Anyone ever been ready to board

[luvmylittleboy2003]

and then told 'sorry, you can't board - we are overbooked' this just happened to my friend when she flew on AA . AA told them they would rent them (her and her mom) a cab to take them to another airport 2 hrs away, they could then catch a flight there and arrive at their destination that away . How often does this happen? I'm a little nervous because the plane we are flying on is booked both ways, and again, traveling with a 4 year old - this wouldn't be a very ideal situation . It wouldn't bother me in the least, if it was just me and my husband.

 

[a1tinkfans]

and then told 'sorry, you can't board - we are overbooked' this just happened to my friend when she flew on AA . AA told them they would rent them (her and her mom) a cab to take them to another airport 2 hrs away, they could then catch a flight there and arrive at their destination that away . How often does this happen? I'm a little nervous because the plane we are flying on is booked both ways, and again, traveling with a 4 year old - this wouldn't be a very ideal situation . It wouldn't bother me in the least, if it was just me and my husband.

Usually those that can get bumped are those that check in late/the latest. All airlines overbook, but I have NEVER been bumped off. Thats why usually you arrive earlier and check in early.
Did they arrive late? Curious.
That by the way is HORRIBLE I hope they were compensated to their satisfaction.

 

[CarolA]

Was this by any chance "American Eagle" AKA as TINY planes? I have seen that on them since some of the tiny planes are "weight dependent" so even if you have a seat if they are overweight.....

Otherwise this is a new one since it sounds like they were in the gate area wiht a boarding pass. If they had just raced up late AA would have said TOO BAD. (Customer service not being thier strong suit LOL!)

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

Was this by any chance "American Eagle" AKA as TINY planes? I have seen that on them since some of the tiny planes are "weight dependent" so even if you have a seat if they are overweight.....

Otherwise this is a new one since it sounds like they were in the gate area wiht a boarding pass. If they had just raced up late AA would have said TOO BAD. (Customer service not being thier strong suit LOL!)

This was American Airlines, and they were actually boarding, her mom was through boarding and my friend was right behind her, they let the mom go and stopped her .

 

[CarolA]

I would have pitched a fit... I really think this had to be a small plane, not a jet.

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

I would have pitched a fit... I really think this had to be a small plane, not a jet.

Oh they did, and the guy working wouldn't talk to them, he told them 'that is the way it is' and that was his final statement, no matter how much they talked he wouldn't respond, but, get this - after all of this - the guy working let 3 more ppl board - I think it did that out of spite - and knew there wasn't anything they could do about it. They did go to a manager and he was the one that paid for their cab ride to another airport .

 

[Colinsmom]

I used to fly quite a bit for business, and only saw that happen once.

Once on Northwest (commuter jet), the plane was loaded, and then about 8-10 standby passengers were boarded. The plane pushed back, sat there for 10-15 minutes while they loaded the belly with bags of US mail (I was watching out my window). Then the plane returned to the gate and announced that all the standby passengers had to get off the plane since the plane was over its weight limit.

I wasn't one of those standby passengers, but all this stupidity delayed the flight and caused me to miss my connection. That's why I avoid Northwest AND connections at all costs - but it just wasn't avoidable on this trip due to the location and timing.

 

[ntsammy5]

This is not unusual, but usually they know in advance and ask people to surrender seats. Airlines are using small Regional Jets (RJ) more and more to cut costs so the chances of this happening are greater and greater. There are compensation standards for getting bumped and airlines rarely sweeten the pot anymore. This has happened to me more than a few times. I'm glad I don't travel as much as I used to.

 

[DebbieB]

I've flown over 50,000 miles a year the past 2 years for business and I've never had that happen. Most of the times they are overbooked they ask for volunteers to give up their seats for compensation. There are usually volunteers and many times they don't even need them because some people don't show up.

Just be sure to have seat assignments (unless it's SW) and check in early.

 

[Anne34]

We were on a United Flight to Puerto Vallarta last March. They were way overbooked. They offered compensation to change tickets for about 12 people!!! Finally got enough people to change -- got on the plane and then one last family gets on. The mom gets a seat, the teen daughter is in the back of the plane and the dad keeps looking for his seat. His seat was already filled!! They had double booked the seat. The flight attendents told him to get off the plane, they had to close the door and somebody would be able to help him at the gate. The rest of the family protested, but they made him get off saying h would get there later that day. He didn't get there until the next day after a scary overnight in Mexico City where he didn't make the connection (overbooked) and has to stay at the airport!!!

I would want MAJOR compensation for something like that!!

 

[BigTigger]

I'm a two million miler on Delta and one million miler on United and have flown on almost every other airline in the world somewhere over the last 15 years. I've never seen a person with a boarding pass in hand denied boarding except for when they were under the influence or causing a commotion. I have seen seats double booked as another poster noted too many times to count. That being said, having a boarding pass in hand greatly raises the cost to the airline to bump you as you have followed the rules of the airline passenger act. The first manager should have provided the compensation later offered by the other manager as a matter of course. Customer service is so poor with AA these days though, they should be glad they got anything in a timely manner. I get most of my satisfaction with them much later when my emails and calls finally get to someone who can satisfy the customer.

 

[dudspizza]

Would love some clarification from the OP .

What kind of aircraft were they on? You only say American Airlines, but they could have been on a 40-50 seater contracted out to American Eagle under the name American Airlines.

When did they check in. Typically, airlines have procedures for who gets bumped first. They don't just go eenie, meenie, minie, moe... I pick YOU to be denied boarding. Did they check in very late or were they late to the gate?

Not flaming at all, just curious as to why this happened as it doesn't happen often.

Duds