What does getting bumped mean?
"Getting bumped" is the common term most
people use when they are denied boarding on a flight
because there is no room for them on the plane even
though they have a reservation. The Airlines often
"overbook" and sell more than 100% of a
particular flight¡¯s seats because they know that some
of the people with reservations won¡¯t show up for
the flight. Sometimes everyone does show up and this
means that there won¡¯t be enough seats to go around
and someone must be left behind. Those left behind
have been "bumped" from the flight and will
have to take a later flight.
What is the difference between
voluntary and involuntary bumping?
You may think this is too obvious, but with voluntary
bumping you choose to give up your seat on your flight
for some form of compensation (usually travel vouchers
or cash) and with involuntary bumping you are forced
to give up your seat. However, there is another very
important difference between these two types of bumping.If
you volunteer to be bumped, you are simply agreeing
to take a deal from the Airline. This "deal"
is not regulated and will depend on upon the Airline¡¯s
gate attendants and your negotiation skills.
What happens to my checked luggage
if I get bumped?
It may fly ahead on the plane you were supposed to
take. Even though they¡¯ll probably promise to keep
it for you at your destination airport until you catch
up, you might want to consider keeping your luggage
with you, especially if you are unsure on when you
will be making it to that destination. You will at
least want to confirm that they are making arrangements
to protect your luggage at your destination. If it¡¯s
already loaded on the plane, but the plane hasn¡¯t
left, see if the luggage can be taken off the plane
and returned to you. Although, you might not want
to get stuck watching your luggage while you wait
for another flight, allowing your luggage to travel
ahead can increase the chance it will disappear. You
may also need the items in your luggage if you can¡¯t
make it on another flight and you get stuck with an
unexpected overnight stay.
How can I avoid being bumped?
- Avoid using an Airline that oversells too much
and ends up bumping many of its passengers.
- Keep up with the news and see if your Airline is
facing any upcoming labor negotiations. If they are
in negotiation near the time you are planning your
trip, you might want to use another Airline in case
yours has a work stoppage or slowdown.
- Check the weather conditions that are common along
your route to see if you can plan your trip to avoid
periods when foul weather causes delayed and cancelled
flights. Delayed and especially cancelled flights
will fill up other flights and that can cause the
need for an Airline to bump passengers.
- Avoid peak travel times.
- Fly nonstop or with the least amount of connections
possible. Each time you land and take off, you increase
your chances to get bumped. If you do have to include
connecting flights, try to make them at the least
congested airports. Limiting your stops will also
help you to avoid the possibility of a misconnection.
- Consider flying earlier in the day so you¡¯ll have
more options remaining through out the day to complete
your trip if you do get bumped.
- Avoid booking the last flight of the day. This
is especially important on peak flight days when many
flights end up being overbooked. Often, fewer people
are willing to volunteer to be bumped from the last
flight of the day since they will have to end up waiting
until the next morning to leave. Since this increases
your chances of being involuntarily bumped, plan on
arriving to the last flight of the day even earlier
than you would for other flights. Also, note that
many Airlines have a policy against paying for a hotel
stay at your flight¡¯s origin if you are delayed overnight.
- Don¡¯t buy standby or open tickets to travel during
peak travel times.
- If you fear you may get bumped, consider using
a paper ticket over an electronic ticket. If you need
to transfer to another Airline to continue your trip,
a paper ticket can save you time. Most Airlines are
not yet able to transfer passengers flying on e-tickets
without first taking the time to switch them to a
paper ticket.
- Try to get a seat assignment when you book your
flight.
- Confirm your reservation and verify that the Airline
has all the correct information.
- It¡¯s not the cheapest way to go, but flying first
class, full fare or business class will get you a
better shot at seats, especially among the last to
arrive.
- Join an Airline¡¯s elite member club or frequent
flyer programs.
- Arrive early and confirm your seat assignment since
the latest to get there will be the most likely to
be left out.
- Ask about the flight when you check your luggage.
If the flight is overbooked, go directly to the gate.
Just having checked in, won¡¯t always guarantee you
a seat.
- Board when your row is called. If you delay, they
might think your seat is open and board a standby
passenger in your place.
What should I know before I volunteer
to be bumped?
If you do volunteer, you will be stuck with whatever
deal you accept. If something is not part of the deal,
don¡¯t expect to get it even if it turns out you need
it later. You¡¯ll want to know all the details of the
Airline¡¯s offer before you agree to accept their deal.
- Is a seat on their next flight guaranteed and
confirmed and when is that flight scheduled? Remember,
if you agree to fly on standby you could end up
getting stranded.
- What will happen if it turns out you won¡¯t be
able to find me a seat on the next flight or that
flight is delayed or cancelled?
- What will happen to my checked luggage?
- What type of consideration is available if I
volunteer to be bumped?
- What limitations are there on the free ticket
or travel voucher? When will they expire, are there
blackout dates, can they be used for international
travel and can I make a regular reservation for
their use? Are there minimum or maximum stay requirements?
Are the vouchers good for only a certain class of
tickets?
- What happens if you can¡¯t get me on a flight
today and I have to spend the night? Will you pay
for a hotel stay and transportation to that hotel?
- Is a meal voucher, long distance phone credit
or hotel voucher available for my delay? What are
the restrictions on those items?
- Are there any other premiums available such as
entrance into their airport club lounge while I
wait or headset vouchers?
What should I do if I am involuntarily
bumped?
If you are involuntarily bumped, work with the Airline¡¯s
counter personnel to book you on another flight. Being
nice and working with the agent will often bring much
better results than losing your temper. You can let
them know you are upset without turning your anger
toward them.
- Ask to be protected under the Airline¡¯s own written
rules in the ticket¡¯s conditions or contract of
carriage for dealing with bumped passengers so you
are given all the consideration you are legally
due.They will have a section that specifically spells
out what action they must take to help you continue
your trip and what compensation you are due, if
any.Many Airlines also provide this information
on their web sites so you might print it off and
take it with you in case you need it.
- Make sure the Airline has first asked for volunteers
to be bumped. They are required to at least ask
for volunteers. Although, there are no specific
guidelines for the offers they make, they should
offer compensation of some form to encourage volunteers
before they deny you a seat.
- See if others in your party belong to any premium
clubs that will help to get you special consideration.
- If you checked luggage to go on the flight from
which you were bumped, take measures to protect
that luggage.
- See if they can guarantee you a seat on another
flight.
- See if your Airline is willing to find you a
seat on another Airline. Although, their contract
may allow them some time to first find you a flight
on their own Airline, most state that when they
fail to do so, they will try to find you a seat
with another Airline. Know that many Airlines limit
your potential choices of other Airlines only to
certain Airlines that have existing agreements with
your Airline. Your option probably won¡¯t be to find
any other flight at the airport that works. It will
be to find another flight from a list of specific
Airlines.
- The Airline¡¯s contract of carriage may state
that, if you so choose, you are entitled to an involuntary
refund for any unused portion of your ticket, even
if you purchased a nonrefundable ticket.
- This contract also specifies what, if any, other
compensation you are due because you were involuntarily
denied boarding of the flight. The compensation
due will usually vary depending on the reason you
were denied boarding and how time much you were
delayed. You may be entitled to vouchers for meals,
overnight stays, long distance phone calls, and/or
ground transportation in addition to travel vouchers
or monetary rewards.
- Keep all receipts for expenses caused by being
involuntarily bumped. No matter what their rules
say, you can always make an appeal to the Airline¡¯s
customer service department and you¡¯ll want the
receipts to back you up. Send your Airline copies
of the receipts and keep the original receipts.
- If it looks like lots of people are going to
be stuck for a long time, consider booking a hotel
room and/or a rental car before everyone else grabs
them all. Under certain situations, some Airlines
provide vouchers for hotel rooms and ground transportation
so you should check with them before making your
own arrangements. You may also be entitled to meal
vouchers and other perks.
- Update any future reservations with Airlines,
hotels or rental cars that will be effected by your
delay.
If I get involuntarily bumped,
will I be compensated no matter what?
No, you may think that being bumped will automatically
get you money, complimentary meals and a free hotel
stay, but that¡¯s not always true. There are several
situations where Airlines are not required to compensate
you in any manner if you are bumped, even if you are
involuntarily bumped. In some situations, you might
even be forfeiting your right to a refund of your
unused ticket.
What are some
of the reasons I might be denied compensation if I am
involuntarily bumped?
There are several situations where Airlines are not
required to compensate you in any manner if you are
bumped, even if you are involuntarily bumped. In some
situations, you might even be forfeiting your right
to a refund of your unused ticket. You may be denied
compensation if:
- You acquired the ticket in violation of the Airline¡¯s
rules, regulations or any tariffs or applicable
law.
- You failed to fully comply with the Airline¡¯s
ticketing requirements. There are many requirements
that can apply, such as, completing the purchase
within a specified time after making your reservation.
- You failed to fully comply with the Airline¡¯s
reconfirmation requirements.
- You don¡¯t have a confirmed reservation. You should
check for an "OK" in the status box of
your ticket so even if the Airline can't find your
reservation in the computer you¡¯ll still be o.k.
- You cancelled your reservation or changed your
itinerary along the way and failed to notify the
Airline, which resulted in automatic cancellation
of your entire itinerary.
- Most Airlines¡¯ conditions of carriage state that
with many of their tickets, failure to arrive at
the check-in counter, the flight¡¯s departure gate
or your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time
before the flight¡¯s scheduled departure time may
cause you to forfeit any refund or other compensation
due for the unused ticket, even if you have an advance
seat assignment and advance boarding pass.
- You are refused boarding because you are unable
to present proper government issued photo I.D.,
are unruly, drunk, fail to cooperate with security
or exhibit any other behavior or take any action
covered under the Airline¡¯s "right to refuse
carriage" policy.
- The flight was canceled. Guidelines for cancelled
flights are handled under a separate section of
the Airlines¡¯ contract of carriage.
- A smaller aircraft was substituted for safety
or operation reasons.
- The Airline finds you a seat on another flight
that is scheduled to arrive at your final destination
(including later connections) within one hour of
your originally scheduled arrival time.
- You are put in another section of the aircraft
for no additional charge.
- The flight involves an airplane with 60 or fewer
seats.
- The flight is on a chartered aircraft.
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