overbooked flight

Meaning

An overbooked flight is a flight where the airline has sold more tickets than there are actual seats on the plane. Airlines do this because they expect some passengers not to show up. If everyone does show up, some passengers may be asked to take a later flight in exchange for compensation.

Examples

• I got bumped to a later flight because it was an overbooked flight, but the airline gave me a $400 voucher.

  I got bumped to a later flight because it was an overbooked flight, but the airline gave me a $400 voucher.

• Are you worried about your overbooked flight tomorrow, or do you think they'll find volunteers?

  Are you worried about your overbooked flight tomorrow, or do you think they'll find volunteers?

• The gate agent announced that it was an overbooked flight and offered free hotel stays for anyone willing to travel tomorrow.

  The gate agent announced that it was an overbooked flight and offered free hotel stays for anyone willing to travel tomorrow.

• Dealing with an overbooked flight is always stressful, especially when you have a tight connection.

  Dealing with an overbooked flight is always stressful, especially when you have a tight connection.

• If you end up on an overbooked flight, sometimes it pays to volunteer to get off.

  If you end up on an overbooked flight, sometimes it pays to volunteer to get off.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ My flight was overbooking so I had to wait.

  ✓ My flight was overbooked so I had to wait.

  Use the past participle 'overbooked' to describe the state of the flight, not the continuous 'overbooking'.

• ✗ They sold too much tickets, so it was an overbooked flight.

  ✓ They sold too many tickets, so it was an overbooked flight.

  Since 'tickets' is a countable noun, you must use 'too many' instead of 'too much'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Since it was an ___, they offered me a voucher to take the next plane.

  💡 A flight with more tickets sold than seats.

  Show answer

  overbooked flight

• I hate dealing with an ___ when I have an important meeting to catch.

  💡 When airlines sell too many seats.

  Show answer

  overbooked flight