Mileage Run Deals - 2006 Thanksgiving Bump Runs...Book Now!

Hello everyone. Now that we are within the 330 day window that allows us to book our Thanksgiving flights, has anyone booked flights with the notion of maximizing bump opportunities? With the notion of keeping the cost down and bump opportunities high, I've been looking at leaving Wednesday the 22d, preferably afternoon and returning Sunday the 26th afternoon. Leaving from LAS, I'm seeing, all-in:
$198 to ORD non stop
$293 to MKE multi segment
$315 to MSN multi segment
$553 to RFD multi segment
I've read the bump secret thread, and it's begining to look like LAS-ORD-MKE-ORD-LAS for $293. This time I wasn't able to swing LAS-DEN-ORD-MKE-ORD-DEN-LAS, on united.com, but I'll keep trying. Flying into Milwaukee allows me to skip the expense and hassle of a rental car and winter driving.

Is anyone else thinking ahead to 2006 Thanksgiving and made reservations, yet?

Honestly? No.

Yes, my Thanksgiving trip was booked two weeks ago, using bump vouchers. ;)

Hello everyone. Now that we are within the 330 day window that allows us to book our Thanksgiving flights, has anyone booked flights with the notion of maximizing bump opportunities? With the notion of keeping the cost down and bump opportunities high, I've been looking at leaving Wednesday the 22d, preferably afternoon and returning Sunday the 26th afternoon. Leaving from LAS, I'm seeing, all-in:
$198 to ORD non stop
$293 to MKE multi segment
$315 to MSN multi segment
$553 to RFD multi segment
I've read the bump secret thread, and it's begining to look like LAS-ORD-MKE-ORD-LAS for $293. This time I wasn't able to swing LAS-DEN-ORD-MKE-ORD-DEN-LAS, on united.com, but I'll keep trying. Flying into Milwaukee allows me to skip the expense and hassle of a rental car and winter driving.

Is anyone else thinking ahead to 2006 Thanksgiving and made reservations, yet?

You have to be kidding....

Hell, I don't even know what city I'll live in this November!

Hell, I don't even know what city I'll live in this November!

Lol. Perhaps for some FTers the info on where it's best to fly for bumps might _determine_ where they'll be in November :).

A thought on Thanksgiving bump runs--

My experience this past year and last year is that more folks are booking alternate dates (i.e. Tues. before Thanksgiving) as that Wed. and Sunday are traditionally blackout dates for the lowest fares, and more and more folks are leaving earlier/later to avoid paying the premium. My flights last Nov-- a 3pm Wed. PHX-ORD, the last flight ORD-MSP, a Sunday late PM MSP-DEN and the last Sunday DEN-PHX were all booked to 75% at best! I was told that on Tuesday there were plenty of oversells.

Of course, YMMV.

This time I wasn't able to swing LAS-DEN-ORD-MKE-ORD-DEN-LAS, on united.com, but I'll keep trying.

Anecdotally I've heard the DEN <--> ORD flights tend to go very full. No direct experience, though.

Sorry, I usually wait for the Buisness Class specials to Europe to insure I get my NW PE status for the coming year. Its time to splurge before wifes December Birthday and then Christmas. She makes a killing (with diamonds and gold), and I do a trip at Thanksgiving.

A thought on Thanksgiving bump runs--

My experience this past year and last year is that more folks are booking alternate dates (i.e. Tues. before Thanksgiving) as that Wed. and Sunday are traditionally blackout dates for the lowest fares, and more and more folks are leaving earlier/later to avoid paying the premium. My flights last Nov-- a 3pm Wed. PHX-ORD, the last flight ORD-MSP, a Sunday late PM MSP-DEN and the last Sunday DEN-PHX were all booked to 75% at best! I was told that on Tuesday there were plenty of oversells.

Of course, YMMV.

bingo. my wednesday afternoon flight from NYC to MIA was literally 25% empty as well. honestly, i was shocked. there were also empty seats on the sunday 6 PM return flight. airline staff told me the same thing...people booked alternate days, tuesday was busier and people were staying until monday or returning other days.

Yes, my Thanksgiving trip was booked two weeks ago, using bump vouchers. ;)

As usual, you're my hero! :D

booked sfo-bos-sfo on for thanksgiving friday-sunday on ua. it's a planned trip for my 30th high school reunion and where the reunion is on saturday, i'm not "looking on friday" but i am truly looking forward to the bump possibilites on the return ;)

Yes, my Thanksgiving trip was booked two weeks ago, using bump vouchers. ;)

There should be a Freddies award for travelers like you! :D ^

I would not pay $200 for bump run flights wait around till you see $100 or free deals then find a fitting day. The airlines have a lot of experience predicting loads around thanksgiving and because of lack of biz travelers it doesn't sem to overbook as much as it used to.

You never know. Last Thanksgiving myself and 5 family members and friends used the $1.87 Lebanon, NH deal on US. We had 6 segments. (we booked the trip as a football weekend, not a bump run) Not a single bump, not even close. Ironically, heading to Lebanon, from LGA plane held 19 passengers, we were 6 of the 7 on the plane.

Then bumps come from other places you don't expect. I got bumped on both ways of Delta's $39 mistake from Washington DC to Portland Maine. I never got to eat the lobster I wanted, but I did come home with $600 in vouchers on a $39 fare. Only problem with that trip was after taking the bump in Cincinnati, I rode the bus to Newport KY (entertainment area on the bank of the Ohio River), I ended up seeing the Dukes of Hazzard movie, that was an hour and a half of my life I'll never get back, made me question if the $400 voucher was worth it.

After a two year absence from the competition I will be flying a day trip: dca-cvg-cle-atl-dca on the Sunday after Thanksgiving for a total of 2101 EQM at a cost of $170 inclusive. Out and back the same day. Perhaps my luck will have changed.

I would not pay $200 for bump run flights wait around till you see $100 or free deals then find a fitting day. The airlines have a lot of experience predicting loads around thanksgiving and because of lack of biz travelers it doesn't sem to overbook as much as it used to. I'm getting more and more convinced that airlines are getting better at predicting loads, in general. My two 2005 bumps were completely unexpected. It's hard to be patient to wait for free or ultra-cheap flights, as I likewise would like to avoid paying the premium prices for Thanksgiving weekend flights that show up as Turkey Day gets closer. Is there a drop dead date, when, if no bargains have popped up, that one should ticket, before the fares hit the roof?

A thought on Thanksgiving bump runs--

My experience this past year and last year is that more folks are booking alternate dates (i.e. Tues. before Thanksgiving) as that Wed. and Sunday are traditionally blackout dates for the lowest fares, and more and more folks are leaving earlier/later to avoid paying the premium. My flights last Nov-- a 3pm Wed. PHX-ORD, the last flight ORD-MSP, a Sunday late PM MSP-DEN and the last Sunday DEN-PHX were all booked to 75% at best! I was told that on Tuesday there were plenty of oversells.

Of course, YMMV.

I saw the same on Southwest LAX-BNA: Jan 2 (a RR blackout day) was pretty open until a few days prior, while Jan 3 most flights were unavailable for 1 to 2 weeks. Our flight on Jan 3 (booked on a $84 Ding fare) went out with maybe 2-3 empty seats.