Last night, I performed a rare "triple bump" and had the chance to keep it going as an unheard of quadruple bump!

I had a ticket on the 7:30 p.m. United Express flight from LAX to Palm Springs. The flight was overbooked -- mostly because United reduced the number of LAX-PSP round-trips from 20/day to 12/day. They asked for volunteers, and I was first. Initially, they didn't seem to need me and actually sent me to the plane. Then, at the last minute, they pulled me back, I guess because some other passenger showed up. I got $300 in United vouchers to take the 8:55 p.m. flight.

That flight was overbooked, too. Again, I volunteered. This time, there was no question that I was needed. I got another $300 and a booking at 10:21 p.m.

Again, same routine: overbooked, volunteered, was needed, got another $300, and rebooked at 11:16 p.m.

The 11:16 flight was the worst of all. They were begging people to volunteer and offering $500 or a free ticket within the lower 48 states. I was tempted, except that I would have to leave the airport and go through LAX security the next morning. That was such a dreadful thought that I just took the last flight to Palm Springs, and here I am!

Maybe I can do this again on Sunday (in the other direction). Getting paid $900 tax-free to sit in an airport for a few hours isn't bad at all!

Bruce