Tim Leffel's Cheapest Destinations

More U.S. Flyers Are Getting Bumped

All the focus last week was on delayed flights and security delays. When those things happen, you’re up the creek. The week before, however, it came out in the news that more flyers are getting bumped from U.S. airlines this year. This can be a very bad thing or a very good thing, depending on your point of view.

Too often for me, it’s a negative. I’m on my way to a meeting, the schedule is tight, or I’m with my family and can’t just say, “I’ll meet you there.” A few weeks ago, however, My Delta flight from Tampa to Nashville was overbooked and a smaller plane had to be substituted–a double whammy. My wife and daughter had gone home on a different airline, so I was flying solo. I politely asked what I would receive for volunteering to give up my seat. The answer? A $400 flight voucher and a first class seat for my flight home that evening. Score!

I had to waste a day in an airport, but I got some work done (Tampa’s airport has free wi-fi by the way), called some friends, and read a whole issue of The Economist front to back. Now I have to go to the airport this week to cash in that voucher, but I’m flying over the Thanksgiving holiday for nothing, so I’ll gladly put up with that inconvenience.

If you have time to spare, the opportunity to get bumped is more prevalent than it has been for six years. The article says, “The worsening problem with bumping reflects the intensifying push by airlines to fill a greater percentage of seats. Grappling with soaring travel demand, continuing financial problems and record high fuel prices, airlines are filling planes fuller to maximize ticket revenue while holding down operating costs. No. 1 American Airlines filled a record 87% of its seats last month, while Delta and Continental filled 85% of seats during July. That means many flights were sold out or oversold.”

Even Southwest has bumped a record number lately–32,000 passengers in a 3-month period. That’s a lot of free tickets up for grabs! You can’t necessarily predict which flights will be oversold, but you can get a pretty good inkling if you pull up the seating chart when booking and there are hardly any seats left. Obviously your chances are better if your flight is one of the first of the day. Those are busy with business travelers with people to see, plus the airline can put you on a later one without you having to spend the night. Do a search on this subject and you’ll find plenty more tips from people who make this a (profitable) habit.