A guide to
getting bumped
Mick_Menesse
First, determine what flights are most likely to
be overbooked:
• Routes frequented by business travelers, and on
those routes, particularly on Monday mornings and
the hours between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays.
• Departures after noon on Fridays or on Sunday
evenings
• Pre- and post-holiday flights
• Transcontinental nonstops
• Popular routes
• Routes that have scant nonstop or direct service
with no change of planes
Arrive early. airline rules typically state that if
you don't arrive at least 10 - 20 minutes before the
scheduled departure, you will forfeit your
reservation and have to fend for yourself. In most
cases, incidentally, airlines are not required to
compensate you for the missed flight.
Never hassle the gate attendants. Arrive early
and let them know you're a willing volunteer, then
simply remain near the gate where they can contact
you if needed. Asking about the status of the flight
every five minutes or becoming rude or impolite will
not make the attendants very anxious to hand you
cash or free flight vouchers.
Before you volunteer, make sure its going to be
worth it. Is it possible to get cash rather then a
flight voucher? If not, does the flight voucher have
a long enough life to make it useful for your travel
needs? Does it apply to all airfares, even the
lowest, most restrictive fares? Are there blackout
dates? Is the alternate flight you are booked on
acceptable or are you on standby for another
oversold flight? In addition, don't be afraid to ask
for extras -- meal vouchers, calling cards, free
admission to the airport club, a seat upgrade -- the
worst the airline can say is no.
How to avoid bumping
If you have obligations in your destination city
and absolutely cannot afford to be bumped from a
flight, arrive as early as possible to the airport,
especially if you're taking a popular route. Better
yet, check in online before you even leave for the
airport. The last to check in to the flight are
typically the ones who find themselves bumped
involuntarily. If you're at the gate before the
majority of the passengers have checked in, your
chances of retaining your original reservation are
favorable.
The Department of Transportation statistics show
that in the second quarter of 2006, only 1.2 of
every 10,000 airline passengers were bumped. This
number often increases over the holidays and other
busy travel seasons, but the volunteer system does
in fact work very well, and it is unlikely you will
be denied boarding on your next trip. The
Transportation Department has specific rules
governing overbooking procedures. From the DOT's
Consumer Guide to Air Travel: The airline must give
you a written statement describing your rights and
explaining who gets on an oversold flight and who
doesn't. If the airline arranges substitute
transportation that gets you to your final
destination within an hour of your original
scheduled arrival time, there is no compensation.
If the substitute plane is scheduled to arrive
one to two hours late on domestic flights and one to
four hours internationally, the airline must pay at
least the equivalent of your one-way fare to your
final destination, with a $200 maximum. If more than
two hours domestically or more than four
internationally, or if the airline doesn't make
substitute arrangements, the compensation doubles,
with a $400 ceiling. You can demand payment on the
spot, and if you feel entitled to more, you can try
negotiating with the complaint department.
Before you count your rewards, however, be aware
that you must have a confirmed reservation. An "OK"
in the status box of your ticket will suffice, even
if the airline can't find your reservation in the
computer.
Also, federal bumping rules do not apply to
charters, planes with 60 seats or fewer, or smaller
aircraft that are substituted for originally
scheduled ones. They don't apply to inbound flights
to the United States or to flights between foreign
cities, but airlines or foreign countries may have
rules of their own.
If you found this useful and would like to read
more detail about bumping or other secret techniques
that airlines would rather you didn’t know about
then you simply must read AIRTRAVEL SECRETS EXPOSED
2007. Learn how to upgrade to first class for free,
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