Glossary
Overbooking
Definition: Overbooking is the airline practice of selling more tickets for a flight than there are seats available, based on statistical predictions that some passengers will not show up.
Airlines overbook because an average of 5–15% of passengers don’t show up for their flights. By selling extra tickets, airlines ensure flights depart as full as possible, maximising revenue and keeping fares lower overall. Revenue management algorithms calculate the optimal overbooking level for each flight.
When more passengers show up than expected, the airline must find solutions: offering incentives for volunteers to take a later flight, rebooking passengers on alternative flights, or as a last resort, involuntarily denying boarding with mandatory compensation.
Business class is less frequently overbooked than economy because premium passengers have higher show-up rates and the financial consequences of mishandling are greater. However, overbooking can still occur on high-demand routes. Consolidator tickets from BookMyBusinessClass are fully confirmed reservations with the same protections as any airline ticket.