By checking in early and getting to the gate with plenty of time, you’ve done everything right. But then the airline throws a curveball, announcing an overbooked flight. Instead of boarding passengers, gate agents ask for volunteers to give up their seats. Then they stop asking and start bumping passengers off the flight. And they may call your name.

This situation, which can be deeply inconvenient, is entirely legal. Airlines are allowed to oversell flights, a practice relied on to account for no-shows and to maximize revenue. Another reason they bump passengers? To swap aircraft for a smaller one with fewer seats because of factors such as weight restrictions or maintenance issues.

The good news from this bad situation? Passengers can generally expect to get compensated when they’re bumped, either voluntarily or involuntarily — and in amounts that could be quite attractive.

First, know what you are entitled to.

In an airline’s contract of

Keep reading this article on The New York Times Your Money.