In the course of the proceedings, Iberia contended that the situation in question was not denied boarding but a missed connection – which does not give rise to compensation – since the decision to deny the applicants boarding was not attributable to overbooking, but to the delay to the earlier flight.
Menetluse käigus väitis Iberia, et seda olukorda ei saa käsitleda „lennureisist mahajätmise”, vaid ümberistumisega lennust mahajäämisena – mille korral hüvitist ei maksta –, kuna nende lennureisist mahajätmise otsust ei tinginud ülemüümine, vaid varasema lennu hilinemine.