bumped from a flight...free vouchers!

[FoundMyPrince]

So my parents are flying from Branson, MO, to Orlando this morning. However, the flight is overbooked. The airline first offered one ticket to be bumped; no takers. Then it was two tickets; no takers. Finally they offered three free tickets per passenger for anyone willing to be bumped to the 5p.m. flight. My father said he ran to the counter! Both he and my mother were given vouchers for three free tickets anywhere in the continential U.S., to be used in the next year!

My parents and my family are planning to head to WDW in May 2011. My parents called this morning to tell me that if the vouchers can be transferred then my family can have four free tickets!

Question: has anyone done this before? Have you received vouchers when bumped and been able to give them to someone else to be used?

 

[dodukes]

i'm not sure but wanted to say thats awesome!!!! I would love to be bumped for free vouchers..hahahaha

 

[WDWisTheBest]

So my parents are flying from Branson, MO, to Orlando this morning. However, the flight is overbooked. The airline first offered one ticket to be bumped; no takers. Then it was two tickets; no takers. Finally they offered three free tickets per passenger for anyone willing to be bumped to the 5p.m. flight. My father said he ran to the counter! Both he and my mother were given vouchers for three free tickets anywhere in the continential U.S., to be used in the next year!

My parents and my family are planning to head to WDW in May 2011. My parents called this morning to tell me that if the vouchers can be transferred then my family can have four free tickets!

Question: has anyone done this before? Have you received vouchers when bumped and been able to give them to someone else to be used?

Were the vouchers Delta or Pinnacle doing business as the Delta Connection?
Or was it American operating as American Eagle?

 

[FoundMyPrince]

Were the vouchers Delta or Pinnacle doing business as the Delta Connection?
Or was it American operating as American Eagle?

They are from AirTran.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

They are from AirTran.

If they are still at the airport, and, if they are not A+ rewards members on AirTran, could you see if they can sign up to be A+ rewards members before they take their flight to Orlando?

Were they booked originally for the combination of flight 1587 to ATL and continuing on flight 846 to MCO? If so, maybe they were booked T fare class coach? That class is nonrefundable and "This reservation is non-transferable - no name changes allowed."

But, since they are probably rebooked on flight 1585, connecting to flight 841 to MCO, they have lots of time to check on the fine print on the vouchers before leaving Branson. I suggest that all of the details on possible transferability be checked today before they leave.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

If they are still at the airport, and, if they are not A+ rewards members on AirTran, could you see if they can sign up to be A+ rewards members before they take their flight to Orlando?

Thank you - they are signing up now for the A+ program.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Thank you - they are signing up now for the A+ program.

Good. Now, if you are not already A+ rewards members, you might want to do that as well.

But, it is important to look at the fine print on the vouchers, since they may or may not be transferable. At any rate, you would be well served to become A+ rewards members today. It is simple to do.

Normally, there are different conditions based upon whether the rebooking was voluntary or involuntary. In this case, it was voluntary.
So, remember that there are blackouts, and only a very few vouchers can be redeemed on any given flight. So, to find out all details asap is a good thought.

 

[AmongMadPeople]

Normally, there are different conditions based upon whether the rebooking was voluntary or involuntary. In this case, it was voluntary.
So, remember that there are blackouts, and only a very few vouchers can be redeemed on any given flight. So, to find out all details asap is a good thought.

Just what I was going to say. You'll have to be flexible on dates/times, be willing to be bumped off your flight after you've booked with a voucher, and accept flights with connections even if non-stop options are available for cash purchase. And, while I have no direct experience of this one, you'll probably be the first people to be bumped off a flight at the airport if it's overbooked. I don't mean to scare you, but to prepare you for any and all possibilities.

 

[maggiew]

Wow! They would have had me at one ticket!!!

Congrats to your parents! I hope it works out that you can use them too!

Maggie

 

[LIFERBABE]

We took a voluntary bump in March 2010 and our vouchers were not transferable. They are tied to the confirmation #. You may get a rep that will allow it but I would not expect it. Definitely call early and often as availability changes.

We used our vouchers as 1 way tix because of the availability. ex. June was tough to find seats and Wednesday was the most available.

We each received 2 RT's and they were good to anywhere AT flies including Jamaica, Aruba etc.

We just used them in combination with cash for WDW/DCL trips in June, Oct and next Jan.

AT gets a bad rap on the boards, but we fly them exclusively and I am an Elite member and their service has always been great for me. Just flew last weekend and again it was excellent!

I highly recommend APlus membership but voucher travel will not earn rewards or credits. They will receive credit for their Branson trip since they originally paid for those tickets.

 

[prncess674]

And, while I have no direct experience of this one, you'll probably be the first people to be bumped off a flight at the airport if it's overbooked. I don't mean to scare you, but to prepare you for any and all possibilities.

Totally false.

 

[kellydizfan]

We took a bump on Southwest in 2006. We had over $1000.00 in tickets to be used. What we were able to do is, they were all in my name. I did have to go back to the airport to book my flight with the tickets but hey it gave me a trip in 2007. I used them for myself, my DD and a friend. My Mom, DD and myself took the bump while my DH, DD, DS flew on without us. I would do it again in a second. My DH took a bump on Northwest and they put him in 1st class on the next flight out. He had never flown 1st class before and loved it from MN to MT.

 

[cdrn1]

My DD and her DH took a voluntary bump Saturday. The SWA agent got them on a United Flight an hour later, and they got bumped! So they ended up with two tix each. Got a flight that left only a couple hours later. Why can't I have that good fortune???? Congrats.

 

[Coll0610]

We took a bump on Airtran a few years ago. We had to connect through Atlanta and it was the Atlanta-Orlando flight that was oversold. We were on the next flight, one hour later, in first class. I have pictures of DS (he was about 10 or 11) with the biggest smile on his face! We also got them to give us meal vouchers. It was kind of a pain to find flights that we could use the vouchers on, but we got it worked out eventually. We had to call to use the vouchers but you may be able to do it online now. That would be a lot easier.

 

[dis-happy]

We took a voluntary bump in March 2010 and our vouchers were not transferable. They are tied to the confirmation #. You may get a rep that will allow it but I would not expect it. Definitely call early and often as availability changes.

We used our vouchers as 1 way tix because of the availability. ex. June was tough to find seats and Wednesday was the most available.

We each received 2 RT's and they were good to anywhere AT flies including Jamaica, Aruba etc.

We just used them in combination with cash for WDW/DCL trips in June, Oct and next Jan.

AT gets a bad rap on the boards, but we fly them exclusively and I am an Elite member and their service has always been great for me. Just flew last weekend and again it was excellent!

I highly recommend APlus membership but voucher travel will not earn rewards or credits. They will receive credit for their Branson trip since they originally paid for those tickets.

We've had nothing but great experiences with AT as well; service has been great to my Elite dh over the years.

My dh and 2 ds' flew to CA last May, using 2 free tickets and one internet fare for $150. r/t coast to coast (it was a pleasure trip for a family bday party). Their red-eye flight home was delayed to the next morning due to some difficulty. In return, everyone on the plane rec'd a free r/t voucher good for the next 12 months. They were also placed into hotels for the night (my dh happened to get the LAX Marriott, and the Marriott gave him credit on his Marriott Rewards for the stay, plus vouchers for all 3 to use club level breakfast in the morning). AT also provided food vouchers which they used in Atlanta on the layover (since they had already eaten the free breakfast at the hotel). All in all, a really great value for the one cheapie ticket he bought!!!

 

[jennyf2]

I have worked at the aiport for almost 15 years & I have NEVER offered 3 free tickets--YEAH for them. We have passengers volunteer all the time, esp. if they can get out the same day. Its a great deal for most. The free tickets are great but you do have to be a little flexible with your dates & BOOK early!!!! I agree with a PP they will not be bumped from their next flt because they are on "FREE" tickets.

 

[annsteere]

DH knows never to leave home to pick me up from a trip until he hears I am actually flying. I always book my return flight with at least one flight after mine that day. Then, I hope for a bump.

Maybe it depends on the carrier, but I take 2-4 bumps per year and have never had trouble booking with them. It isn't like using frequent flyer miles.

Yippee for you.

 

[Jenn]

We had an amazing experience a few years ago with Airtran. We live in Atlanta and had flown up to Boston over Presidents Day weekend to visit family. When we got to the airport to head home, it was a total zoo with Boston people leaving for winter break, many of whom had a connection in Altanta. Our flight was oversold, and we ended up with 7, yes I said 7 tickets each and there were 4 of us, so 28 tickets total! We did have to spend the night, but we booked a hotel for $100 and were on the next morning's flight.

We were able to transfer them, but you did have to call and deal with customer service and blackout dates, so they were a bit more work to book than a normal flight.

However, we used every single one that year!! My sister had a baby and we flew the whole family out to see her at different times, flew 8 family members down to see us, and we took several trips ourselves. It was amazing!!

 

[rdevine10]

A couple of years ago we got 2 free roundtrip tickets per person. It was GREAT! used it for 1 Orlando vacation, and 1 WDW vacation. It was also on Airtran.

Although I will say, we had major delays each way of travel with an infant and toddler (7 plus hours each way), so it was a major inconvenience to earn those vouchers!

If I am not mistaken the "free" voucher flights do not count as a+ flights to earn rewards on?

Anyways, enjoy the windfall! Our next flight is on Jetblue.... neither are currently sold out flights. But thats ok!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If I am not mistaken the "free" voucher flights do not count as a+ flights to earn rewards on?

That is correct.