Playing the bump game

[mmackeymouse]

Okay, I have never been bumped, but I know people who have. And the last couple of times we have flown, they have asked for volunteers to be bumped, and for whatever reason, we have decided against it. So, I am not familiar with the process and doing what is fair.

So, if we are flying on say, a Sunday, and the fare is $200. The fare to fly back Monday is $80. Well, let's say they ask for volunteers to get bumped from the Sunday flight, it is the last flight of the day, so we are bumped to Monday. Is it kosher to ask for, in addition to the compensation we are offered, a refund of the ticket price? Maybe not the full refund, but at least the difference between Sunday's and Monday's flight?

I am trying to figure out the balance between being fair and not being greedy.

 

[Jestocost]

Okay, I have never been bumped, but I know people who have. And the last couple of times we have flown, they have asked for volunteers to be bumped, and for whatever reason, we have decided against it. So, I am not familiar with the process and doing what is fair.

So, if we are flying on say, a Sunday, and the fare is $200. The fare to fly back Monday is $80. Well, let's say they ask for volunteers to get bumped from the Sunday flight, it is the last flight of the day, so we are bumped to Monday. Is it kosher to ask for, in addition to the compensation we are offered, a refund of the ticket price? Maybe not the full refund, but at least the difference between Sunday's and Monday's flight?

I am trying to figure out the balance between being fair and not being greedy.

If you take a voluntary bump and the next available flight is on the following day, they will pay you whatever credit was offered, put you on the next available flight at no additional charge, and should provide a hotel room and meal vouchers. There's no reason to ask for anything extra to cover any difference in fares since you don't have to pay those differences.

 

[Brian Noble]

If they ask for volunteers, they will make an offer of compensation. If enough people take that offer, that's that. If not, they will either sweeten the deal or (more often) they will resort to involuntary bumping. I'm not sure whether individual gate agents have much negotiating power.

If you are volunteering, you should not volunteer unless you *know* what flight you will be placed on. As loads have increased, it has become increasingly hard to find space on some of these flights. You could be delayed for quite some time.

 

[mmackeymouse]

Okay, again.....not trying to sound greedy here.

Let's say it is a difference of $300 and $80. Now, if I wanted to fly on Monday, I would book it for $80 obviously. Now, if I get bumped, and they offer compensation of $200, that does not even cover the difference in flights, so it is not very much of an incentive, ya know what I am saying?

I mean, if it is a difference of $10 or $20 bucks, I can see just letting it go, but such a significant amount.....if I am going to get bumped, lose a day of work, I would like to actually benefit from the deal. Does that make sense?

 

[chamonix]

If you are interested in playing the bump game, let the gate agent know that if they need to bump anyone, you are interested, then stick close to the gate. Are you traveling alone? If not, would you be interested in taking only one bump, or would all of you have to be bumped? Tell the GA the answer to that.

Also, they absolutely will have some wiggle room in what they offer. I would asks for at minimum, being confirmed in first class seats on your preferred next flight, and $$$ (also the hotel vouchers since it's the last flight out). I believe that any $ you receive will not be in the form of an amount refunded to your credit card (like cash) but will be a voucher or credit amount with the airline and which must be spent in the next year on that airline. Just thought I would mention that in case you cannot use the voucher and were hoping for cash.

 

[chamonix]

It is incentive for some people (your example) because you still get where you want to go and you have the voucher amount to spend on another flight in the future, which you don't have if you don't take the bump.

Don't think about the cost of purchasing a ticket on the next days flight, the cost on the day you are flying will be much higher by then.

Edited to add, there are seats on the flight you have now which have sold for more or less than you paid for your seats. You really cant compare seat fares day to day for fairness or even on the same flight. Be as "greedy" as you need to be to feel happy about being bumped. For you, it sounds like you would have to have the amount equal to the difference in fare to feel an incentive to take the bump. That is what it is, you shouldn't do it unless it feels like a fair trade to you. Good luck.

 

[crashbb]

They'd look at the price of the Monday as it stands on Sunday - not as it stood the day you booked it. Chances are the price would be far higher than the price you paid.

If they cannot get enough volunteers, there may be some wiggle room (until it becomes cheaper/easier for them to just to involuntary bumps). If there are enough other people who offer to be bumped, they aren't going to give anymore than they offer.

 

[Jestocost]

Okay, again.....not trying to sound greedy here.

Let's say it is a difference of $300 and $80. Now, if I wanted to fly on Monday, I would book it for $80 obviously. Now, if I get bumped, and they offer compensation of $200, that does not even cover the difference in flights, so it is not very much of an incentive, ya know what I am saying?

I mean, if it is a difference of $10 or $20 bucks, I can see just letting it go, but such a significant amount.....if I am going to get bumped, lose a day of work, I would like to actually benefit from the deal. Does that make sense?

It is what it is. If the numbers don't make sense for you then you are better off not taking the offer. Sometimes they sweeten the offer if noone takes it at first, so they start with $200 and then go to $300 or $400 if they don't have any takers.

 

[mmackeymouse]

If you are interested in playing the bump game, let the gate agent know that if they need to bump anyone, you are interested, then stick close to the gate. Are you traveling alone? If not, would you be interested in taking only one bump, or would all of you have to be bumped? Tell the GA the answer to that.

Also, they absolutely will have some wiggle room in what they offer. I would asks for at minimum, being confirmed in first class seats on your preferred next flight, and $$$ (also the hotel vouchers since it's the last flight out). I believe that any $ you receive will not be in the form of an amount refunded to your credit card (like cash) but will be a voucher or credit amount with the airline and which must be spent in the next year on that airline. Just thought I would mention that in case you cannot use the voucher and were hoping for cash.

I think all bumps are different as far as compensation is concerned. For example, when we were flying AT in January, they offered like $200 in travel vouchers plus refund of initial ticket plus hotel plus dining.

Last Christmas, we had some family fly SW. They got $200 per person in vouchers, PLUS $200 cash PER leg of trip. (It was a layover, so it was doubled) plus hotel stay and dining.

I am not wanting to make some huge profit or get all the bells and whistles thrown in. I just want to make sure if I am going to take a bump, I don't come out worse than if I just booked Monday to begin with.

 

[Jestocost]

I think all bumps are different as far as compensation is concerned. For example, when we were flying AT in January, they offered like $200 in travel vouchers plus refund of initial ticket plus hotel plus dining.

Last Christmas, we had some family fly SW. They got $200 per person in vouchers, PLUS $200 cash PER leg of trip. (It was a layover, so it was doubled) plus hotel stay and dining.

I am not wanting to make some huge profit or get all the bells and whistles thrown in. I just want to make sure if I am going to take a bump, I don't come out worse than if I just booked Monday to begin with.

Things are going to vary based on the airline and the circumstances. You may or may not be able to negotiate additional terms, etc. If they make an offer and you ask for more, they could say yes but they likely will see if someone else is willing to accept less before they come back to you or sweeten the offer somehow.

 

[Brian Noble]

I just want to make sure if I am going to take a bump, I don't come out worse than if I just booked Monday to begin with.

Bump compensation has nothing to do with the price difference between the flight you are on, and the flight you would take. Instead, it is usually a set amount based on the length of the expected additional delay. You have to decide in advance how much it is worth to you to go on the later flight you are offered. You can use the price difference you would have paid to determine that, or some other figure---that's up to you. If and when the offer meets or exceeds your price, then walk up to see what flight they can put you on, and if that works for you.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have flown many miles over the past two years (primarily on United) and have not been on a flight during this time when anyone was bumped, even on completely full flights.

Unless you are offered a lot of cash to be bumped, it just isn't worth it to play the "bump game."

 

[crashbb]

I have flown many miles over the past two years (primarily on United) and have not been on a flight during this time when anyone was bumped, even on completely full flights.

Unless you are offered a lot of cash to be bumped, it just isn't worth it to play the "bump game."

I did it in May. I was offered $400 (cash) and guaranteed a seat on the next flight (75 minutes later). Since the original flight got stuck in a holding pattern (flying out of New York), I got to my destination only an hour or so later than scheduled. Definitely worth it to me.

 

[DebbieB]

I flew PIT-CLT-RIC a couple of weeks ago and 3 of the 4 flights were requesting volunteers. The offer announced was different on each. If no one is volunteering, they may up the offer, I've seen that. I've seen some people hang back to see if more will be offered. Beware of "free ticket" offers. Seats available are limited with those offers, you are better off taking a $ off voucher. Cash offers are rare. Also, if you volunteer and there are people who don't show up, they may not need to bump you and you just get on the original flight.

 

[seashoreCM]

They will tell you what they will offer, including when the replacment flight will be, if any, and whether or not they will put you up in a hotel.

You will use your existing ticket/itinerary (with new boarding pass) for the replacement flight so any fare difference does not apply.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

one time on TWA (years ago) flying to Hawaii I was asked if I would mind getting "bumped" to 1st class. I said yes as long as I was offered more FFM than the normal trip would have been. I won. Went right up the spriral staircase on the 747.

 

[twinklebug]

SWA doesn't seem to offer big-ticket incentives:

We were on a SWA flight last February that was completely full due to previous cancellations. The crew was desperately looking for anyone to bump so a man could be on board with his family. In addition to putting the bumped one on the first available flight out, they first offered 1 RT voucher, then upped it to 2 RT vouchers and as a final incentive popped in a book of drink coupons. They never did offer cash and the man never made it on board. I felt for him but had 2 kids with me and I had to get to work the next morning.

Ironically, Had I known I was to be laid off the next day I would have taken it in a heartbeat