Getting bumped at airport?

[boswellnakia]

Does anyone know where I can find more info in case I get bumped on an upcoming series of flights? I will be flying southwest. I thought I had heard they refund the amount of your ticket, give you $250 extra and a seat on the next available flight. Is this true?

What if the flight is the last one out at night, do they have to put you in a hotel room? or does that have to come out of the extra they give you?

Are there any secrets to getting bumped?

 

[bab31]

Early monday morning flights...business travel. I caught a bump on Midwest this past June. You could tell the flight was mostly business people. They actually had to ask twice. I was in the restroom when they first asked, worked out well as I approached the counter and asked if they would take two of us. Gave us two vouchers for tickets to be used within one year. Put us in a cab to Green Bay to catch a flight out on American. Which was first class out of chicago.

I believe diff Airlines do different amounts. Midwest was for a ticket anywhere they fly. Of course they only offer so many seats per flight just like miles rewards.

I have heard there is certain patterns you should try to follow to catch a bump. I usually will ask when I arrive at the gate about the possibility of a bump.

 

[disneyldwjr]

Does anyone know where I can find more info in case I get bumped on an upcoming series of flights? I will be flying southwest. I thought I had heard they refund the amount of your ticket, give you $250 extra and a seat on the next available flight. Is this true?

What if the flight is the last one out at night, do they have to put you in a hotel room? or does that have to come out of the extra they give you?

Are there any secrets to getting bumped?

It is explained in the contract of carriage. Page 33 and onward.
http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/contract.html

 

[SteveMouse]

Generally speaking, before an airline forces someone off, they ask for volunteers, in return for some form of compensation, usually in the form of a ticket, ticket credit. or some such. It is ONLY in the case that they DON'T get volunteers that there is generally anything other that credit with the airline made available.

Volunteers are rescheduled on the next available flight. The airline may, at its descrection, pick up hotel and meal costs. It may also CHOOSE not to. If people are FORCED off the plane (no volunteers), the rules are a little different.

That being said, SWA rarely overbooks- their modeling is pretty good.

There MIGHT be a problem Thanksgiving week, but between now and then, probably not.

-steve

 

[adrock1976]

Yes. It really depends on the carrier, route, day, etc. They will always ask for volunteers before they deny boarding. You can always say you are willing to give up your seat. Many times they will ask for volunteers if the flight is oversold and the cabin has checked in full. Sometimes in the end there will be a no show and they will not need your seat. Be sure that you verify your compensation BEFORE you give up your seat. Sometimes you get a "travel voucher" which is good for a flight, sort of like a frequent flyer ticket, and with just as many restrictions...this is not the best deal for you. What you really want is "travel credit", this is virtually the same as cash toward the purchase of another ticket. Also, make sure to find out if you have positive space on the next flight, or if you are being bumped to standby.

It can work to your advantage. My wife recently gave up her seat on a flight home from San Francisco, and got $400 as a travel credit, and got on the next flight which was only about 2 1/2 hours later. If you have the flexibility, go for it.

 

[travelin' tigger]

Last Aug. I was waiting for the 1st flight of the morning from PVD to MCO and the flight was oversold. They asked for 2 volunteers and I was the second one to the counter. The next flight was only 2 hours later and I was given $200 compensation plus $67 for the price I paid for the flight.

Coming home the flight was also oversold (Ernesto was coming) but it was a late flight thru Chicago and I just wanted to get home at that point.

HTH!!!

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think there is a set amount, other than the cost of your ticket. It probably depends on how many volunteers they need.

 

[seashoreCM]

If you are bumped involuntarily (not enough volunteers) the airline must pay you cash if that is what you want.

Usually the non-cash offer has a greater achievable dollar value.

The problem with trip vouchers (no specific dollar value) as bump compensation is that you usually cannot book any flight you want even if there are lots of seats showing available. It is as if once the cheapest seats are gone, that flight is off limits.

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

 

[PURTYPAT1]

Yes. It really depends on the carrier, route, day, etc. They will always ask for volunteers before they deny boarding. You can always say you are willing to give up your seat. Many times they will ask for volunteers if the flight is oversold and the cabin has checked in full. Sometimes in the end there will be a no show and they will not need your seat. Be sure that you verify your compensation BEFORE you give up your seat. Sometimes you get a "travel voucher" which is good for a flight, sort of like a frequent flyer ticket, and with just as many restrictions...this is not the best deal for you. What you really want is "travel credit", this is virtually the same as cash toward the purchase of another ticket. Also, make sure to find out if you have positive space on the next flight, or if you are being bumped to standby.

It can work to your advantage. My wife recently gave up her seat on a flight home from San Francisco, and got $400 as a travel credit, and got on the next flight which was only about 2 1/2 hours later. If you have the flexibility, go for it.

Good advice adrock1976 My DD & I love to bumped & have many many times.

Did not know that sometimes they only give you a standby ticket. Glad that never happened & will make sure we have a confirmed seat on our next bump (hopefully next month)

We only got a free ticket reward once with Northwest. It was the worst experience to try to book a flight. I tried 330 days with no success. It was a nightmare I will "NEVER" take a free ticket ever again as a reward. I have had many bumps after that with, rewards of Airline money, which has worked out great.

DD & I are flying to Spain to meet the Disney Magic next June, on bump money, complements to American Airlines.(thanks to our last bump)

Thanks again adrock1976

 

[kaitlin-n-mom]

Once when we were flying from MCO to CAK via Airtran a stewardess came on the plane and asked if three people would give up their seats. (there were three of us) They offered future airline tickets, tickets to get back in the park, hotel, and $200 spending money. We did not take the offer because my DM and I were afraid our bosses would be upset with us if we did not come back to work the next day. When you returned the next day to work both of our bosses asked us if "We were Crazy" and told us we should have taken the offer. A lessoned learned. I now prepare for the possibility and warn my boss, if I get bumped I am taking an extra day of vacation.

A former boss of mine flys to Vegas a couple times a year. At check in he always tells them if they need to bump to come and see him. He has flown quite a few times for free.

 

[boswellnakia]

Is there a way to see how full flights are or have historically been? I wonder if there are flights that have a better chance of being full and thus the potential of bumping?

I thought I once saw a website that listed capacity statitics, but can seem to find it anywhere.

 

[Lewisc]

Assuming SW doesn't get enough volunteers, bumping priority is based on the sequence number on your boarding pass. In other words if you get your boarding pass prior to your arrival at the airport there is almost no chance of being involuntarily bumped. SW generally gets enough volunteers.

 

[gw_lit]

Is there a way to see how full flights are or have historically been? I wonder if there are flights that have a better chance of being full and thus the potential of bumping?

I thought I once saw a website that listed capacity statitics, but can seem to find it anywhere.

You can find general information about the number of voluntary and involuntary bumps on the "Air Travel Consumer Report" published by the Dept. of Transportation. It can be found here: http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/index.htm

It gives statistics by airline. You won't find information about specific flights anywhere as the load factor and the average fare per flight are generally closely guarded by the airlines for competition's sake.

 

[seashoreCM]

asked if three people would give up their seats. (there were three of us) They offered future airline tickets, tickets to get back in the park, hotel, and $200 spending money. We did not take the offer ... When you returned the next day to work both of our bosses asked us if "We were Crazy" and told us we should have taken the offer..

But you only had five seconds to tell the flight attendant you wanted to take the offer or not. Not enough time to telephone your boss to find out.

Some other group of employees might haave taken the offer and when they got back to work the boss was indeed upset and asks, "Are you crazy" as he hands the employees pink dismissal slips for unexcused absence.

 

[kaitlin-n-mom]

But you only had five seconds to tell the flight attendant you wanted to take the offer or not. Not enough time to telephone your boss to find out.

Some other group of employees might haave taken the offer and when they got back to work the boss was indeed upset and asks, "Are you crazy" as he hands the employees pink dismissal slips for unexcused absence.

That is why I now ask the boss before I leave if the situation occurs, is it OK to stay? I learned to prepare for the situation now, I didn't know any better then.

 

[VLee]

I was issued two travel vouchers from Northwest that expire Feb 1 and Feb 2. When I began trying to actually use them, beginning in early September, I was told that I could use one for my granddaughter if I would be accompanying her.

Her birthday is the end of Jan 31 and I thought this would be a great surprise. However, they had no slots available for the voucher use for at least Nov, Dec, Jan. They said they had slots mid-Feb, but guess what...the vouchers would have expired by then.

Lesson learned: if you accept a voucher, be sure you begin to try to use them very early. My two will expire unused.

Oh, yeah, I could have used them for a $200 fee each. No way, I could fly Southwest for under that.

 

[adrock1976]

Lesson learned: if you accept a voucher, be sure you begin to try to use them very early. My two will expire unused.

Exactly...and this is what the airline is hoping, whether lost, forgotten or destroyed, you lose.

Also, the airline will never advertise that flight is oversold, but they have to tell you if you ask. You can call central reservations for your carrier, and ask about your specific flight to see if it is in an oversold situation. Then, if you want, get to the airport early and volunteer to give up your seat.

I met a man while traveling through LAX a few years ago. He flew short commuter jumps from Los Angeles to other airports in southern California. These planes are small, and often can be oversold or cannot accomodate everyone because of weight restrictions. One day, he said, he volunteered his seat three different times. He waited at the airport ALL DAY, but in the end he had $800 in travel credits, which he used towards a family vacation. if you have the flexibility and it works in your favor, power to you!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would never, ever accept a voucher if bumped, due to the mentioned hassles of trying to actually use it when you want to travel. Holding out for cash is the only way to go.

 

[disneyldwjr]

I would never, ever accept a voucher if bumped, due to the mentioned hassles of trying to actually use it when you want to travel. Holding out for cash is the only way to go.

I don't think SWA ever gives cash, only vouchers and drafts and unlike other airlines, they do not barter, it is a " take this and that's it" situation.
Pgs. 33 and 34 in the contract of carriage, which I linked earlier, covers this well.
In fact, if they can get you on another flight with another carrier that arrives no later than 1 hour after your ETA with SW, you get nothing.
Happily, SWA never blacks out times for their vouchers, they may expire, but, you can use them anytime and, you can transfer them.

 

[disneyldwjr]

Is there a way to see how full flights are or have historically been? I wonder if there are flights that have a better chance of being full and thus the potential of bumping?

I thought I once saw a website that listed capacity statitics, but can seem to find it anywhere.

SWA has their capacities listed on the website, you simply have to do a search.
They do not release the information you are looking for. In all my flights I have yet to see anyone bumped with SWA.