'Bumping'

Hello Maureen 😊

I have been bumped off a few flights, over the last few years. It is never something I am happy about. I generally try to get on the next available flight, because getting to my destination is more exciting than any bump perks I could get.

The worst bump was when I was flying to India over a year ago. I got to Munich airport, and was told that I cant fly to India today, and the next flight is in 2 days time. I went on my connecting flight to Istanbul anyway, in the hopes that I could get myself on a sooner flight to India. I managed to get on one for that night, by asking again in Istanbul. The flight that was supposed to go at midnight, finally went at 2AM.

I dont know what bump perks would have been available, if I had insisted upon them. I know of one woman who was offered 200 Euros and a night in a hotel, if she would agree to be bumped, but that was 20 years ago. I dont know if that would happen these days. I was offered a direct flight, instead of my connecting flight one time, if I would agree to be bumped and wait for a few hours for the direct flight.

How to get bumped, or to avoid it

To get bumped, try to be one of the last passangers checking in. But, dont be late, or they might just charge you extra to go on another flight. If the flight information says you should check in at least 2 hours before the flight, then make sure you are there, but also let all the other people go first in the queue. If you find out others are being bumped who dont want to be, you could volunteer to be bumped instead of them. Also, dont use the online check in service, that many airlines have these days.

To avoid getting bumped, arrive an hour or 2 before the recommended check in time and try to be one of the first in the queue. This however does not mean they wont attempt to bump you. Sometimes, they seem to try it with everybody, in the hopes that some will peacefully accept it.

Mel Reply to this

I'm not going for very long and they tried to offer me a flight two days later like Mell... Then I'm sure I wouldn't be happy and they would have to offer some pretty hefty compensation to placate me.

They didnt offer me anything, that time. Their staff at Munich airport were also incredibly rude. I didnt even get to sit down in their office, while talking about it, because their staff were taking all the customer tables and chairs, for their lunch break. They told me I had to contact the person who sold me the ticket myself. I bought it on an internet site, but I think they only told me to contact the ticket seller, to get rid of me.

So, I just went back to the check in desks and asked them to put me on my flight to Istanbul. When I got to Istanbul, I went straight to a flight customer information desk to ask if they can possibly get me on any sooner flight to any part of India. If that was not available, I was going to ask them to fly me to any part of Asia. That worked, when I couldnt get on my flight to Ecuador one time. I asked them for a flight to anyplace in S. America instead and they gave me a few to choose from. The Ecuador not being able to get on the flight was due to natural disaster in Ecuador, rather than full flight bumping though.

...an extra day or so on holiday and some cash/free flights for the 'inconvenience'... YES PLEASE!

Ah, I would like that too. I havent yet been adequately bumped off a return flight, and going home for another day or 2 is not quite the same as, or at all as much fun as an extra few days on holiday. When I was bumped off a return flight, I only had a few hours until the one they wanted to put me on instead. Reply to this

I was bumped from a flight earlier this month actually. Usually on the domestic U.S airlines I travel if the flight is overbooked the gate agent makes an announcement asking for "volunteers" with flexible travel arrangements who want to give up their seat, just like Katherine mentioned. If you ever hear that announcement go up to the counter and let them know you're willing! So the first thing is to be flexible and not really have anywhere you need to go desperately. Second is to book a ticket on a flight that is usually going to sell out. Monday morning flights and Friday evening flights along popular business commuter routes typically are always overbooked, as do flights from peripheral airports to airline hubs.

For whatever reason I got stuck in Indianapolis, Indiana (US) and every flight on every carrier was booked solid - no idea what was going on or why. But in exchange for leaving the next day I was given $400 US in flight vouchers, meal vouchers for two days, a complimentary hotel room for the night and was re-ticketed in first-class for my flight home. I was just flying home from a conference and had nothing pressing to get back to so it worked out marvelously.

A few things to keep in mind, you typically only get flight credit for the airline you're traveling on, so if you don't plan on traveling further with that airline, it doesn't do you much good. This was with my primary airline and I already knew I had three or more trips to make so it was basically money I would have spent anyway. You can always ask for a more convenient flight too as they want volunteers (otherwise they have to compensate unwilling folks who literally just get bumped and that's a lot more hassle, and expense, for them). I was originally going to be re-booked from 6am flight to a 6pm flight meaning I'd have to spend the whole day milling around in the airport (I'd driven straight through the night, so sight-seeing was not an option). I asked if there was anything available first thing the next morning, because then you get a hotel room.

Then when I showed up the next day to book my re-ticketed flight, they wanted volunteers too! I briefly contemplated just how many perks I could get for hanging out in the mid-west by decided I already had a pretty good deal going so didn't want to push my luck 😉
Reply to this

As a general point of you..

You are best protected in Europe or European airlines...
you have the best bargaining abilities...with airlines in the US...
you close to no protection and bargaining power in Asia...
...and I've got no idea for Africa and South America....were it always end with some bargaining...

There are ruls with the EU...up to 600 euros, hotel and food for getting bump on a long haul...happened to friends...rare...but they were happy.

In US, as Stephanie and Andras explained, if you make your math, and have time...you can actually fly free of charge....with a little luck....by booking early the "right" flights...sadly for me, I found it out too late, I'm at the point where I'de rather not be bumped out... Reply to this