Are we gonna get bumped?

[leebee]

We are flying AirTran out of Portland, ME on Friday, October 7th- 15 days from now. I just looked at AT's website and it looks like our flight is sold out. Are we going to get bumped? That would ruin everything, as this is just a quick trip to Disney... coming back home on Tuesday Oct. 11th. After asking for volunteers, how does an airline determine who to involuntarily bump when they are oversold?

 

[jdb in AZ]

We are flying AirTran out of Portland, ME on Friday, October 7th- 15 days from now. I just looked at AT's website and it looks like our flight is sold out. Are we going to get bumped? That would ruin everything, as this is just a quick trip to Disney... coming back home on Tuesday Oct. 11th. After asking for volunteers, how does an airline determine who to involuntarily bump when they are oversold?

If you arrive at the airport early, getting bumped shouldn't be an issue. I've been on oversold flights before, and the airline kept raising the offer to compensate volunteers to take a later flight, and they always have found someone. on a trip to Hawaii they had to make a substantial offer, but someone finally agreed to do it.

 

[bigsis1970]

We are flying AirTran out of Portland, ME on Friday, October 7th- 15 days from now. I just looked at AT's website and it looks like our flight is sold out. Are we going to get bumped? That would ruin everything, as this is just a quick trip to Disney... coming back home on Tuesday Oct. 11th. After asking for volunteers, how does an airline determine who to involuntarily bump when they are oversold?

Just wanted to say Hi to another Mainer! Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

Did you purchase your seat assignments? There have been reports that people who didn't pay for their seats are bumped first.

 

[leebee]

Perhaps I'll purchase the seat assignments just in case. We haven't done this before, and the flights have been full, but never before have the flights had lines drawn through the available classes on the AT website. I think they are to the limits of sold and oversold, and I'm getting nervous!!

 

[minnierocks]

I would purchase your seats, as it does seem to lessen your chances of getting bumped. Getting there early is not a guarantee, as my DH who travels a lot for work got bumped from a flight even though he was over 2 hours early for the flight! His coworkers, who strolled into the airport less than an hour from flight, were put on the flight and he was bumped off of it.

 

[vatali]

Bumping involves several factors. How many tickets are on the iteneray? How many connections will they have to re-route the bumped person, or can they still make teh next connection. What was the fare that was originally purchased. What level of status does the bumped person have?

A lot of different things go into factoring who gets bumped, and generically its's less than 6% of all air travelers world wide. Volentary bumps are different than operational ones as well.

I have never, in all of my travels, seen anyone bumped operationally who had children less than 16, so if that is involved it lessens your chances.

Hope that helps.

Vat

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not spend any time worrying about getting bumped. Just be sure and check in at the 24 hour mark. That is the important thing, not getting to the airport early.

 

[Minnesota!]

Bumping involves several factors. How many tickets are on the iteneray? How many connections will they have to re-route the bumped person, or can they still make teh next connection. What was the fare that was originally purchased. What level of status does the bumped person have?

A lot of different things go into factoring who gets bumped, and generically its's less than 6% of all air travelers world wide. Volentary bumps are different than operational ones as well.

I have never, in all of my travels, seen anyone bumped operationally who had children less than 16, so if that is involved it lessens your chances.
Hope that helps.

Vat

Hi - meet me

We were bumped in ATL just about 2 years ago. Day from hell. Ended up with me and my just under 2 year old son at Caribbean Beach and 9 hours later, my DH and my then 4 year old son showed up. It was AWFUL!!! Got 4 roundtrip tix out of it - but still really really sucked that day.

 

[aubriee]

Did you purchase your seat assignments? There have been reports that people who didn't pay for their seats are bumped first.

I posted this just a few days ago about my experience this past Sunday (09/18/11), so just copied it:

Air Tran is also bad about overbooking. Almost every trip they make the announcement that they are overbooked and need someone to fly out on a later flight. This past Sunday I had the last flight out of MCO and they were begging for four people to give up their seats. There was not a single empty seat on that plane. They were offering two round trip fares to anywhere Air Tran flies, a night in a hotel, meal vouchers, and a guarantee to fly out on Monday morning. Two ladies finally accepted, but they continued to make the announcement that they needed two more seats. One guy finally yelled out that any of us would be crazy to accept their offer, since Air Tran would no longer be flying out of DFW after Nov 22nd, so we wouldn't be able to use those air fare vouchers they were offering anyway. The two ladies that had accepted the deal, immediately came back up to the desk, said they didn't realize Air Tran was going to stop flying out of Dallas that soon, and they wanted their seats back. They were not allowed to get them back. Both they and another couple who were bumped were very unhappy when we left. The man was saying that they had paid for their tickets and expected a seat on that plane and just because they hadn't paid for their seats was no reason to bump them and Air Tran had no business overbooking their flights. The agent explained to them that all airlines overbooked their flights, expecting cancellations and no shows and that there simply were not any seats for those four people. Since it was the last flight, they would not be flying out until the next morning.

 

[leebee]

I tried to purchase seats for our trip, and sure enough, the BWI-MCO leg is sold out; not a single seat left to purchase. NOT sure what this will mean, although if they can get us to MCO that night, I'll take a bump but ONLY with compensation. We shall see, I guess. I will make sure to check in online at the 24 hour mark, though. Cross your fingers...

 

[Brian Noble]

The chances of being *involuntarily* bumped are pretty low. I would not worry about it that much. I would get the seats, but that's just because I would get the seats.

 

[leebee]

I got the seats for PWM-BWI and for both legs of the return trip, but can't do anything about BWI-MCO that first night- even the exit row seating is sold out. It's not the cost of getting a seat reservation, per se... it's the nickel and dime feeling. I'm sure we'll get there.... we shall see.

 

[LC102310]

I really wouldn't worry too much about it, now if you were flying on the Sunday that April school vacation ended than yes it could be very likely...

 

[Missytara]

I have a story told to me by one of my vendors; alert, you should have a tissue nearby.

She was on a flight with her husband to a business trip (she was tagging along) from PHL to Salt Lake City, Utah with two layovers. They were on their final leg to SLC, when it was announced the flight was overbooked. They needed three people to volunteer to go on the next flight, which was the NEXT day - this was the last flight out that night.

No volunteers.

Finally it was announced that the last three people on the plane would be bumped to the next flight. There was a cry out from the middle of the plane; this guy was practically sobbing.

Come to find out, he was heading home after being in Iraq for a year - this was his last leg to get home to SLC. He was the last one on the flight, because his connecting flight had been late. He was heartbroken.

Once the story got around, they asked for a volunteer to take his place.

Half the plane raised their hands.

 

[DragonMomma]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between purchasing airline tickets, and buying a seat? Isn't it the same?

 

[leebee]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between purchasing airline tickets, and buying a seat? Isn't it the same?

No, not with AirTran. You buy your ticket, but if you want specific seat assignments, they charge you for them. If you don't want to pay for specific seats, you just wait until you get to the airport and they assign your seats at check-in or at the gate. It cost me $24 to get seats for DD and me; that's $6 per person, per direction, and of course I couldn't get the seats from BWI-MCO on the trip down.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between purchasing airline tickets, and buying a seat? Isn't it the same?

Some airlines charge you for making advance seat assignments or for selecting premium seats (seats with extra legroom, seats in the exit row, etc). Yes, you are buying a seat with your ticket and you will get a seat, even if you don't pay for one. However, on an airline where you do pay for seat selection, you may end up with an undesirable seat if you don't pay. It's a good idea to read your airline's website before purchasing tickets so you understand what extra fees you may be paying (seat selection, baggage check, early check-in, etc.).

 

[KatieCollette]

I posted this just a few days ago about my experience this past Sunday (09/18/11), so just copied it:

Air Tran is also bad about overbooking. Almost every trip they make the announcement that they are overbooked and need someone to fly out on a later flight. This past Sunday I had the last flight out of MCO and they were begging for four people to give up their seats. There was not a single empty seat on that plane. They were offering two round trip fares to anywhere Air Tran flies, a night in a hotel, meal vouchers, and a guarantee to fly out on Monday morning. Two ladies finally accepted, but they continued to make the announcement that they needed two more seats. One guy finally yelled out that any of us would be crazy to accept their offer, since Air Tran would no longer be flying out of DFW after Nov 22nd, so we wouldn't be able to use those air fare vouchers they were offering anyway. The two ladies that had accepted the deal, immediately came back up to the desk, said they didn't realize Air Tran was going to stop flying out of Dallas that soon, and they wanted their seats back. They were not allowed to get them back. Both they and another couple who were bumped were very unhappy when we left. The man was saying that they had paid for their tickets and expected a seat on that plane and just because they hadn't paid for their seats was no reason to bump them and Air Tran had no business overbooking their flights. The agent explained to them that all airlines overbooked their flights, expecting cancellations and no shows and that there simply were not any seats for those four people. Since it was the last flight, they would not be flying out until the next morning.

Not gonna lie, got a little teary eyed reading this!

 

[stpats317]

As a previous poster said, check in on-line at the 24 hour mark and get to the airport early - 2 hours as recommended. As a former airline employee you learn that just because you purchased a seat you cannot expect that seat to be there if you arrive late to the gate. Many airlines oversell flights and if they are ready to board they will board passengers that are there - including standbys.