Oversold Flight – Here’s what you should do

Busy holiday travel. Photo by Rawpixel

Oh, No…. I just got bumped from my oversold flight. The holidays are almost here and all the rush of travel for the season is about to begin. If you are traveling by air, there is a chance your flight will be overbooked. The four words you don’t want to hear is, “Your flight is overbooked!” Especially if you do not have a pre-assigned seat.  

Our holiday travel is generally non-negotiable when it comes to delays and changes. Precious time with family and friends is what the holiday season is all about. It’s essential to have a few tips to help you navigate through the unexpected possibility of being bumped from your flight.  

A study by the website Upgraded Points looked at the number of involuntarily denied boardings (Travel and Leisure) for 2018 and what they are entitled to receive. They found that Frontier bumped 6.28 passengers per 100,000 people, that’s a total of 1,219 people, and Spirit Airlines came in second with 5.57 passengers per 100,000 bumped, or 1,529 people in total. The third was Alaska Airlines bumping 743 passengers, and American Airlines came in fifth after PSA Airlines. Delta, Atlanta’s hometown airline, has the best record at a very low rate per 100,000 passengers last year. 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), airlines will always ask passengers to be bumped voluntarily, at first, in exchange for some form of compensation – either vouchers or money (gift cards).

Tip:  Jump in line quickly to talk with an airline representative. 

The good news from the DOT is “there is no limit to the amount of money or vouchers that the airline may offer, and passengers are free to negotiate with the airline.” However, this is only attractive when you have the time and convenience to make this a win-win for you.

The DOT shared data from the first six months of 2019, showing that more than 13,000 passengers were involuntarily bumped in just the first half of the year, more than all of 2018. These stats are not great news as we move into the holiday season for 2019. However, while this sounds like a huge number, that is a small percent of the 500 million passengers flying in the first half of 2019. 

Airlines blame labor disputes, loss of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for increased bumping. Another factor which has been a general reason is overbooking is done to off-set the number of no-shows for flights. However, you can not disregard the extra demand during the holidays and the desire for profits as additional reasons for bumping.  

You may ask, “How can I avoid being the passenger without a seat on my upcoming flight? “We have a set of tips to help you when planning your trip and on the day of your flight.  

Tip: Check for upcoming flight options. Photo by Rawpixel

 Here are several survival tips:

1. Choose your seat when you book your flight. Do not leave it for later. Grab a place when you see it, even if that means selecting one in the middle. You can always change your seat then. 
2. Discount airlines, certain airfares, and deals may require paying a fee to select a seat. Choosing to pay a little more is a personal preference and judgment as to how important it is to make the additional investment, which can be around $20 on average for each flight. 
3. Don’t be tardy for your flight, especially if you do not have a seat. The early bird gets the seat.
4. Airlines will ask during check-in if you would like to volunteer for a later flight. Just Say NO, when asked…. Don’t say yes, because you want to think about it. Playing this game could be risky. 
5. Join the airline’s frequent flyer program where benefits may waive seat selection fees. If there is an airline you fly frequently, it is a win-win to join, and programs are free.
6. Fly off-peak time. Early morning flights are not as desirable as mid-day or hours before mid-day (10 am, 11 am). Afternoon flights around 2 pm may not be as full. Early morning flights are less likely to be delayed due to late-arriving aircraft too.
7. Know your rights – DOT rules require airlines to ask for volunteers willing to relinquish their seats for compensation before bumping people involuntarily. 
8. If there are not enough volunteers, the airline may begin to bump passengers according to its own set of boarding priorities, such as closing the flight a certain amount of time before departure.
9. You can negotiate the compensation for volunteering your seat. Generally, the airline will start with a lower amount and move up from there. 
10. The compensation varies based on the airline. Delta offers gift cards to many of your favorite stores, as well as future trips on Delta.
    

    Every member of the family holding a seat assignment is entitled to compensation.

11. If you are a family traveling together, the compensation amount is per person. Some people have earned as much as $1,500 per person to volunteer their seats. 
12. Ask for the next flight, and have that be part of your negotiation. You can check quickly on the airline’s website for the upcoming flights throughout the day. Know your options for the best consideration. The next trip may not be for several hours.
13. Ask for a meal voucher if you are waiting for more than two hours. 
14. If there are more than four hours before the next flight, try to negotiate a pass for the airline’s lounge, if one is available.
15. The amount of compensation you’re entitled to get depends on three things: the value of your ticket, whether you’re flying domestically or internationally, and the time you’ll have to wait before catching the next flight. 
    

    Tip -Tell the airline representative about any pre-purchased items, such as inflight wifi. Photo by Rawpixel

16. If you have purchased extras for your original flight, ask to have them included in your rescheduled flight. If you are required to pay for them again, ask to be compensated or have the fee waived. Ask to have any upgrades you received because of your airline loyalty status included in your next flight. 
17. If you are flying on a ticket booked with points, you should still get cash, but I would not expect to receive as much as a ticket purchased with cash, check, or credit card. But, always ask and negotiate because awards and points tickets represent money and loyalty you have given to the airline.
18. If you’re not satisfied, call the airline’s complaints or customer care department. Try to work out a final win-win solution; taking the airline to court will require more time, effort, and money. 
19. Keep your attitude and spirit positive. The airline staff is working within the guidelines provided by the airline and governmental agencies. They want a smooth, successful departure, too, and will look for the best way to achieve a win-win solution. 
20. Enjoy your holidays with family and friends. That’s what this time of year is all about.  

A happy holiday celebration is what it is all about. Photo by Rawpixel