Originally Posted by Khabibul35
Since I've never done this before, anyone have any sort of tips as to how to go about this? Do I ask at check-in or at the gate? When is it best to ask/arrive? Is it rude to ask more than once? Can I (non-elite) get #1 on the list? Are there any strategies to get them to up their offer? When to ask to get rerouted to a new destination?
When you check-in, ask the agent if your flight is oversold. If they respond yes, then tell them you'd like to volunteer to be bumped. If the check-in agent says no, then ask at the gate.
At the gate, ask about the likelyhood of being bumped. If it's good, then inquire about compensation (most likely a free round-trip ticket) and how they'll get you to your final destination. If you don't like the answer, you can always remove yourself from the list. The only way they'll sweeten the offer is if they can't get enough volunteers.