Why Airlines Sell More Seats Than They Have

Imagine that you’ve bought plane tickets, say, half a year before the flight. You count down the days before the trip, pack a suitcase, and take a taxi to the airport. There’s a traffic jam on the way, so you don’t get there early enough to be first at the check-in desk. And yet you’re on time, so you give your passport to the employee and… You hear that check-in is closed, and there are no free seats left on the plane.
Have you ever found yourself in an overbooking situation? It means that there are more passengers checked in for flight than seats on board the plane. It sounds crazy, but airlines usually sell more tickets than there are seats available on the plane on purpose. Having a ticket doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll be able to fly to your destination. Here's why it occurs, and what to do in case it happens to you.
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TIMESTAMPS:
Why on Earth would they sell more tickets than seats?