What should I know about agreeing to be bumped to a later flight?

[poohbear8]

I found out that my flight tomorrow has been cancelled. The airline rebooked me at a later flight. (which I don't really like) When I went to print my boarding pass, there was a note that said my seat will be assigned at the gate. There was also a note that said they will be asking for volunteers to take a later flight and they will offer a voucher.

I am more than happy to take a later flight, since the flight they booked me on will have me stuck at the airport for hours. I have never been offered or asked for a voucher.

Can anyone tell me how to handle it? Should I tell them when I check in? Or would I do best to get my seat assignment and wait for them to ask? The later flights I like only have first class seating left. So could I ask for first class?

 

[seashoreCM]

I would not volunteer over the phone.

When you get to the airport, have in mind what you would want. First the gate agent will announce what he will offer, including the dollar amount of the voucher. Sometimes he will offer a "round trip anywhere" instead of a voucher. Most experienced travelers don't volunteer for the "round trip" because you can only choose destinations and times and dates that are far from crowded or for which the cheapest seats are not all gone. Sometimes he will announce what later flight you will get and that is guaranteed. Sometimes he will tell you that you are on y our own with no later flight offered. Then you decide whether you want to volunteer for that.

A lot of the time they get all the volunteers they need for just a $200.00 voucher. Once in awhile they offer two free round trips or a voucher over $500. You can volunteer under the condition they make a substitution for example a voucher instead of a round trip but the gate agent may pass you over for the next person will take what was offered.

 

[poohbear8]

Thanks! I wasn't able to get a voucher for giving up my seat over the phone...I called to ask since I have never done this.

I've read up on it, so I will have to see how it plays out once I get to the airport.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Make sure, no matter what is offered, that your have a confirmed seat on the flight they are putting you on, otherwise they could just be putting you on the standby list, which is of no comfort.

 

[Lewisc]

Make sure, no matter what is offered, that your have a confirmed seat on the flight they are putting you on, otherwise they could just be putting you on the standby list, which is of no comfort.

+1 SW uses terms like "priority standby" which doesn't mean anything. Some passengers don't insist on a confirmed seat, just a confirmed reservation. They're happy accepting bumped compensation on another flight.

You want a confirmed seat on the latest flight you're willing to take.

 

[poohbear8]

Thank you for all of the input!! This is Delta if it matters to anyone. I will update later how it turns out.

 

[msmayor]

Thank you for all of the input!! This is Delta if it matters to anyone. I will update later how it turns out.

Just two months ago my daughter accepted a bump on Delta when she flew back to college. She was in ATL, halfway through her trip, and her flight to SAV was overbooked.

They offered a $300 voucher to give up her seat. They gave her a confirmed seat on a specific flight later in the day.

She did not get the $300 voucher until after her original flight took off without her on it.

It was a very simple process and she was happy with the compensation.

 

[Lewisc]

You also might want to get complete details about the voucher. Is it transferable or do you have to be the passenger. What is the expiration date. Do you have book by that date or fly by that date. Can you use the voucher online? For any published fare?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

With Continental, Delta, and SWA you have one year to use the vouchure. You can book the flight online. Some times when you get bumped they put you in first class on the next flight. If there are two of you flying be flexible. By that I mean tell them you are willing to fly seperately on different flights. My DH flew on a flight and thru Miami while I went through Altanta. I went to Atlanta and got bumped again! Came home with close to $1,000. in travel vouchures and arrived only 4 hours later than our orginal flight.

Oh and they are not transferable

 

[Alexander]

With Continental, Delta, and SWA you have one year to use the vouchure. You can book the flight online. Some times when you get bumped they put you in first class on the next flight. If there are two of you flying be flexible. By that I mean tell them you are willing to fly seperately on different flights. My DH flew on a flight and thru Miami while I went through Altanta. I went to Atlanta and got bumped again! Came home with close to $1,000. in travel vouchures and arrived only 4 hours later than our orginal flight.

Oh and they are not transferable

We have transferred Delta vouchers several times. Not actually transferred them, but used them to "pay" for flights for other members of our family.

 

[DebbieB]

I have heard requests for volunteers when I've been flying but have never taken them up on it. There was a case a couple of months ago when I was flying MSP-PIT on Delta. It was the last flight of the day, so the next flight was in the morning. They were giving a hotel and meal voucher in addition to the flight voucher. Here's the kicker - you could not get your checked luggage back! They said to stop in baggage claim to get an "ammenity kit", which probably includes tooth brush, etc. They said your checked luggage would be locked up in baggage claim in PIT for when you get there the next morning. A couple of people took them up on it.

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Also, When looking at available seats on an airline flight online, you have to remember that some airlines will show many seats as being "filled" when they are reserved for their elite members for upgrades, or they are not even shown at all. Exit rows, for example, most always show up as being filled, but they are usually the seats assigned to those checking in later or who were bumped, etc.

 

[phred52]

another thought ..... when bumped, ~ask for meal vouchers~ We always ask and have always received them. They are not always offered but when we ask, we DO get them.

Through the years we've learned to ask for individual vouchers, NOT one voucher for everyone in our party. (which is easier for the person giving you your bump compensation). Not everyone may want italian or burgers or whatever .... if you have one $30 voucher it has to be spent all in one place....compared to 3 $10 vouchers which can be spent at 3 different places.

We expect to get a voucher for every meal during the time we are waiting. If it is overnight, that means dinner and breakfast. Vouchers can be used for the next 24 hours at any airport.

 

[poohbear8]

I just wanted to stop by and say thank you for all of the advice!

I was shocked to find when I checked in that Delta actually had a boarding pass already printed out with my name on it! (they told the guy ahead of me he would have to wait for a seat to open up)

I asked about giving my seat up and asked if I could get a voucher. Due to the flight times being changed I was going to have to wait for 5 hours at either airport, (my ride was at work and couldn't get to me until evening) so I had decided I would take ANY amount, just so I could stay at my airport.

In the end, they booked me on the later flight I wanted (I made sure I HAD a seat). I also got a $400 voucher (I can use it to book any travel up to a year in anyone's name), upgraded to first class, and a $10 voucher for lunch.

Overall, I was pretty happy! This is the same offer they offered others on this flight. DH thinks I was crazy to sit at the airport, but I planned ahead and got work done and saved us $400 off his flight to Chicago in July!

Thanks again for the advice!!