Susan Michelle's Compass
The “Bump” and Grind of Flight Overbooking
By travel lifestylist Susan Michelle
Feb 24, 2008 - 5:30:04 PM

How to Take Advantage of Airlines’ Overzealousness and Fly for Free

I love the bump — the flight bump, that is.  The "voluntary bump” happens when one volunteers to get “bumped” off a flight because the airline is short on seats.  Being a “bumpee” can reap big travel rewards, but success can be tricky — unless you have a few insider tips to help increase your chances…

First, you have to start thinking about the bump at the beginning: when you book your flight.  You want to book to fly at peak travel times: popular business travel times (early Mondays, late Fridays) and weekends around holidays (Fridays before and Sundays after a holiday, at four or five p.m.).  Just don’t book a flight so late in the day that it’ll be impossible to still get to your destination at a decent hour if you do get bumped.

When it’s time to fly, call the airline the night before and ask if your flight’s overbooked, and BY HOW MUCH.  If it’s heavily overbooked, the higher the likelihood of bumping.  But you NEED to arrive at the airport early to beat your competition, most of who will probably head to the gate to volunteer.  However, since the gate usually doesn’t open until an hour before departure, if you arrive 2 hours before your flight, and then go straight to a check-in counter person when you arrive, you’re more likely to be on the top of the secret “volunteer” list.

“Secret volunteer” list?  Indeed.  If airline personnel only need one or two seats on a flight, they prefer to not make a public announcement asking for volunteers. Instead, they hope that they already have a couple names of passengers who’ve come to them beforehand. That’s what you will do.  If you’re the first one to say you’d be willing to give up your seat, you’ll be thus the first one chosen for bumping, if necessary.

So, give your name to the person who checks you in, then head to the gate and double-check that your name’s there.  After boarding begins (usually), if the airline needs your seat, they’ll call your name, give you a roundtrip voucher (good for one year, usually on par with the value of the ticket you purchased), and then rebook you either on the next flight out (even if on another airline), or a flight the next day, if you request it.

If they can’t get you onto a flight for at least 2 hours, they have to give you vouchers for food in the terminal.  You can ask for (but won’t always get) access to their VIP lounge.  If they can’t get you out until the next morning (their fault, not your choice), they have to give you a hotel room (usually at the airport), but it’s only good for that night, not for later.

If your bumping mission is successful, you’ll still end up at your destination at a proper hour, with free food, lodging, and future flight in hand.  This is one bump for which all the grind is worth it!

About the Author: A former Hollywood producer and now 2nd-generation travel professional, Susan Michelle travels the planet as the “face” of the fashion-forward Compass travel lifestyle brand. For more articles, tips, and hot spots from Susan, and community with fellow Cosmopolitan Travelers, visit http://www.CompassTravel.info . Or write her directly at Susan-Column@CompassTravel.info.