FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - How much does CO overbook by?
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Old Mar 10, 2009 | 10:40 pm
  #23  
channa
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Originally Posted by craz
the other week when we were #2 & 3, the GA told me when I asked what #s we were that there was only 1 person ahead of us, thats how I knew we were 2nd & 3rd.

I said something like I guess all of us Plats think alike and was told the other person didnt have any status. At no time was it ever indicated that he would follow anything other then the order we signed up.

I understand if You needed say 2 people and felt taking a couple would cost CO less 1 hotel room say, or needed 1 person and 1 & 2 were a couple. But I thought youd ask in the 2nd case if they were willing to split up and 1 stay behind if they said No then youd go down the line to #3.

are you saying you can take the last person who signed up say #5 before asking any of the others before #5, speaking where say #1 is 1 person 2&3 are a couple and #4 is 1 person as is #5? I understand if say 1-4 said unless you give me X I will Fly, X can be a FC seat or fly another carreir or $500 voucher etc etc. But if no one said or asked anything is it fair to take #5 before 1-4?

Now one time I was passed over as CO needed say 20 Vols and since it was families that were trying to get on they were looking for an equal party, they said its alot easier to take a party of 4 and replace them with a party of 4 since the seats should be together etc. I had no probs with that.

But a GA simply being able to take whomever they wanted to out of any order doesnt sit too well. Again if #5 said Id take a $200 voucher and the others wanted more , no prob as long as 1-4 were told the score and had a chance to decline it, again thats if theres enough time to ask 1-4. But under so called normal circumstances Id hope that the GA would respect the order that the people signed up
I'm sure final destination and lack of checked baggage has a lot to do with it. If you're flying SFO-EWR, and all flights to EWR are full, it may make sense to bump someone going to a destination they could get to their final destination via IAH (assuming IAH flights are open) vs. booking another carrier.

Also, in a next day bump situation, I've seen preference given to people who originated there (so they can avoid hotel rooms).

This is why the conversation with the GA is very important. I don't want the GA making any assumptions about my flexibility. If I have no bags, I point that out. If I'm willing to fly to alternate airports, I mention that. If we're two together and can split up, I let them know. I also point out win-win situations they may not be expecting (e.g., $300 + hotel + food + IAH-SFO tomorrow --> $400 + no hotel + no food + IAH-SMF tonight, and I'll take it from there).
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