Jet Blue called us to today - asked us to be bumped off!

[Alexander]

According to DOT data, in 2011 JetBlue bumped a total of 126 passengers (95 voluntarily, 31 involuntarily) out of more than 25 million passengers carried. See http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/2012/February/2012FebruaryATCR.PDF#page=35. That's a far lower rate than any other reporting carrier - so it's almost certainly due to unplanned circumstances.

That is an amazing statistic! Only 126 people! Kudos to JetBlue for doing what they say (not intentionally overbooking). They are far and away my favorite airline and this just confirms that.

 

[seashoreCM]

If they convince people to switch flights over the phone then that does not count towards the bump records.

 

[pooh2001]

We originally booked JetBlue with an Embar 190 - then per JetBlue they changed planes to an Airbus320 (3 seats aisle and 3 seats), to get more passengers. Now our flight is back to an Embar 190 (2 seats aisle 2 seats). So I guess now 60 people are getting kicked off, if there are 30 rows.

We booked JetBlue because of the Emabar 190 plane. It is a better plane, better ratings. less accidents....the Airbus 320 has more accidents.

We better not get bumped off.
It took us 5 years to save for this WDW vacation.
If we go a day earlier, Friday,DH can not get off from work and it will cost us more in hotel, food, and whatever. Plus our local kennel can not take our cats a day earlier.

If they offer us 4 free round trip tickets to anywhere - so now we have plane tickets good for 1 year. Big deal We still would have to pay for hotel, food and what ever we are doing when we get to the place with the free plane tickets and only less than 1 year to save the money for it.
This is not doable for us.

 

[goofy4tink]

We originally booked JetBlue with an Embar 190 - then per JetBlue they changed planes to an Airbus320 (3 seats aisle and 3 seats), to get more passengers. Now our flight is back to an Embar 190 (2 seats aisle 2 seats). So I guess now 60 people are getting kicked off, if there are 30 rows.

We booked JetBlue because of the Emabar 190 plane. It is a better plane, better ratings. less accidents....the Airbus 320 has more accidents.

We better not get bumped off.
It took us 5 years to save for this WDW vacation.
If we go a day earlier, Friday,DH can not get off from work and it will cost us more in hotel, food, and whatever. Plus our local kennel can not take our cats a day earlier.

If they offer us 4 free round trip tickets to anywhere - so now we have plane tickets good for 1 year. Big deal We still would have to pay for hotel, food and what ever we are doing when we get to the place with the free plane tickets and only less than 1 year to save the money for it.
This is not doable for us.

I really would stop worrying at this point. My best advice?? Check in, online, as soon as humanly possible. Then, get to the airport nice and early. Those that get bumped tend to be those that either checked in later or arrived at the airport later.

I've never been approached by JB to change flights, but I have been called by Delta. That has happened about 4 times. Sometimes I wish I could take the bump...but usually when they ask me, I have to be at my destination at a certain time.

 

[leebee]

DD18 and I were on AirTran last October when they were trying to get volunteers to be bumped; they were offering two for one... two rt vouchers for every seat volunteered! It KILLED me not to take that deal, but we were only going to be at WDW for three days and this would mean we wouldn't get into MCO on Friday evening.. wouldn't get there until noon-ish on Saturday. ROom at POP and rental car were in my name, and DH was on a different airline (using up travel vouchers!). We didn't take the bump, as rearranging everything would have been a logistical nightmare, and with us being on such a short trip, we really wouldn't have been able to do what we'd planned. Now that we have several obligations this summer, I REALLY wish we had those extra airfares! OH well.. DH and I each got the 50,000 frequent flyer miles on the last Southwest credit card offer, so we're good!

 

[Alexander]

We originally booked JetBlue with an Embar 190 - then per JetBlue they changed planes to an Airbus320 (3 seats aisle and 3 seats), to get more passengers. Now our flight is back to an Embar 190 (2 seats aisle 2 seats). So I guess now 60 people are getting kicked off, if there are 30 rows.

We booked JetBlue because of the Emabar 190 plane. It is a better plane, better ratings. less accidents....the Airbus 320 has more accidents.

We better not get bumped off.
It took us 5 years to save for this WDW vacation.
If we go a day earlier, Friday,DH can not get off from work and it will cost us more in hotel, food, and whatever. Plus our local kennel can not take our cats a day earlier.

If they offer us 4 free round trip tickets to anywhere - so now we have plane tickets good for 1 year. Big deal We still would have to pay for hotel, food and what ever we are doing when we get to the place with the free plane tickets and only less than 1 year to save the money for it.
This is not doable for us.

I doubt they are kicking 60 people off the plane. It is likely that there were not that many bookings. You are waaaay over thinking this (looking at which planes are safer). Okay, you said, "No thank you." End of story. Others have just posted their reasons for taking a bump, and some have shared why they also couldn't.

 

[MolonLabe]

I've been bumped from other airlines before after agreeing.

Usually for a free ticket anywhere in CONUS and an upgrade to first class, plus a meal voucher in the airport.

Those were always for business trips where I would just blow off the 3-4 hour delay as being bumped and not mention the volunteering part.

For a WDW vacation? No way. Possibly on the way if the next flight out was reasonable.

***
That's setting aside the insanity of setting yourself up for a sexual assault by airport screeners since the new procedures went into effect. I'm just luck enough to be in a position where we can drive anywhere we want to go right now (including WDW) and not risk our kids being molested by some pervert in a blue shirt.

Hopefully the insanity ends soon and we stop the goons from touching all over us for no good reason.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've been bumped from other airlines before after agreeing.

Usually for a free ticket anywhere in CONUS and an upgrade to first class, plus a meal voucher in the airport.

Those were always for business trips where I would just blow off the 3-4 hour delay as being bumped and not mention the volunteering part.

For a WDW vacation? No way. Possibly on the way if the next flight out was reasonable.

***
That's setting aside the insanity of setting yourself up for a sexual assault by airport screeners since the new procedures went into effect. I'm just luck enough to be in a position where we can drive anywhere we want to go right now (including WDW) and not risk our kids being molested by some pervert in a blue shirt.

Hopefully the insanity ends soon and we stop the goons from touching all over us for no good reason.

You do understand how inflammatory this is, right??? No one is being 'sexually assaulted by airport screeners', nor are they perverts in blue shirts. This is just so wrong on so many levels.
I have never had a less than acceptable experience with the TSA. Now, I am not saying that there aren't those out there that have felt violated in some fashion. But in all reality??? Not even close to an assault of any kind. And to lump all these employees, those just trying to do their jobs, as 'pervert's??? Well...that's just over the top. Goons??? Touching us all over???

 

[Alexander]

You do understand how inflammatory this is, right??? No one is being 'sexually assaulted by airport screeners', nor are they perverts in blue shirts. This is just so wrong on so many levels.
I have never had a less than acceptable experience with the TSA. Now, I am not saying that there aren't those out there that have felt violated in some fashion. But in all reality??? Not even close to an assault of any kind. And to lump all these employees, those just trying to do their jobs, as 'pervert's??? Well...that's just over the top. Goons??? Touching us all over???

Uh? Ditto....simply because I cannot believe that post and I have been rendered almost speechless!

 

[crashbb]

Uh? Ditto....simply because I cannot believe that post and I have been rendered almost speechless!

I started to respond and then just gave up.

 

[Minnesota!]

I doubt they are kicking 60 people off the plane. It is likely that there were not that many bookings. You are waaaay over thinking this (looking at which planes are safer). Okay, you said, "No thank you." End of story. Others have just posted their reasons for taking a bump, and some have shared why they also couldn't.

I agree. You are way overthinking it. Also, your ticket gets you from A to B. If they have to bump you...they have to bump you. Not worth sweating it now. Just wait and see what happens when the day to fly comes.

I've been bumped from other airlines before after agreeing.

Usually for a free ticket anywhere in CONUS and an upgrade to first class, plus a meal voucher in the airport.

Those were always for business trips where I would just blow off the 3-4 hour delay as being bumped and not mention the volunteering part.

For a WDW vacation? No way. Possibly on the way if the next flight out was reasonable.

***
That's setting aside the insanity of setting yourself up for a sexual assault by airport screeners since the new procedures went into effect. I'm just lucky enough to be in a position where we can drive anywhere we want to go right now (including WDW) and not risk our kids being molested by some pervert in a blue shirt.

Hopefully the insanity ends soon and we stop the goons from touching all over us for no good reason.

You are....nevermind. I just cannot believe how paranoid some people are. Molested? Wow. You keep right on thinking that - one less person (family) in front of me holding up the line.

 

[vacationclub]

I think the most likely explanation to the bump request is an equipment downgrade. They may have originally booked the larger aircraft, but sales could have been slow enough that they decided to use the smaller aircraft, and so they needed to trim a few people to make that happen.

 

[crashbb]

I think the most likely explanation to the bump request is an equipment downgrade. They may have originally booked the larger aircraft, but sales could have been slow enough that they decided to use the smaller aircraft, and so they needed to trim a few people to make that happen.

Yup - the OP updated and that's what it was (though it went small to large to small).

We originally booked JetBlue with an Embar 190 - then per JetBlue they changed planes to an Airbus320 (3 seats aisle and 3 seats), to get more passengers. Now our flight is back to an Embar 190 (2 seats aisle 2 seats). So I guess now 60 people are getting kicked off, if there are 30 rows.

We booked JetBlue because of the Emabar 190 plane. It is a better plane, better ratings. less accidents....the Airbus 320 has more accidents.

 

[GeorgiaH]

Yup - the OP updated and that's what it was (though it went small to large to small).

Also they consolidated the afternoon flight, which was taken off the schedule, and the passengers were put on the morning flight (the flight which they are asking for volunteers) I know because I am one of the passengers that was rebooked to this flight a few months ago. I did not receive a call, but a family I am traveling with did. They declined the bump also. From what they were told, by Jet Blue they were only looking for 3 seats.

Just relax check in early and get to the airport early, especially if you are checking luggage. That's what I'm going to do.

 

[jsilvers]

If they convince people to switch flights over the phone then that does not count towards the bump records.

Incorrect. There are certain exceptions to the DOT reporting requirements for overbooking, but it does not matter whether an offer to a passenger to switch flights was made over the phone or in person. FYI, the reporting form for airlines can be found at http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/forms/pdf/form_251.pdf.

 

[GraceMonica]

If that doesn't fall under the word molest, nothing does.

If you don't like it, don't fly.

 

[cornflake]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/molest
mo·lest (m-lst)
tr.v. mo·lest·ed, mo·lest·ing, mo·lests
1. To disturb, interfere with, or annoy.
2. To subject to unwanted or improper sexual activity.

Yes, the word molested is indeed an extremely appropriate word to describe it.

Just do a google image search of "tsa pat down", include the word "child" if you really want to get livid. the ones above are pretty tame, this is a family board, I don't want to put up anything too inappropriate. That last pic for example has the beginning of her hand going down the childs pants. If that doesn't fall under the word molest, nothing does.

Then I guess nothing does because unless you're presuming everyone patted down is annoyed or disturbed, which you can't logically know, the pictures you posted don't have anything to do with your definition of molesting. There's nothing sexual about a security search.

I've been patted down by real security experts and security in airports that train people well, have no problem doing very thorough patdowns for any beep of a wand, and don't kid around (Germans in uniform do not traditionally have much of a sense of humour, heh). It's not molestation or anything close.

 

[Lisa71]

My friends got voluntarily moved from their Jet Blue flight and got free RT, so they returned to the World!! Oh, and we have flown with our kids many times and they were NEVER inappropriately touched in any way. My son, who was 4 at the time, did come up for a random explosives screen, but he thought running his hand on the machine was fun...and we got a big laugh. The TSA has a tough job...let them do it. I would love free RT!!

 

[DebbieB]

I've been on many flights since the new rules started and have yet to be molested. I just go through the body scanner. There have been a couple times where I got a patdown, I know it's their job and it doesn't bother me.

 

[vacationclub]

If you don't like it, don't fly.

Yes, completely giving in to incompetent governmental over-reach is one option.

Complaining and voting is another.

unless you're presuming everyone patted down is annoyed or disturbed, which you can't logically know, the pictures you posted don't have anything to do with your definition of molesting. There's nothing sexual about a security search..

Yes, it looks like everyone is enjoying it. Who wouldn't? If they are touching areas related to sex, and you're not interested in it happening, that's pretty much the textbook definition.

I've been on many flights since the new rules started and have yet to be molested. I just go through the body scanner. There have been a couple times where I got a patdown, I know it's their job and it doesn't bother me.

I've been "molested" several times. Even if you go through the scanner (there are two types, with different risk levels to you) you can STILL be subject to pat down. Even if you draw the right straw and walk through the magnetometer, if you forget to take of your belt and set it off, you don't get a 2nd chance to walk through, you get someones fingers in your pants and and deep into your crotch. If you go through a small airport with no radiation machines (that's what they are) you are subject to random molesta.....uh, patdown. And, if you simply object to unproven safety levels from the radiation that the machines that Chertof's company happened to win the bid on, and you opt out....you get fingers in your pants.

I know it's their job....that has no effect on my opinion of the situation. The bigger issue is the reason and logic they apply when deciding who to search and who not to. The entire basis for their policy is flawed.....this deserves another thread......