Anyone ever get bumped by Southwest?

[I Believe n Fairies]

Our first trip is in September. It will be me, dh, and dd5. We have been looking at flights for months. As of now, SW has the best fare/times flying from BHM to MCO. We're about ready to book. We'll depart on 9/17 to return 9/22.

My dh has not flown since he was a child. He is worried that SW will over book and we'll be left standing in the airport without a flight. Has this actually happened to anyone? What was your experience? Please ease my dh's mind so we can book the flights already!

Also, my dd will be five. Will I be able to preboard with her or is she too old to qualify?

THANKS EVERYONE!!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

My dh has not flown since he was a child. He is worried that SW will over book and we'll be left standing in the airport without a flight. Has this actually happened to anyone? What was your experience? Please ease my dh's mind so we can book the flights already!

Most airlines — including Southwest — overbook flights. Although tourists with heavily discounted tickets are pretty much tied to specific flights, full-fare business travelers are free to change their plans — and they often do so.

The airlines are rather sophisticated at knowing which flights can be overbooked, and by how any seats. Usually, overbooking simply means that flights are fairly full, even though a bunch of ticketed passengers didn't show up.

When more passengers show up at the gate than the capacity of the aircraft, the airline asks for volunteers. A typical offer would be a $300 travel voucher per passenger and a seat on a later flight to the same destination. Usually, there are eager volunteers who are thrilled to accept the offer. Voluntary bumping hurts nobody. The airlines win because they can sell more high-fare seats. The volunteers win because they'll have free air travel on their next vacation.

There can also be cases of involuntary bumping. That's called denied boarding. It's quite rare. In the case of denied boarding, the unlucky passengers are entitled to real money, not just airline vouchers, and a guaranteed seat on a later flight.

Quite frankly, I wouldn't worry about denied boarding. It's never happened to me or to anyone I know. It's not worth losing even a minute of sleep over.

On the other hand, delays and flight cancellations are much more likely to mess up air travel. These can be due to weather, mechanical problems, crew shortages, late aircraft arrival from another city, and air traffic control. Always allow a comfortable time cushion to allow for delays. For example, I would never book a flight to arrive just a few hours before a cruise or a wedding. (For a cruise, we always fly the day before boarding.)

 

[CarolA]

I agree, I used to fly weekly and NEVER got an involuntary bump. (I did accept a few bumps for the compensation however!)

 

[Snoozan]

With SW especially, since there aren't assigned seats, you probably want to be sure to do the on-line check-in 24 hours before your flight. I would then be sure to get to the airport a couple hours before your flight. I would imagine if there was any involuntary bumping(not very common), it would be the last ones to check-in and get to the gate. I'm one who occasionally will volunteer to get bumped if the flight is overbooked - at least on my flights home. I've never actually been voluntarily(or involuntarily)bumped.

As far as getting to pre-board, I believe with SW it's age 4 and under. And even then, it's been there is no pre-boarding with young kids if the whole flight is families with young kids-more common at MCO.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Just so you know, all of the involuntary bumping that happens with Southwest is for those who don't check in online, and show up at the last minute to the airport.

Be a responsible and knowledgable traveller... Check in online, and make sure to be at the gate when you need to be there, and you will be fine.

 

[goofy!]

And don't worry too much about being bumped. There are people (we know a family) that do lots of research to make sure they book a very full flight. They Want to be bumped. Our friends have it down to a science. And it works well for them. I just wish I could figure out how they do it They get to travel 3x as much since they are always the first to volunteer to be bumped. Their last trip to WDW they volunteered to be bumped on both the way down and on the way back. They were flying United, so got vouchers for a free flight anywhere in the 48 contiguous states. So, for what they paid for one round trip, they got 2 more free round trips per person. They pack overnight carryons just for that purpose.

So, if the plane is overbooked, chances are there will be too many people volunteering to be bumped, rather than the airline having to involuntarily bumping people

 

[HappyCamperToo]

Our friends have it down to a science. And it works well for them.

Oooh! PLEASE ask them HOW they do it and let us know!

 

[justplaingoofy]

Just so you know, all of the involuntary bumping that happens with Southwest is for those who don't check in online, and show up at the last minute to the airport.

Be a responsible and knowledgable traveller... Check in online, and make sure to be at the gate when you need to be there, and you will be fine.

Agree wih this post..... We don't usually fly SouthWest..but Always arrive 2 hrs before schedule departure... It amazes me that people show up just before their flight is boarding and can't figure out why they have been bumped! If an airline says to be there 2 hrs early..be there...

Sorry..dont' mind to sound sarcastic.. ever see that show Airline on tv, that was about southwest?? It was always the same people showing up a few minutes before and threatening to sue southwest because they were bumped!

 

[I Believe n Fairies]

Thanks everyone for all of your advice!! It has eased my dh's mind. We'll be booking today most likely.

We will be checking in online and be at the airport a couple hours before we take off. I knew I could count on y'all!!