Southwest question - overbooking

[CarolynNC]

I just pulled up Southwest's web site to see if it was possible to add a person to our flight and it looks like my outgoing flight is full. I'm afraid they may have overbooked. If you get bumped by Southwest (voluntary or not) do they put you on another carrier to speed you on your way? There is only one flight out daily to Orlando on Southwest.

Thanks,
Carolyn

 

[Lewisc]

All airlines (including SW) overbook. SW has a lot of passenger flying on RR tickets, full fare tickets and tickets in which the fare and be used within 12 months on another flight. A flight can be overbooked by 10 and still have 5 or 6 empty seats.

SW will (probably) try to fly voluntary bumps to Tampa and pay for ground transportation to Orlando. Get to the airport early enough to get a boarding pass (A, B or C) and you won't be the one involuntarily bumped.

Usually enough volunteers, I wouldn't worry.

 

[CarolynNC]

Thanks for your reply. There's a flight to Tampa later that night but that would sure be a long wait. I was thinking I might volunteer but my two boys would be livid. It wouldn't work unless I could extend our stay an extra day. Then it would cost me another night at rack rate since I couldn't plan ahead. Oh well, I've heard you can sometimes get great perks if you're bumped. I guess I'll be there early enough to get one of those A passes.

Carolyn

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by CarolynNC
Thanks for your reply. There's a flight to Tampa later that night but that would sure be a long wait. I was thinking I might volunteer but my two boys would be livid. It wouldn't work unless I could extend our stay an extra day. Then it would cost me another night at rack rate since I couldn't plan ahead. Oh well, I've heard you can sometimes get great perks if you're bumped. I guess I'll be there early enough to get one of those A passes.

Carolyn

Even a "C" pass will ensure you a seat on the plane. A "B" will all but guarantee you'll get to sit together.

 

[caitycaity]

on a recent swa flight, (not to orlando) the stewardess told us that it would be a full flight as they had overbooked by 20%. guess what there were still 2-3 empty seats.

 

[CarolynNC]

I'm feeling better & better! It must be a Florida flight day. Maybe everyone is starting their vacation on Saturday. The earlier flight to Tampa is booked. Only openings on their 8pm flight.

Thanks all,
Carolyn

 

[alexturner74]

Originally posted by Lewisc
All airlines (including SW) overbook.

Interestingly, I found out a couple of weeks ago when reading an industry publication, that JetBlue's coporate policy does not permit overbooking.

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by alexturner74
Interestingly, I found out a couple of weeks ago when reading an industry publication, that JetBlue's coporate policy does not permit overbooking.

Jet Blue's contract of carriage http://www.jetblue.com/pdf/jetblue_coc_052003.pdf
paragraph 27 has the standard verbagae about overbooking and denied boarding compensation. I would think if they didn't overbook there would be some mention of that in their website.

 

[dznyntnh]

Every Southwest flight I have ever been on has begun with an announcement that they had a 'full flight' and to fill in all the seats quickly.

On all but one of these flights, I got a row to myself cuz there were many empty seats.

Make sure that you flight originates from where you are catching the plane. If this is the case, then an 'A' or 'B' boarding pass can practically guarantee you sit together. But, if its a connection, even an 'A' may not help. Last summer we caught a flight from Kansas City and we were the first three people on the plane (after they preboarded an entire Little League team ). And we got the only three seats left together on the plane.

 

[alexturner74]

Originally posted by Lewisc
Jet Blue's contract of carriage http://www.jetblue.com/pdf/jetblue_coc_052003.pdf
paragraph 27 has the standard verbagae about overbooking and denied boarding compensation. I would think if they didn't overbook there would be some mention of that in their website.

Like I said, I read it in a magazine (ATW). If I'm not mistaken, I believe all of that verbage is required by the DOT for the protection of passengers. Plus, I'm sure there are some situations, like irregular operations, where some of their flights do end up being overbooked.

 

[Jenn]

We were just speaking with a Southwest rep the other day and she told us that for a flight with 132 seats, they book 170 tickets. Interesting.... they have it down to a science and I guess it is typical that that percentage of people cancel last minute, miss their flight, no show, etc.