I coulda got $800 for being bumped 8 hours on my way to Europe - but whne you only have a week, you gotta go NOW!

This is why I take early-morning flights.

"Put me on the 1130 instead of the 0630 and give me $200? Okay."

Tim Winship, an editor with SmarterTravel.com, said overbooking is "bad for them, it's bad for morale, and you end up with a potential riot on your hands among people who have to be compensated."

Let's be realistic, there would be no rioting as anyone who did would be hauled off by security and labeled a potential terrorist threat.

My wife and I were almost forcibly bumped from a flight to Vegas last year - even with pre-booked boarding passes and confirmed seat assignments. When we told them we were not going to be bumped (and had the facts on our side), they then tried to bribe us with everything under the sun: vouchers, discounts, coupons for future flights, etc. Turns out what they wanted was our seats so a pair of flight attendants could deadhead on a full flight.

Huh.

Ugh, I work for a Corperate Travel Website, and I hear these stories all the time.

What the airlines don't understand is that from a business prospective, all we (the customer) wants, is to get to our destination with the least amount of hassle, and on time.

What is so hard to understand about that? I know that I have personally stopped flying on two airlines (forever) for their practice of over booking.

I have also put Red Lobster on my list of chains to never visit again. I did however have the satisfaction of seeing the manager at the cash register on my way out. When he asked "How was your visit?", I gave him an ear full (service took 45 minutes, lobster as rubbery as gym shoes, no drink service until after the food arrived which was 30 minutes after the order, etc.). He said "I'll comp you for the meal". I said, no thanks, here's my cash... but know you have lost a customer permanently.

Id wait 5 hours for an upgrade to 1st class on a 3 hour flight.

CasperImproved: I have also put Red Lobster on my list of chains to never visit again.

Blasphemy!

Link goes to blank page.

You'd think since airlines are so cash-strapped, they'd actually NOT overbook as much as they do, so they don't have to pay out as much compensation for people who get bumped. I never understand corporate logic.

CasperImproved: I said, no thanks, here's my cash... but know you have lost a customer permanently.

Goodness! You sure gave him the old what-for!

Are there that many people who book flights, pay for them, and then just decide at the last minute not to bother? It seems to me that with the time people spend comparing fares, they'd be unlikely to decide at the last moment, "Oh... can't be bothered to go to Cleveland today."

Hm. I'm total bump-fodder on my flight next month back to Texas from Germany, as my ticket was only 400 EUR roundtrip ($650 at the time I bought it). If someone walks up and wants to pay the 3000 EUR that roudtrip costs purchased full-fare, I can see why the airline would love to hand me a 200 EUR coupon, a hotel voucher and a ticket for the next day, provided my suitcase hasn't been put on the plane yet.

I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.

Fuzzy logic rules this practice. Why airlines continue to value a fully paid seat plus perks over a fully paid for seat is beyond me. Strikes me as the same sort of soft accounting that shows up in other parts of the corporate world.

It can't be loyalty, so the reasoning must lie somewhere else. My blood boil factor increases in direct proportion to the amount of time I book ahead of the flight I check-in for. Especially if I am flying as contractor for the airline in question. If I have to pull out the cell to call the person who hired me, to get me on the flight THEY booked, I feel no guilt in watching the employee squirm.

I got bumped up to a flight 2 hours later departing, but one that would arrive at the same time. I got first class both ways as well for my inconvenience. Or, as I call it in this case, convenience.

hukedanfonix: You'd think since airlines are so cash-strapped, they'd actually NOT overbook as much as they do, so they don't have to pay out as much compensation for people who get bumped. I never understand corporate logic.


You're forgetting that people in airline management are usually the bottom of their graduating class. As a friend of mine who worked for USAirways in Crystal city once said "Aviation management is the special olympics of business management." She escaped to an oil company not long after.

Seriously I worked for an airline for 5 years(3 different stations) and a manufacturer's repair station for 7. I can count on one hand the number of smart and useful people in management at any level and 3 of the 5 are in other industries now, one of the others is dead and the 5th is Bob Crandal(retired)

Airlines such as Delta and Continental are already implementing new check-in procedures aimed at reducing the number of bumped passengers.

That just means that passengers will be denied at check-in so they don't have to pay compensation.

I'd rather get bumped.

Nogale: Are there that many people who book flights, pay for them, and then just decide at the last minute not to bother? It seems to me that with the time people spend comparing fares, they'd be unlikely to decide at the last moment, "Oh... can't be bothered to go to Cleveland today."

I wonder if overbooking means paid tickets + reservations for rather pricey tickets > seats actually on plane, and it's done because yeah, all those reservations are unlikely to show up, but if they manage to, boy are they profitable, so it's worth taking the chance of pissing off some of those cheap-fare passengers. It might even provide a way of filling seats on later, less-full flights.

If I paid $800 for my international round trip, and some guy has a reservation for a seat that will cost $3000 if he actually takes the flight, it might be worth it to the airline to bump me if he does show up, even if they have to bribe me a bit.

And like any sane person is going to get in a real heated discussion at an airport anymore...

This will be fun. I travel for a living, and we recently got forced to tavel economy instead of business. I hope i get bumped. A lot.

already knows this.

Step 2 is apparently "get moved to a later flight," put your junk in that box



/sorry couldn't resist

I've found that being really really nice to the airline employees pays off big in this situation. I and several other people had been bumped from a flight to Reno and the person in line in front of me spent 20 minutes verbally flaying the five airline people at the counter. She didn't get on the next flight. When I finally made it to the counter, my Weeners was "I'm guessing you guys don't get paid enough for this." Everyone laughed and I was on the next flight out.

First class on internal USA flights are pointless... for those small planes.

Now first class on an international flight on a jumbo jet, yes I'll take it.

Nogale: Are there that many people who book flights, pay for them, and then just decide at the last minute not to bother? It seems to me that with the time people spend comparing fares, they'd be unlikely to decide at the last moment, "Oh... can't be bothered to go to Cleveland today."

Cleveland? Then it's more likely they chickened out. Or came to their senses.

Recently, I was flying with my mom, brother, stepdad, and stepbro, on our way to a family reunion in Boston. We did the dumb thing and flew Delta Connection. Comair. Mother farkers.

The plane was 50 seats, pretty much a flying minivan. Before we could take off, the pilot came on and was like uhh there's no ballast (weight to stick in the cargo hold to balance the plane's weight) so we have to kick a few people off.

The lucky winners would receive a later flight and $400 in Delta vouchers. It took about ten minutes until some pissed off ground crew guy was all like "Raaar three of *you passengers* need to volunteer or this plane isn't taking off!" If it wasn't for the fact I was headed up for a family thing, hell yes I would have done it.

Though the fact that three people made such a weight balance difference on a bazillion ton plane kind of scares me.

I pray for this kind of thing all the time when I fly. Since the flights are being paid for by who I'm contracting for, I usually just demand an upgrade to first class.

Ugh, Flights on time issue. I dont like airlines cuz i work with them.

BUT, Flight delays are more often than not, out of the Airlines control. Blame Air Traffic Control. Its not the pilot saying "Oops, i need a few minutes before take off."

Sometimes it is true that "Airline Staff" unavailable. I saw that with a Northwest non-strike Strike.

The weather causes most delays. Emphasis on most. Plus, Mechanical issues. People want to go places NOW. They should keep airplanes up to code before flight time. However, things happen in the air (like hitting a bird). Would you rather fly in something with a Failure of equipment or be slightly delayed?

Texmandie: Hm. I'm total bump-fodder on my flight next month back to Texas from Germany, as my ticket was only 400 EUR roundtrip ($650 at the time I bought it). If someone walks up and wants to pay the 3000 EUR that roudtrip costs purchased full-fare, I can see why the airline would love to hand me a 200 EUR coupon, a hotel voucher and a ticket for the next day, provided my suitcase hasn't been put on the plane yet.

I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.

Now that makes sense. I've always wondered how airlines thought overbooking and then comping the people screwed over made business sense. Now i'm guessing the "overbooking" isn't something that is really planed as much as an opportunisticapprocah to get the high fares. Othwise it would be much cheaper to just only book as many seats that are avaiable then charge a 20% fee if you miss your flight and need to reschedule.

From now on i'll make sure to check the last mininute rates of my flights and demand I get that much in compensation before giving up my seat.

Also one thing to note is that it's one thing if they give you, say $500 in cash, and completely another if it's $500 in vouchers/coupons.

Usually they might say "We'll give you $500", but I think it's rare that they give cold cash for it. It's almost always vouchers.

I assume some percentage of people never use the vouchers, so in that case the airline isn't out any money. Plus if it's vouchers, they might have some kind of limitations as to when they can be used, or what kind of ticket they can used towards.

Something to remember, next time you get an offer.

Stanks on a plane! (new window)

Never get bumped and almost always get free bumps to 1st. Flying to Tucson tomorrow in 1st. I did fly 55k miles on NWA so far this year...

MF

I think we should all just be thankful that the airlines aren't charging a bumping fee. Yet.

Airlines overbook flights all the time. It's a practice that's been done for a long time now.

There are people who misconnect, change plans at the last second or flat-out miss their flight (either due to poor planning or the TSA harassing them).

It happens more now since the airlines want to get as many butts in the seats as possible.

I volunteer when I can. Usually get a free ticket and a free upgrade.

crank: already knows this.

I'm sure he'd comment on this himself, but I've a feeling he's too busy getting his stew on.

Brown Sauce: Stanks on a plane! (new window)

What a horrible caricature of a woman. Who is that hosebeast?

I've never understood why airlines overbook in the first place.

Apotheos: I've never understood why airlines overbook in the first place.

Because customers change their mind at the last minute. I was supposed to fly home from a trip to Boston, and had to buy a new ticket to Chicago the night before, abandoning my ticket from Boston to Minneapolis. They still get to keep my money for the ticket, but they can still fill the seat. They bank on a certain number of customers doing this. I MIGHT have a chance to use the ticket later... This year, I have abandoned tickets from Tel Aviv , LA, and Boston so far.

Also, they have an opportunity to sell a $1500 ticket to bump someone who bought a ticket for $400. Easy money.

MF

My first trip on Delta, I was in no hurry. I got to Atlanta, saw it was a mob scene, asked the agent if they needed anyone to get off my flight to Los Angeles... a few minutes later, sure enough, I got offered a flight 6 hours later, in first class (for a flight that was like 5 hours), plus meal vouchers, plus a voucher worth... uh, more than I had paid. :)

Yeah, that was an easy choice.

Aw helllz ya!
I was flying back from Chicago a few weeks ago, was supposed to leave at 1pm and get in at 4pm. I switched to a flight that left at 9pm and got in at 12pm. I got to sit in the United lounge for 8 hours and finish up my work (something I was going to do at home anyway) with free food and drink, flew home first class and got $1000 in vouchers.

Damn, I would have done it just for the free food and booze!

Overbooking isn't the problem on AirTrans - canceling fights is.

My parents booked a nonstop - canceled and forced them onto a layover in Atlanta. For the flight back, AirTrans e-mailed them that their return flight was canceled. While they were on vacation. They were rebooked automatically when they didn't respond by e-mail. On Vacation. My parents are in their 60s - event hough they have cable internet, they still don't even check their e-mail daily at home, on vacation? Why would they?

I got stuck in Atlanta on an overnight layover thanks to them lying to us in Las Vegas about making our connecting fight from a late departure. Atlanta SUCKS for overnight, whereas at least Las Vegas can be fun.

In short, AirTrans lies to their customers, cancels fights arbitrarily, and is in love with sticking people at Atlanta. They can't go under fast enough for me.

Just a little bit of advice for any American Farkers wishing to fly domestically in Canada, do WESTJET! They never bump and their customer service is hilarious (they tell jokes during the flight).

I have never ever been disappointed with them! Even the one time they broke something expensive of mine (it was oversized checked luggage) they gave me $1400 credit back.

The only times I've gotten offered money to get bumped were times when I had somewhere to be right away.
Why couldn't they have gone ahead and paid me that time I got drunk and overslept?

LesserEvil: I got stuck in Atlanta on an overnight layover thanks to them lying to us in Las Vegas about making our connecting fight from a late departure. Atlanta SUCKS for overnight, whereas at least Las Vegas can be fun.

Sometimes you want to get out of Vegas before things get worse.

Found a loop hole.

krazydiamond
Aw helllz ya!
I was flying back from Chicago a few weeks ago, was supposed to leave at 1pm and get in at 4pm. I switched to a flight that left at 9pm and got in at 12pm. I got to sit in the United lounge for 8 hours and finish up my work (something I was going to do at home anyway) with free food and drink, flew home first class and got $1000 in vouchers.

Damn, I would have done it just for the free food and booze!

I was impressed with your PowerPoint presentation, Ms Krazydiamond. However, the four slides that go on about the (checks notes) "joys of Beer", how does that apply to modern ERP contingencies within the corporate structure?

CasperImproved: I have also put Red Lobster on my list of chains to never visit again.

Praise Jebus. Now your place in heaven is assured, since you've made the lifestyle choice to deny yourself the abomination of the unnatural consumption of unclean foodstuff.

/Leviticus 11:9-12.

I got bumped on my flight out of Madrid last week. I got a $200 voucher and my life.

Came here for a nod to Arrested Development. crank and Robo Beat make my world joyous.

I don't think I've ever been on a flight that wasn't over-booked.