Experienced travelers are constantly on the lookout for cheap travel options, whether cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms or discount travel packages. Typically the only thing thought to be better is to fly free by redeeming frequent flier mileage. Now some travelers are perfecting strategies as to how to get bumped off flights so that they are later able to fly free using airline vouchers.
Bumping opportunities (for those who see such things in a positive light) are expected only to improve this year as many airlines further reduce their passenger capacity. US Airways expects to reduce its capacity by 1 percent later this year. United, which is merging with Continental, said that it would cut domestic capacity by 4 percent by the end of the summer.
Most airlines (with JetBlue being the exception) regularly overbook flights to offset no shows and ensure that they fly full flights. In 2010 681,100 passengers were denied seats on U.S. planes flying domestic routes out of 595 million passengers.
Most passengers placed on later planes volunteered to give up their seats in return for some form of compensation, often a voucher for a free flight. However, approximately 1.09 out of every 10,000 passengers were bumped involuntarily.
Getting passengers to volunteer to give up their seats voluntarily is getting more challenging since the fact that airlines are flying more full planes means that the next flight out with an open seat might not be until the next day or even later.
Being bumped from a seat can be lucrative. Often airlines offer volunteers $400 ticket vouchers to give up overbooked seats.
Below are tips that can be used if your goal is to be bumped:
Be the first in line when airlines announce that volunteers are needed. Notify the check-in airline representative or gate agent that you may be willing to give up your seat.
Fly through major airline hubs since flying through busy hubs at peak times increases your chances of your flight being overbooked.
By purchasing tickets on red-eye flights your odds of getting bumped improve as delays and cancellations increase during any given day, resulting in the last flights out filling up with displaced passengers.
Select the right airline (such as American Eagle which has the worst bumping rate) and the right days to fly. Flying on Mondays, Fridays, and Sundays as well as holiday travel periods will generally increase your odds of being bumped.
By flying in December, January, and February through Chicago, Denver, and Washington you can often take advantage of weather related cancellations which often result in over bookings as airlines try to seat displaced passengers on later flights.
Know the rules before volunteering to give up your seat. Passengers who are involuntarily bumped and rebooked on another flight within two hours after their original domestic flight time (within four hours for international) are entitled to $400 in cash, according to Department of Transportation rules. Dont accept flight vouchers worth anything less.
Dont be reluctant to ask for more than the airline is offering over the loudspeaker. The more people the airline has to take off any given flight, the more bargaining power you have. Most airlines give their personnel discretion to improve initial offers when a flight is oversold and not enough passengers are volunteering.
Always be nice when speaking to gate agents. Sometimes you might be able to get an upgraded seat on your next flight with a little luck.
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