What steps can you take to avoid being bumped from a flight?
Following on from this question about Overbooking, we know that airlines will often sell more tickets than there are seats on a plane, and from time to time they guess wrong and too many people actually turn up to fly. That can lead to bumping, but isn't the only reason why it might happen.
If you are set to fly on a flight which has more people turn up than there are seats (due to mis-judged overbooking, delays to other flights, equipment changes etc), some people sadly won't be getting the plane. What steps can you take to try to avoid being one of those people? Does class of travel or ticket price matter? Frequent Flier status? First to check in? Last? Connections? One way vs return?
Best Answer
One cannot avoid being bump but one can make it much less likely. I have been on dozens of flights where someone else gets bumped, some when I got bumped and some where I volunteered. The odd part is that if you are likely to volunteer, then you are most likely to get bumped.
Usually the airline will first ask for volunteers. If enough appear, then no one else gets bumped. If this does not happen, they are looking to do a bump which is least inconvenient for them:
- Having a connecting flight makes you less likely to be bumped. Otherwise, they have to rebook you on more than one flight.
- Being part of a large group makes you less likely to be bumped too.
- For flights that are regularly book and during high-season, they will may want to book you on a different route or close by airport. In this case they will prefer people without checked luggage.
- Being a loyal customer. Airlines value loyalty, so they tend to avoid inconveniencing people who fly frequently with them.
- The class of booking may have an impact but I have not noted it. I imagine that they are more likely to bump people in economy class.
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Quick Answer about "What steps can you take to avoid being bumped from a flight?"
How do airlines decide who gets bumped?
If a flight has more passengers who are ready to fly than there are seats available, airlines must first ask passengers to give up their seats voluntarily, in exchange for compensation, before bumping anyone involuntarily. Airlines may offer passengers incentives, such as money or vouchers, to volunteer.Who is most likely to get bumped from a flight?
U.S. Airlines Most Likely to Offer Passengers Benefits to Miss Their Flight During COVID (Q2 2020)RankAirlineEnplaned Passengers1Endeavor Air404,0772Delta Air Lines2,956,6493SkyWest Airlines1,642,8074PSA Airlines852,18112 more rows•Mar 7, 2022Can you be bumped from a flight with basic economy?
Let's break down what this actually means: On most airline basic economy tickets, you won't be able to select your seat ahead of time. Instead, you'll be assigned one at check-in or the gate. So you're not any more likely than any other passenger to get bumped from the flight.A flight attendant shares the reasons you can get bumped from a flight
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Answer 2
It will always be first come-first serve. They will think some people will not show up, the airlines will only know when too many people show up and whoever got the boarding pass will be onboard and who did not get the boarding pass will have some apologies and perhaps a hotel room depends on the airlines' policies and situation.
Therefore, only one thing that can saves you from this, show up early or get the boarding pass earlier (most airlines have the option to issue boarding passes online). That's the best effective way to make sure you will be onboard.
Most airlines allow you to get the boarding pass 24 hours before the flight (either by taking a trip to the airport counter or online), but once you get the boarding pass it is a one way thing, the ticket is not refundable anymore and you can not cancel that (unless of course it is the airlines mistake, eg. if they cancel the flight).
One more thing, you might be lucky and get upgraded if your class was overbooked and they didn't find you a seat. So if you like gambling and you do not have a problem being delayed a day or two, you can take that shot and show up little late.
UPDATE:
As Flimzy commented, if the airlines in case of overbooking issued boarding passes more than the airplane's capacity (which happens by the way) then some people will have to deplane. How will they choose who will be rejected I do not know a standard for that. Could be by volunteering as mentioned in the comment or by some other criteria depending on the airlines. In the airlines where I work they will reject the passengers who are employees of the airlines first, I know that because I was in this situation before. I guess other airlines have similar criteria.
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