Ever let yourself get bumped?

[Minerva]

We're flying out of O'Hare the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I just checked the seating on our flights and the flight down has exactly 4 seats left. We aren't planning to do anything on our arrival day other than swim if it's nice and just check out the resort so if we didn't make that first flight and got the one 3 hours later it wouldn't be a big deal. I'm seriously considering letting us get bumped to the later flight if they offer free roundtrip vouchers to do it. I figure it would mean another trip to Disney in the next year. The kids love airports, they're weird <g>, so hanging around watching planes for a while won't bother them at all. I can't think of reason not to do it if it's a possibility. Has anyone done this? Would you do it again?

 

[DebbieB]

There are probably more than 4 seats left, they hold some back for airport check-in.

I've never done it but a guy I work with has, I think with USAir. The free tickets are not that easy to use, especially to a popular destination. They are subject to availability and work like frequent flyer tickets, where they only have a handful on each flight.

I've had it happen in Orlando where they asked for volunteers, problem was they would put you up in a hotel and fly you home the next morning.

 

[AllyBri]

We've never taken advantage of being bumped and now it happens less and less.

But a few years ago, there was a family sitting across from us (father and son in one row, mom and daughter in the next row)
They make the announcement, they are looking for 4 people, offering $200. then it went up to $300. each
Hubby says to his wife, lets do it, she says no way. You can see he really wants to, he says you always wanted to see Disney in December, this way we can go for nothing. The wife is still not giving in, hubby says,I was just thinking, we could bring your Mother with us
Wife says, even if you offer to take my sister with us, who I know you hate, I am not getting off this plane.

 

[beccasmom]

We've done it, but depending on the airline, they can be a hassle to use. USAirways comes to mind here. Check on the restrictions and use of the vouchers if you decide to go for it. Most must be used within a year.

 

[Mojomanny]

My mom and dad used to be professional "bump volunteers" and got many extra vacations for their efforts. This was back in the 80's though.

Nowadays, volunteering is not that "lucrative". I recently took a bump on an airline to allow a family to stay together on their trip. I got a $250 voucher and a $10 meal coupon to use in the airport. I had 1 year to book a flight with the voucher. I am using it for our up coming trip to WDW in February, but it was not as easy as it should have been. We have 2 reservations, one for my travel using the voucher (which did not cover my entire airfare) and one for my DS and DW. Everytime our flights are changed (2X so far) we have to get our seats reassigned together. I wonder if I could have used a different airline for a direct flight and//or cheaper airfare.

Anyway, I did it to be a nice guy for the family. No regrets over that and I did get home only 2 hours later than planned. I would do it again.

 

[ducklite]

Keep in mind that they will put you on the "next available flight" which could be a day or two later on a busy holiday weekend.

Anne

 

[blanq]

My family took a voluntary bump departing from Seattle, after our Alaskan cruise, this summer. We received $600 in vouchers for the three of us, and they must be used within one year of issuance. We had initially been booked with a connection in Phoneix before arriving at our Minneapolis destination. America West put us on a direct NWA flight instead, and we arrived home several hours earlier than the flight we had initially booked. It was sweet!

On our last trip to WDW, we flew Air Tran. When we arrived in ATL for our connection to MCO, Air Tran was overbooked by 12 for our last leg and were looking for volunteers to bump. I sooo wanted to take the bump, as they were up to offering 3 vouchers for round trip travel per person for doing so. My DH and DS were so darned anxious to get to WDW that they refused to bump. I still shame them any chance I can get for that poor decision!

One word of caution, if you decide to bump, there is a chance your luggage may not arrive when you do. It could also arrive before you do, whcih wouldn't be a problem. In our case above, our luggage was delivered by NWA, via courier, the following morning. No big deal because our trip was done and I had a houseful of clothes and toiletries at home. If take a bump, it might not be as convenient if you are missing your luggage for a day or so at your vacation destination.

For the OP, I would suggest packing a carry on or two that has your basic toiletries, your PJ's, a change of day time clothing and maybe your swimsuits. That way, if a bump is offered and your luggage does not arrive to MCO when you do, it won't be such an inconvenience.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

DH, and I took a bump, many years ago, on our way back from WDW. We had a connection in Nashville, and I was 5 months pregnant. It was late, on Jan 1st, and we were totally exhausted. We rec'd a $200.00 voucher, a hotel for a night, and I think part of our dinner paid for. It was a great deal, since we were ready to fall over.

I agree that over the holiday weekend it could be difficult. If I remember correctly, we were pretty much guaranteed the early morning flight, on the next day. We were OK w/ the luggage. They were able to pull it, since the plane was both overbooked, and delayed due to weather.

 

[rsschneck]

We have bumped 3 times in the last couple of year's. We volunteer whenever we can. Delta has rules as to what type of compensation to offer depending on how long you have to wait for your next flight.

1st time we each received $400 checks (not vouchers) Our original ticket was $267 so we made money that time.

2nd we had to stay the night and fly out the next morning. We each received $400 vouchers (easy to redeem). A night at a hotel and dinner and breakfast vouchers.

3rd time was $200 vouchers each and the next available flight was only 30 minutes later and happened to be the next gate over. Too easy and quick not to take advantage. We have to redeem those vouchers by May 2005. Already trying to decide how to burn those vouchers.

We take a bump whenever it is convenient for us and as long as we are prepared (toiletries, etc.)

 

[seashoreCM]

There is a simple reason why taking bumps is on average not very lucrative. There are usually lots and lots of people volunteering.

The airline will always tell you when the next available flight is. More often than not people will line up to be first to volunteer before the gate agent finishes the announcement.

Not to say that a $1000. voucher is never offered. One time around New Years there was a severe ice storm (I forget where) and the next available flight was more than a day away and it took awhile to get volunteers for a $1000. voucher and two nights in a hotel and meals. (No, it was not Orlando/WDW).

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[CleveRocks]

The very first time I flew was roundtrip Philadelphia to Orlando in 1990. At MCO, after our WDW experience, they needed 4 volunteers to be bumped. We were offered rountrip tickets anywhere USAir flew, and they put us on a Delta flight one hour later. It was super! We got home only one hour late, our luggage got onto the same plane we were on, and we had a free flight to Las Vegas a few months later.

I've never since been so lucky. There were times my wife and I volunteered ahead of time (we used to tell the gate agent if they needed volunteers just to call us by name rather than makng an announcement asking for volunteers), but either there's been no need or what's been offered hasn't been worth it to us.

-- Eric

 

[puffkin]

If our flight is full, I usually give our name to the gate agent to volunteer for a bump before they even make an announcement. With just DH and I, it isn't a big deal and we carry a change of clothes and our toiletries in our carryon. The only time they have bumped though on one of our flights was when we couldn't, we had to get on that flight to ensure making our DCL cruise. But, we keep trying.......

 

[Lewisc]

The number of seats available to be assigned on the web doesn't tell you much. Some seats are held back for elite flyers and for assignment at the gate. Airlines overbook. If you want to volunteer call the night before and ask if how overbooked the flight is.


If you get bumped your family probably won't be sitting together and might not even be flying on the same flight. The compensation isn't as lucrative as it used to be.

 

[mrslur]

We're still trying to use a "bump" from earlier this year on United. The times for a trip from Philly to MCO were 13 or 14 hours. Ridiculous!

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

I got bumped by American Airlines from JFK to Boston for a $300 vocher.
They put us in a taxi and sent us to Lagaudia. From there they put us on a shuttle flight to Boston. As it turned out, we arrived in Boston on the shuttle before the original American Airlines flight arrived.
We used the vouchers for a round trip flight to Paris, France.
I would gladly do it again.

 

[JodyTG]

Is it true that you only get something if you volunteer to get bumped? But if you get bumped because the flight is full and NO ONE volunteers then you get nothing?

 

[4myson]

Bumping is adventageous for the airline not the traveler. Over 90% of vouchers are not claimed or used. It is very convenient for the airlines, especially when they cannot be used. There are tons of restrictions, written and not written on the vouchers.

Do yourself a favor and take the seat you were awarded, unless they offer you cash for your seat, don't take it.

 

[Minerva]

Thanks everyone. I do think the flight is full, not just seats being held back. It's Thanksgiving weekend and we we booked it so long ago there were only 4 other seats taken before ours. I've been watching it slowly fill up since April. I can be relatively flexible in using vouchers for another flight but will definitely check on restrictions before we agree if the opportunity arises!

 

[mjh8955]

A few years ago we were willing to be bumped and take a later flight once, it only delayed us two hours. My husband and I were issued a dinner voucher AND a $500 airline voucher each. Those vouchers paid for the our family of 4 to fly on our next vacation. And we hadn't even bought the tickets in the first place; my husband had a job interview in another state and the company was paying our way. I would be delighted to be bumped and get that kind of compensation today!

 

[JodyTG]

I think getting bumped may be a possibility coming home after WDW this Christmas. We have a connection in Miami and the flight MCO to MIA is totally full except for first class.