or Hamburg Airport (HAM), both of which are within a two-hour drive from Hanover. Trains from Hanover Hauptbahnhof (main station) can take you directly to these airports.
You can claim your compensation easily through Trouble Flight. We handle the entire process, so you don’t have to deal with the airline’s bureaucracy.
If your flight is overbooked, you may want to check departures from nearby airports:
Bremen Airport (BRE) – 120 km from Hanover, about 1 hour by train.
Hamburg Airport (HAM) – 160 km from Hanover, reachable in under 2 hours by train.
Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) – A larger hub with more international connections, around 2.5 hours by train.
Booking a last-minute flight from these airports could save you hours of waiting and frustration!
Train: Germany’s efficient rail system makes it easy to reach Hamburg, Bremen, or Düsseldorf within a few hours.
Bus: Long-distance buses like FlixBus offer direct routes to other major airports.
Car Rental: If traveling with family or in a group, renting a car might be a convenient option.
Under EC261, you have up to three years to file a claim for an overbooked flight. However, we recommend claiming as soon as possible to avoid any complications.
Airlines may deny compensation by claiming the overbooking was unavoidable. Don’t worry – Trouble Flight can fight for your rights! Our team of experts will handle your case and ensure you receive the full compensation you deserve.
If your flight from Hanover was overbooked, don’t let the airline get away with it! Claim your compensation risk-free with Trouble Flight.
Simply enter your flight details on our website, and we’ll take care of everything. No upfront costs – we only get paid when you do!
Check Your Compensation Now and Get What’s Rightfully Yours!