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The Beauty of Being Bumped
by Eric Tiettmeyer
It is a too common scenario at the airline gate. You arrive half an hour to boarding and witness a sea of travelers hoarding all seats with standing space only. There are nervous looks on most faces and rightly so.
"Flight 793 is overbooked and is asking for volunteers to give up their seats."
Most of these depart suddenly, tightening their grip on their golden ticket home. But wait! Don't make the same mistake. Run right up to the agent and offer your ticket. It will pay off in a big way.
Many airlines, especially during the holidays, are very grateful and generous to those that give up their seats. Compensation usually includes the following:
A voucher to fly for free on the airline.
Confirmed ticket, usually with a first–class upgrade, for the next flight leaving
Cash compensation
Overnight hotel and food if it is the last flight of the day.
Copious apologies and ass kissing if you are into that kind of thing.
Why do airlines overbook?
Airlines, like most transportation methods, make their money on seats filled. Most flights are designed to turn a profit if 85% of seats are filled. If the plane is full, the airport makes bank. However, every transportation remedy, most importantly airlines, overbook flights if possible. In doing so they bet that some passengers won't make that flight, others will change dates at the last minute, or simply decide not to go. Ultimately, paying customers will fill other paying customers seats, resulting in big money. Confusing? Maybe. But all you need to know is that when there are more people to fill these overbooked blights, those that give up their seat are compensated big time.
Currently, I am sitting in first class for a last minute ticket I bought through Council Travel. As I sit with a new found friend sipping red wine, eating good airplane food-offered hot towels for the arduous flight, I look bask to the extras for volunteering my seat on Air Canada's flight from Toronto to L.A.
Air Canada overbooked three consecutive flights to L.A., meaning I now receive three free meals, upgrade to first-class and all the reading material that I could handle. Oh yeah, I also received over $900 in vouchers toward my next Air Canada trip, which interestingly flies to New Zealand... Not bad for being bumped.
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