Volunteering to give up your seat....

[DisMN]

We've been on a few NWA flights where they ask people to give up their seats. It's never been convenient for us to do so but if they were to ask, it would work for us on this upcoming trip.

My question is is how does this work?
What do you get in return for giving up your seat? Do you end up flying that same day or having to stay over another night?
If that's the case, how/who makes overnight arrangements for you?

I'll take any and all information about this process please.

 

[safetymom]

It's a good idea to look ahead of time to see when the next flight is to your location. Then you already have a idea when they ask for volunteers.

It depends what they offer, sometimes it is cash(which doesn't happen often), most of the time it is a round trip ticket good for future travel.

Sometimes they up the stakes and offer more.

If this is something that you want to do you should mention it at the gate counter when you get there. If it is heavily overbooked you may get the next flight out.

 

[MichDISer]

The last flight we were on they offered a future ticket to anywhere Spirit Arlines Flies PLUS they were going to put the person up in a hotel for the night (since they wouldn't be able to fly out until the next day).

 

[ladydancer]

The one question I have about overbooking is....how do they chose the person to be bumped? Is it the last person to check-in at the airport or is it random? I never really understood this.

Anybody know the answer?

 

[safetymom]

For an involuntary bump, they look to see if anyone has a ticket but no seat assignment first. Then sometimes the gate agent has some leeway and will announce that those that booked their tickets last will get bumped.

Sometimes it is by how much you paid. Usually if you are a preferred frequent flyer you won't get bumped.

If there are a lot of bumps needed it could be as clear as mud the procedure they use.

 

[chicknoodle99]

I have taken the bump for NWA many times. They will offer, usually, a free RT ticket or a monetary voucher. The times we did it, the vouchers were 300.00 per person. The free ticket and voucher are good for a year from the date of issue and usually arent transferrable. My advice, always take the money--the free tickets are very restrictive and they only allow so many seats for the free vouchers whereas the money you can use anytime without blackouts. Once, we did had to spend the night and they put us up in a hotel and gave us food vouchers. NWA took care of all the arrangements for us...

The volunteer process is a first come-first serve basis. Let the agent know that is working the flight that you are interested in volunteering--even if they have not made an announcement yet. Try to be the first on the list. Also let him/her know if your family is willing to seperate as sometimes they dont need everyone and if you are not willing to seperate then they will move down the list. They usually dont know for sure if they will need your seat until 15-20mins to departure so be prepared to wait until they tell you.


Good luck and have fun!

 

[CarolA]

Also, pay attention.

THey sometimes start small and increase the offer if they get in trouble. So... if you volunteered at a $200 voucher and you hear the offer raised go back up and say you want the new improved offer or you will get on with your assigned seat.

 

[seashoreCM]

Who gets selected as a volunteer is sometimes unpredictable. Such things as:

1. A group of people traveling together (who would need only one hotel room and are easier to rebook)

2. Elite/medallion/gold/premier etc. frequent fliers

3. Passengers not needing to make connections

may be taken into consideration.

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

A family with both parents present might want to volunteer with one parent first and the other parent last so as to be able to form a group of any size from one up to the family size and not have children traveling alone.

 

[deltachi8]

Funny, this past monday, on our return from WDW, Delta was asing for volunteers on our flght from Atlanta to Syracuse. The offer was $200 voucher and meal voucher (as the next flight wasn't for 6 hours). I initially said no, then thought, why not but my DS (8) refused to stay the six hours and started to throw a fit - and that was the end of that.

Oh well, would have been nice to have our flights for next year's trip basically paid for....