Chicago526
<font color=red>Any dream will do...<br><font colo
- Joined
- May 6, 2003
- Messages
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Inspired by last nights episode of Airline on A&E (they showed a family of 6 that got bumped on their connecting flight, forcing them to drive 10 hours to get home), I thought I'd post they "why's" and "what to do's" of airline bumping to those who don't know what it is. These rules apply to bumping ONLY, and may not apply to weather delays or other problems.
Why they do it:
Airlines like full planes, they make money. After de-regulation, the airlines discovered that their flights were very rarely fully booked, there are almost always empty seats. Why not sell a few more seats than we actually have, fill the planes, and make a little more money? So they did. And they saw it was good. They made more money, and they therefore could charge less for the airline tickets, which passengers love. So they came up with a formula that, most of the time, accurately predidicted the number of people on each flight that wouldn't show up. Every once and a while, though, the formula would fail and every one WOULD show up for the flight. Hmmm, what to do with them? Well, they asked for voluteers to give up their seats, and in exchange, they'd get on the next flight and get some money or a credit for a future ticket. If there were no voluteers (or not enough) they would then "bump" the last few people who checked-in for the flight and put them on to the next available one, then give them a little money or a credit for their trouble. They system worked great, most flights were full, and not that many people got bumped against their will, and most were happy with the compensation.
But from time to time, the airlines get greedy and overbook by dozens, sometimes as many as 50 people over! Then the passengers yell and the poor gate agents (who have nothing to do with it at all) do their best to calm people down and re-book, but people are upset and threaten to sue. And this is bad.
What the airline has to do about it:
If there are not enough volunteers (and they always ask before forcing people off) the airline is required by LAW to put you on the next available flight. Now, the next available flight could be 2 days from now. On the major carriers, they may (if your delay is long enough) sign your ticket over to another airline to get you home. It has to be a very long delay, though, AND the other airline has to have an open seat for you, too. Otherwise, you wait until your ticketed airline has a spot for you. But not all airlines CAN sign it over, some like Southwest and Spirit, do not have agreements with other carriers, so the other airlines won't take Southwest or Spirit tickets. In that case, your're stuck with whatever SW or Spirit can offer.
Again, if the delay is long enough, they may give you a voucher for a meal. Also, they do NOT have to put you in first class if that's the only seat left on the next flight (they may do it as a courtesy, but they don't HAVE to).
The airline must also give you either cash or a credit towards a future trip (usually it's a credit, they rarely give money any more). The longer the delay, the more booty you get. Try to negotiate for a bit more than they offer you (be nice, if you yell you get squat, or worse, get thrown out of the airport).
If the bump means that you are stuck over night, they have to pay for a hotel for you, and they also usually throw in a meal voucher or two, sometimes even a pre-paid phone card to call home or whatever.
If none of this works for you (maybe the delay was so long you missed the thing your were traveling for to begin with), then they have to refund your ticket if you choose not to travel with them at all, even if the ticket was non-refundable. THEY DO NOT have to pay for any missed part of your vacation. If you miss your cruise because they can't get you there, tough noogies, they won't pay for it. You can try writing a letter or sueing in small claims court, but that's your only recourse.
How to avoid being bumped:
While it's always possible it can happen no matter what you do, there are ways to minimize the chances of this happening to you.
1) Get a seat assignment when you book your flight. If you are told there are no seats left to assign, it's a good bet the flight is oversold. Pick another flight or take your chances.
2) Get to the airport as early as you can. This especially applies to airlines, like Southwest, that do not give seat assignments or if you are on a major carrier and you could not get one when you booked. They usually bump people in order of check-in, bumping the poeple who check-in last, first. Also, if you check-in less than 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure, they can give your seat away automaticly, even to a stand-by passenger. I've seen it happen, folks!
3) Try to book on off peak days or times. The less busy it is, the lower the chance of the flight being over sold or, if it is, of all the people showing up for the flight. And try to avoid the last flight of the day, if you DO get bumped, you'll have a shot at a later flight, otherwise, welcome to the Holiday Inn!
I hope this has been helpfull, it certainly was long!
edited for spelling mistakes!
Why they do it:
Airlines like full planes, they make money. After de-regulation, the airlines discovered that their flights were very rarely fully booked, there are almost always empty seats. Why not sell a few more seats than we actually have, fill the planes, and make a little more money? So they did. And they saw it was good. They made more money, and they therefore could charge less for the airline tickets, which passengers love. So they came up with a formula that, most of the time, accurately predidicted the number of people on each flight that wouldn't show up. Every once and a while, though, the formula would fail and every one WOULD show up for the flight. Hmmm, what to do with them? Well, they asked for voluteers to give up their seats, and in exchange, they'd get on the next flight and get some money or a credit for a future ticket. If there were no voluteers (or not enough) they would then "bump" the last few people who checked-in for the flight and put them on to the next available one, then give them a little money or a credit for their trouble. They system worked great, most flights were full, and not that many people got bumped against their will, and most were happy with the compensation.
But from time to time, the airlines get greedy and overbook by dozens, sometimes as many as 50 people over! Then the passengers yell and the poor gate agents (who have nothing to do with it at all) do their best to calm people down and re-book, but people are upset and threaten to sue. And this is bad.
What the airline has to do about it:
If there are not enough volunteers (and they always ask before forcing people off) the airline is required by LAW to put you on the next available flight. Now, the next available flight could be 2 days from now. On the major carriers, they may (if your delay is long enough) sign your ticket over to another airline to get you home. It has to be a very long delay, though, AND the other airline has to have an open seat for you, too. Otherwise, you wait until your ticketed airline has a spot for you. But not all airlines CAN sign it over, some like Southwest and Spirit, do not have agreements with other carriers, so the other airlines won't take Southwest or Spirit tickets. In that case, your're stuck with whatever SW or Spirit can offer.
Again, if the delay is long enough, they may give you a voucher for a meal. Also, they do NOT have to put you in first class if that's the only seat left on the next flight (they may do it as a courtesy, but they don't HAVE to).
The airline must also give you either cash or a credit towards a future trip (usually it's a credit, they rarely give money any more). The longer the delay, the more booty you get. Try to negotiate for a bit more than they offer you (be nice, if you yell you get squat, or worse, get thrown out of the airport).
If the bump means that you are stuck over night, they have to pay for a hotel for you, and they also usually throw in a meal voucher or two, sometimes even a pre-paid phone card to call home or whatever.
If none of this works for you (maybe the delay was so long you missed the thing your were traveling for to begin with), then they have to refund your ticket if you choose not to travel with them at all, even if the ticket was non-refundable. THEY DO NOT have to pay for any missed part of your vacation. If you miss your cruise because they can't get you there, tough noogies, they won't pay for it. You can try writing a letter or sueing in small claims court, but that's your only recourse.
How to avoid being bumped:
While it's always possible it can happen no matter what you do, there are ways to minimize the chances of this happening to you.
1) Get a seat assignment when you book your flight. If you are told there are no seats left to assign, it's a good bet the flight is oversold. Pick another flight or take your chances.
2) Get to the airport as early as you can. This especially applies to airlines, like Southwest, that do not give seat assignments or if you are on a major carrier and you could not get one when you booked. They usually bump people in order of check-in, bumping the poeple who check-in last, first. Also, if you check-in less than 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure, they can give your seat away automaticly, even to a stand-by passenger. I've seen it happen, folks!
3) Try to book on off peak days or times. The less busy it is, the lower the chance of the flight being over sold or, if it is, of all the people showing up for the flight. And try to avoid the last flight of the day, if you DO get bumped, you'll have a shot at a later flight, otherwise, welcome to the Holiday Inn!
I hope this has been helpfull, it certainly was long!
edited for spelling mistakes!
Except make sure to check-in at least 10 minutes prior to boarding. Less than that, they don't (and won't!) give you anything other than a seat on the next flight.
