Ramifications of being "bumped" (air travel"

[bobbiwoz]

DH and I have been pretty lucky on vacations/work trips in allowing ourselves to be bumped for compensation. With DVC, we just have ignored the calls, although once, DH took the bump, and got in later that night, but it was "iffy" if he would make it...thank heaven's for ME, that's how I got to WDW.

I assume that one of us HAS to arrive on the appointed date, and calling the resort to say that we won't arrive until the next morning means that our whole reservation is cancelled. That's what they tell us, and that's what I assume. DH is looking at our plane out this weekend, and it sure does look like it's overbooked...I'm just wondering, has anyone arrived the next day, for non emergency reasons, and calling "worked" to save the room.

Also, thunderstorms happen, flights are cancelled...has anyone been successful in arriving late the next day and have the reservation still there? I know they were lenient with huricanes. But, lately, we've been stuck in all sorts of places, and sometimes it's been for overnight...not DVC so far. Is having travel insuance the only way this can work?

Bobbi

 

[edk35]

BUMP BUMP....good question.

 

[Dean]

You need to let them know but your reservation should still be there. I've arrived a day late several times for exchanges without problems. You'll lose the points for the day(s) you miss.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you very much for your input, Dean. Our first ressie is "only" a 2 night one...so we are willing to take a chance...but didn't want to walk into something completely without a clue.

Bobbi

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Make sure that you have a confirmed seat on another flight before agreeing to be bumped. With flights so full this summer, there are reports that passengers are being offered seats 3 or 4 days later. As a result, there has been a surge in involuntary bumps.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[smjj]

question on bumping. Do they break up familes. We are going this Nov. as a family of 6 and would sure hate to have one of us bumped. I know it does not happen often and the chances of it happening to us are very remote but I was just wondering..smjj

 

[IndianaMouseLover]

Subscribing. This whole flying thing is still somewhat new to me. I am trying to learn all of the tricks.

 

[bobbiwoz]

question on bumping. Do they break up familes. We are going this Nov. as a family of 6 and would sure hate to have one of us bumped. I know it does not happen often and the chances of it happening to us are very remote but I was just wondering..smjj

I just asked DH and he doesn't think they would do that. We are talking about the more traditional airlines, like Delta, USAirways, Continental. I've/We've have had flights out of Houston canceled...we don't always have direct flights.

We are empty nesters, so there's only us to break up, and we've only done it deliberately...I go and he takes the bump, (for compensation) if it's on the way TO WDW, but we both are willing to take a bump on the way home.

SuzanneSLO, thank you for reminding us about that fact. You're right, if you are bumped, or even if your plane is cancelled, you may not be able to get on the next flight out. In view of that...DH says he is still willing, but now I'm not! The first 2 nights is my once yearly BCV stay!

Bobbi

 

[MrsNick]

We're flying JB in July, so I don't think we have a huge worry about being bumped since they don't seem to overbook, but just so I know for the future...

How does the airline choose who gets bumped involuntarily? Is it the passenger who booked the latest, or booked the cheapest, or is it by lottery? Thanks.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We're flying JB in July, so I don't think we have a huge worry about being bumped since they don't seem to overbook, but just so I know for the future...

How does the airline choose who gets bumped involuntarily? Is it the passenger who booked the latest, or booked the cheapest, or is it by lottery? Thanks.

I really don't know this answer because for all 3 planes that we were to fly on, Delta got enough volunteers who were willing to take compensation.

The answers that I had received helped us to pass the bump on the trip going down. We were getting into MCO just after 5, that was on Sunday and there were great thunderstorms in the area, so we circled for about 1/2 an hour. The plane that the volunteers got on was supposed to get in around 11 PM, and they didn't actually land until 3 AM. The plane was held up on the ground at JFK.

We did take the bump coming home....and then the plane we were put on was also overbooked, but we passed that time. So, for us, it was a very lucky time, as well as having a great DVC vacation, we're each $400 Delta Dollars richer!!! (And this was on frequent flier free tickets!)

Bobbi

 

[CarolA]

I had to arrive late once (as in the next morning) due to flight issues flying from CA. (Wound up having to do the red eye, weather issues re-routed me...)

I called the resort directly and informed the front desk that I would not be arriving until early the next morning. I was charged the points, but I got the room as soon as I arrived....

Involuntary bump rules vary by airline. Basically it's cheapest fares and last check in. So if you come racing up to the gate at the last minute with your $50 airfare you odds are high if they have to do involunatary bumps!

 

[JimMIA]

Involuntary bump rules vary by airline. Basically it's cheapest fares and last check in. So if you come racing up to the gate at the last minute with your $50 airfare you odds are high if they have to do involunatary bumps!

Very true. There is tremendous variance between airlines for what they offer for bumps, and even within airlines the compensation can vary depending on the circumstances. Sometimes it's a free ticket anywhere they fly, other times it may only be $100 or so. And the major airlines definitely take care of their business travelers first.

I used to occasionally take a voluntary bump if the compensation was enough. Usually, that would be on the outbound leg of a business trip and was done provided I had a confirmed seat on a later flight and the compensation was sufficient (usually a free flight). Insisting on a confirmed seat has resulted in upgrades several times when they had room up front, but didn't have any coach seats left on a later flight.

Sometimes, getting bumped doesn't mean a delay at all. I've actually had a couple of situations where I took a bump, walked over to another gate and got right on the aircraft. Twice I have arrived at my destination earlier than the flight I was originally scheduled on because of mechanicals on the original flight.

Most of the time, though, I'm on the other side of the coin. Usually, I'm bumping cheap tickets off flights because of my frequent flyer status. When the weather gets ugly, FF status makes a big difference.

 

[tasha99]

About ten years ago, my ex husband got bumped off a flight from Seoul to L.A. and managed to get on another flight that was only 30 minutes later. He got a voucher for almost $1000! That was non-summer business travel though. I think I would hate getting bumped on my vacation.