Airlines overbook tickets by up to 5%

Airlines are allowed to overbook flights, and it's a common practice in the aviation industry. According to experts, they overbook up to 5% of a flight's tickets.

The practice is based on the statistical calculation that some passengers will not show up for boarding due to last-minute cancellations, changes in plans, or missed connections, allowing airlines to maximize flight occupancy and reduce financial losses.

"However, this process can cause inconvenience to passengers, so regulations must exist to protect their rights and prevent airline abuse," explained Pablo Casas Lías, director of the National Institute of Aeronautical Legal Research.

"It's supposedly permissible to overbook up to 5% of the available seats on a plane," he added. This practice allows airlines to avoid losing money in a competitive market with tight profit margins. However, it can affect passengers, as overbooking is common toward high-demand destinations and worsens during peak seasons.

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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) The US considers that the impact on passengers due to overbooking is minimal, affecting only 0.1% of travelers. Meanwhile, President Claudia Sheinbaum pointed out last week the need to review the overbooking of tickets by airlines.

Recently, two initiatives were introduced in the Chamber of Deputies to reform the Civil Aviation Law, promoted by the Morena and Green parties. These initiatives specifically address the fourth paragraph of Articles 49 and 52, which increase penalties for airlines overbooking and provide greater compensation for passengers.

Among the proposed sanctions is an increase from 25% to 35% of the compensation that must be paid to the passenger when they cannot board their flight because it was overbooked. In addition to a 100% compensation of the total cost of the ticket, in cash, Therefore, refunds cannot be issued in the form of credit, partial payments, gift cards, e-wallets, bonuses, reprints of another ticket, discounts, points, and/or any other type of payment.

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They also suggest a progressive fine. For the first violation of the regulation, it will be 500 UMAS (Measurement and Update Units); for the second, for repeat offenses, it will be 1,500 UMAS; and for the third, it will be 5,000 UMAS, in addition to a warning for the airline.

Viva Aerobus stated that overbooking is a practice regulated by the Civil Aviation Law and permitted for all commercial airlines in the country: "This policy, applied responsibly, allows us to offer options to passengers who need to travel at the last minute."

"However, when its implementation causes any impact to passengers with confirmed reservations, we have compensation and assistance mechanisms, including relocation to the nearest available flight, in accordance with current regulations," the airline stated.