Airline Vouchers...

[SuzyQue]

While getting her gate pass online for her flight to Ft. Myers on NWA, my mom found out that her flight had been "grossly" overbooked. She was offered a voucher if she agreed to a later flight (she couldn't do this though). She called to warn me that I might have the same thing happen when we fly down to MCO in a couple of weeks. So I want to try and decide ahead of time what we would do if this happens to us. I know the vouchers have to be used within a year, but will they be for the full amount I paid for the flight? And can they be for flying anywhere? And do they have black-out dates? I guess what I'm asking is, are they worth delaying your trip for? ~~

 

[idontknow]

It all depends on how much they are offering. Anything is possible. We've gotten vouchers from Delta for our last 3 flights because I watch their prices like a hawk and call them if our flight goes down in price. We've never had a problem using the vouchers. I just call to get a price quote (after checking online to see if there is price difference) and let them know I have vouchers I want to use. I've never run into blackout dates. The only inconvience the first two times I redeemed vouchers was that I had to go to our airport to buy the tickets. Delta has now started puting the voucher amount on our skymiles accounts. The last time I use the "vouchers" I just let them know what I was doing when I bought the tickets over the phone. (etickets are great!)

As for being worth your while? That is up to you. Can you leave the night before to give you more time? Is it only a few hours difference that you can live with? If they are offering $100 for a 2 hour flight delay, I personally, would take it, but that is me. If they were offering $200 for a 6 hour delay, I would have to think about it. I would probably take it though. From Indy, that would pay for another trip, air wise, and still have some left for another trip on top of that. If my air ticket would cost me $300 and they are offering $200, I don't think I would take it for a longer delay. It all depends on what you are willing to do.

 

[SuzyQue]

Thanks for the reply idontknow Has anyone out there received a voucher for bumping to a later flight? ~~

 

[Eeyore1954]

I travel a lot on business and look for opportunities to "get bumped" whenever possible -- for the right price.

You need to carefully listen to the airlines offer and if you don't understand it, talk to the gate agent. Ask questions!

As for me, I won't settle for anything less than $300 plus a guaranteed seat on the next flight. If they offer a free round-trip ticket (United did this for my DW and I last year on a flight from Orlando to Chicago that was grossly overbooked) - then I am on it immediately. But that's kinda rare.

Other things to ask for: a meal voucher so you can get something to eat; if they can't get you on a flight the same day, ask for a hotel voucher to cover expenses.

In our case, United gave us the free round-trip ticket and a meal voucher for $18. The flights that day to Chicago were all grossly overbooked (some AMA convention ended that same day), so we tried to bump again and snag a 2nd set of free tickets and a free hotel room for the night at a Radisson. But I guess we looked a little too anxious to bump as we got put on the next flight out!

 

[SuzyQue]

Thanks Eeyore1954 (very good year ), that's exactly the info I was looking for. If the flight is overbooked, when I go online for my boarding pass, will they want my answer then? Or are you normally required to show up for your scheduled flight, and then make arrangements? ~~

 

[Eeyore1954]

Usually they announce it prior to boarding. When I check in, I ask if the flight is "crowded" -- one way to ask without using the dreaded word "overbooked." But it would be very rare to get bumped at check-in.

Volunteering to bump is done when they get ready to board and they ask for volunteers -- usually because the flight is really overbooked and they want to avoid having to choose passengers to bump. I park myself near the counter so I can jump as soon as I hear "overbooked" or "oversold". Once in line I can check out the deal -- if it's too little, then I sit down and wait.

Then you can try to play the odds and see if the airline will up the ante for volunteers. Sometimes they start low and then as the boarding time gets closer and they get more desperate they'll offer a little more incentive. Sometimes it works -- other times it doesn't.

I haven't been too lucky since last May -- while most flights were fairly full, none were incredibly overbooked.

Maybe I am traveling to the "wrong" places?!?!

 

[SuzyQue]

Thanks again Eeyore1954, you've been oh so helpful with your info & tips! ~~

 

[shelly3girls]

We were on a USAir flight that was overbooked. The flight was so overbooked that they offered 3 free round trip tickets to everyone in our party of 11. We of course took them up on it. We also received lunch vouchers. I guess it depends on the airline, but we have flown USAir alot and it appears to me that they always offer free round-trip tickets to anywhere in the continental US.

 

[honeymo78]

Shelly
I have heard the same thing about UsAirways. My last trip home from Disney was overbooked and they were offering free round trip airfare to anyone who took the later flight. We were very tempted to take it but we had no way of notifying the person who was picking us up and mom had to be at work in the morning. The flight we booked home for this Aug appeared to be nearly full already (at least when we tried to pick seats on Expedia) so hopefully it will be overbooked and we will get a free flight (only taking a taxi this time so no worries if we are late).

 

[holidaybarb]

Twice when I've taken a voluntary bump they've put me on a later flight in first class. Nice! That's in addition to the vouchers or free flight.