Trip Reports - December Bumping Story: Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate




Wiirachay
Mar 6, 04, 8:44 am
My parents and I flew to OGG (Kahului, Maui) last December. We were confirmed in CO J class (using mileage) IAH-HNL, connecting on HA Y class HNL-OGG.

Right when the gate agent arrived for the IAH-HNL flight, I asked the agent if he needed any volunteers. He said no. However, during boarding, the agents were desperate to find volunteers. CO somehow can't get things straight like this. If NW even suspects that they need volunteers, they just add them to their computerized list!

Their offer was $750 in TCVs, a confirmed seat on the same flight the next day (no specific mention of an upgrade -- I probably guessed not), plus free hotel. So, I talked to the agent and gave him a counter offer:

Put my parents and me in on the non-stop IAH-OGG flight leaving 2 hours later (which meant actually arriving a few minutes earlier in OGG) in J class. The agent said the he wanted to think about it; but he told another agent to hold 3 J seats on the other flight immediately. I also asked for the $750 in TCVs, but he said we shouldn't get any because we're not overnighting and he thought we were originally confirmed in Y. However, I told him that we were already confirmed in J to begin with. He offered $500 in TCVs. Deal.

$500 in TCVs to arrive ealier at our destination; confirmed in "paid" J class, meaning we'd receive miles for that trip. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cool.gif

On the way back (HNL-IAH) and on the new flight (IAH-OGG), agents offered $300-$500 in TCVs + free hotel + confirmed seating on the same flight the next day. However, J class was fully booked and I could only be confirmed in Y. I had agents search for alternate routings for flights with J class available. All booked in J class. No deal.

- Pat


onedog
Mar 8, 04, 2:25 pm
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif.

It doesn't hurt to ask. As long as you are offering a reasonable alternative that still solves the GA's problem, you never know what might happen.

InterflugIL62
Mar 8, 04, 3:41 pm
You dog! Compared to most that I have seen, you have done very well in the bump business. Congrats!


dhammer53
Mar 12, 04, 6:03 pm
On my first run to Hong Kong, flyertalker Tom911 preped me on the above tactic.

He said to just keep asking. Whats the worse they can say.

So I'm seated in a middle seat in coach at LAX on UA. I'm not very happy.

They ask for volunteers and I immediately run up to the jetway. UA is offering a $400 check; and confirmation on the next days flight. As I'm walking with the agent, I ask about the 'next' flight on any airline. He clicks away to find a flight leaving 12 hours later at midnight on Cath. Pacific.

How about a hotel day room I ask. Ok.
Meal vouchers? We all know that's coming.

Here's where it gets interesting. My original itn had me overnighting in HKG. Now, arriving 12 hours later, I had about 7 hours on the ground. You should have seen his face when I told him that. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

So now I ask for a confirmed upgrade on the return as part of our deal. Agent clicks away. He smiles. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I returned in business HKG/LAX/JFK. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

Moral of story. Ask. Ask. Ask.



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