How I Claimed $600 from Turkish Airlines Flight Overbooking (2025 Guide)

Would you like $600 EUR handed to you for free? As a broke university student, I certainly wasn't going to say no when Turkish Airlines made me that offer. Here's what happened: in July 2025, I got bumped off my flight from Istanbul to Singapore. Instead of being furious, I walked away with cash, free meals, and a story worth telling. The question that kept running through my mind was simple: Should I accept my flight overbooking deal? But there was nothing online that detailed what to expect if I took it. Luckily, time and flexibility was on my side and I'm here to share exactly what went down for anyone else thinking of taking the deal.

Also read: What To Do When Your Flight Is Overbooked

How They Dropped The Offer

Picture this: I'm waiting near the gate, ready to board, when a Turkish Airlines staff member gets on the PA system. They weren't announcing boarding. Instead, they were calling for volunteers to give up their seats. The flight was overbooked, and they needed people willing to take a later flight. My first thought? Absolutely. My second thought? Wait, what are they offering?

The Compensation Package

Then came the details that made my ears perk up. They offered $600 USD in cash as a bank transfer. That alone was tempting enough to make me reconsider my entire schedule. But wait, there was more. For every eight hours of delay, they'd provide meal vouchers. So I wouldn't be stuck starving in Istanbul airport. Plus, they sweetened the deal with a seat upgrade that provided extra legroom on the rebooked flight. My budget-conscious Singaporean brain started calculating immediately. Should I accept my flight overbooking deal? I was seriously considering it now.

The Selection Process

Here's where it got interesting. I wasn't the only one tempted by the $600 USD. Several passengers shot their hands up to volunteer. However, not everyone who volunteered actually got the deal. Turkish Airlines used a fastest fingers first approach. They selected volunteers in order of who raised their hands.

What Actually Happened After I Said Yes

The food vouchers came through immediately, which was a relief. Every eight hours, I got a proper meal. No complaints there. The options for types of meals were limited to the two cheapest options at the food courts.

Image credit: Dex Quek

The rebooked flight did have the promised seat upgrade, and while it was no business class experience, after the wait, my legs appreciated every centimetre of that space. The delay wasn't exactly planned, but the meal vouchers and comfortable seating made it bearable. As an unexpected bonus, I made friends with my fellow overbooking volunteer!

The cash compensation nightmare

Now, here's where things got messy. Remember that $600 USD I was so excited about? Getting it proved far more complicated than accepting the deal. I tried claiming it at the Turkish Airlines office right there in Istanbul Airport. Their response? They didn't have enough cash on hand. I left for Singapore empty-handed, armed only with paperwork and promises. The next several months became a tedious back-and-forth process. Honestly, this part tested my patience more than the actual flight delay.

Here's How To Actually Get Your Money

Let me save you some of the headache I went through. The airport office route didn't work, though it was an effective time killer. Instead, the entire process can be done on the Turkish Airlines website. Be sure to take photos of everything. Snap a picture of your original ticket and the compensation form they give you. Don't lose these documents. Then, head to the Turkish Airlines website and find their feedback form. Look under Feedback > Feedback and Complaints > Flight disruptions > Denial of boarding > Overbooking.

Image credit: Turkish Airlines

Submit your photos and claim through that online system. Take note to quote the number on your flight compensation form, also known as your refund cheque number.

The Claims Process, Outlined

Note that once you begin your claims process, you need to reply with any supporting documents within 5-7 days. However, your refund is valid for the next year.

Here's another tip I learned the hard way. Before you even submit your claim, check your bank account. Make sure it can receive the currency you're claiming Otherwise, you're adding unnecessary conversion complications and delays to an already slow process. At the point of compensation, payments could not be made in SGD, only could be made in the following currencies:

TRY, USD, EUR, GBP, SEK, CHF, CAD, JPY, DKK, NOK, SAR, AUD, KWD, RON, ZAR

Since I asked to claim my compensation in USD, my account needed to accept USD transfers. They required physical bank addresses, so Revolut or Wise accounts didn't qualify. Do ensure your receiving bank account is able to hold multiple currencies.

Additionally, they will also request the following additional information:

So, should I accept my flight overbooking deal?

Looking back at my July 2025 experience, would I do it again? It depends entirely on your circumstances. If you're travelling solo and don't have any urgent commitments back home, then yes, absolutely. That $600 EUR eventually landed in my account, the meals were decent, and the legroom was genuinely comfortable. However, if you're travelling with young children or elderly, have important meetings scheduled, or lack the patience for a months-long claims process, its a hard pass. The deal worked brilliantly for me because I was a flexible solo traveller with time to spare. For everyone else, the hassle might outweigh the appealing perks.

Also read: Travel Tips for Singaporeans Travelling to Eastern Europe: An Essential Survival Guide

Bonus Information If Your Mind Is Not Yet Made Up

Still wondering whether to take their offer after getting this far? They might raise the compensation amount if no one comes forward to volunteer at first. However, the likelihood of this happening varies. I encountered another overbooking offer on my replacement flight, and heard the compensation amount raised to $800 EUR. Not sure if that meant I could double my compensation amount if I volunteered to be bumped off again!