Overbooking flights in SA is (finally) illegal

Updated April 15, 2025, 8:44 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast / Skyye Ndlovu

The National Consumer Commission has officially warned airlines: overbooking flights is illegal, and here’s why.

Imagine this. You’ve booked your flight, triple-checked your email for the confirmation, packed your bags, and arrived at the airport ridiculously early (because – anxiety).

Then, bam! You’re told the flight is full. “Wait… I have a ticket though? How?”

Welcome to the world of flight overbooking.

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is not impressed by this and now they’ve made it clear: overbooking is illegal under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

Airlines selling more tickets than there are seats on a plane? Yeah, that’s a big no-no.

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According to IOL, this all came to a head after an incident last year involving FlySafair.

A passenger with a perfectly valid ticket was left behind, probably watching the plane take off like a bad breakup scene in a romcom.

That kicked off a full-on investigation into overbooking practices among low-cost carriers in South Africa.

FlySafair defended the practice, saying it helps keep ticket prices low because what’s affordability without a touch of chaos?

Meanwhile, airlines like CemAir made it as clear as Prince T’Challa: “This is Wakanda, we don’t do that here.”

During a joint parliamentary meeting, acting NCC commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu didn’t mince words. Overbooking is not just shady, it’s illegal.

“The CPA prohibits suppliers from accepting payment for goods or services that don’t exist,” he said.

Translation: if there’s no seat, don’t sell the ticket. Simple.

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Now, Parliament is considering whether to launch a full-blown enquiry into what’s being called potential “anti-competitive behaviour” in the low-cost airline space.

So, next time you’re booking a budget flight, maybe pack an extra snack, a neck pillow, and a backup plan.

Just in case.