Mr Smart
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It has never been common. When a flight is overbooked, airlines ask for volunteers to take an alternate flight, and those volunteers get compensated with vouchers or upgrades or something. Usually there are more than enough volunteers who are flexible and willing to accept the offer.
Have you ever been bumped involuntarily? |
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Smar-T
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Yes -- especially during busy times like holidays. Airlines call it "yield management," and overbooking by as much as 20% can be the norm. This practice helps airlines fly their planes full (and therefore with the best $$ margin) because of "no show" passengers.
All airlines I know will ask for volunteers to surrender seats on the overbooked flight, and offer something in return: typically a seat on the next flight out plus a free ticket for another flight, and a hotel room if the next flight is on the next day. If no one volunteers, they will select flyers who have the least seniority with the airline (they will never choose their frequent flyers!).
It's a pain when it happens to you involuntarily, and one way to defend against this is to arrive at the gate EARLY and have your ticket in hand! If your plans are flexible, it can be a cool way to get a free ticket! |
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John K
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Yes. Although there is usually some reimbursement depending on whether it is voluntary or not.
Best advice: Confirm your seat as far in advance of the flight as possible. My Mom showed up for a flight once thinking the seat would be assigned at that time. It was.... On the next flight and she didn't get any reimbursement for that one. |
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Pleasant Peter Perkins
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I've only ever experienced this with BA...who I shall never ever book with again!
I was bumped involuntarily! I had booked my seat over a month earlier and I was told by BA that they had resold my seat to someone else!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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elisabeth a
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It is not only airlines that over book, hotels do it as well. If a hotel is over booked they will give rooms to the people who have booked with a tour operator first. |
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Eclipsepearl
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The airlines will continue to overbook. How many times did I go to work a flight that was 20 or more overbooked and left with empty seats???
If you're flexible with your travel plans, volunteering is a great way to get free tickets and upgrades. Very rarely did I see *involuntarily* bumped passengers when I worked for two airlines.
Just get to the airport early to prevent this. It's usually the last ones who check in who get skimped. If it's ever in question, ask them if they've asked for volunteers. It's also helpful to pick up the airlines' timetable when you see one available and to look up when the next flight leaves. |
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Penfold
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Yes it does. It has never happened to me but I have seen it happen. Airlines have a tendency to overbook busy flights because they know there will be several no-shows. However, there are occasions when several of the 'overbookees' will check in.
When this happens, airlines will start to look for volunteers to be 'bumped' off the flights. They will usually pay for the night's accommodation and/or give you some money to catch the next available flight. If there are insufficient volunteers before they start boarding the flight, the 'overbookees' will be booked on the next flight and given the relevant compensation.
Two side notes:
1) it always pays to check in early because if the airline is forced to bump passengers due to overbooking, it will always be those passengers who turned up after the seats were taken.
2) All the free upgrades I have received have always been economy class has been overbooked. |
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lbaker2656
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Apparently yes. Its never happened to me but does seem to be a common occurance. Happened to a friend of mine. Also happened to her on a train. Luckily she got to go 1st class! I can see why the airlines do it, but its a bit off when you think you've got a guaranteed seat and are then left waiting for the next flight. |
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