What are the laws & DL policies on bumping?
Feb 4, 2009, 12:32 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Philly, Madrid
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 2,591
What are the laws & DL policies on bumping?
I was just reading a post on an invol bump which involved some confusion over the actual amounts required for compensation. I know the laws changed recently and doubled the cash amounts, but it looks like the airline gate agents are still routinely short-changing customers by not following the law.
And at the same time there is still confusion over voluntary bumps. Has DL updated policy at all to increase the amount they offer for voluntary bumps? If so, are the gate agents following the policy? Again, probably not.
So it is clear that ignorance of the law and of DL policy can be very costly for customers, so what I'm wondering is this:
Is there somewhere where I can print out the current laws and the current DL policies for voluntary and involuntary bumps? This would be handy to have as a quick reference when a bump looks likely, and to present to a gate agent when they try to screw you over.
And at the same time there is still confusion over voluntary bumps. Has DL updated policy at all to increase the amount they offer for voluntary bumps? If so, are the gate agents following the policy? Again, probably not.
So it is clear that ignorance of the law and of DL policy can be very costly for customers, so what I'm wondering is this:
Is there somewhere where I can print out the current laws and the current DL policies for voluntary and involuntary bumps? This would be handy to have as a quick reference when a bump looks likely, and to present to a gate agent when they try to screw you over.
Feb 4, 2009, 12:53 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: MOB / PNS / GPT
Programs: DL Gold Hopefully be DL nothing in 1 more year / Hertz Something / Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 838
Not very specific, but from their website:
Notice of Overbooking of Flights
Airline flights may be overbooked, and there is a slight chance that a seat will not be available on a flight for which a person has a confirmed reservation. If the flight is overbooked, no one will be denied a seat until airline personnel first ask for volunteers willing to give up their reservation in exchange for a payment of the airline's choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, the airline will deny boarding to other persons in accordance with its particular boarding priority.
With few exceptions, persons denied boarding involuntarily are entitled to compensation. The complete rules for the payment of compensation and each airline's boarding priorities are available at all airport ticket counters and boarding locations. Some airlines do not apply these consumer protections to travel from some foreign countries, although other consumer protections may be available. Check with your airline or your travel agent.
http://www.delta.com/legal/index.jsp
Notice of Overbooking of Flights
Airline flights may be overbooked, and there is a slight chance that a seat will not be available on a flight for which a person has a confirmed reservation. If the flight is overbooked, no one will be denied a seat until airline personnel first ask for volunteers willing to give up their reservation in exchange for a payment of the airline's choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, the airline will deny boarding to other persons in accordance with its particular boarding priority.
With few exceptions, persons denied boarding involuntarily are entitled to compensation. The complete rules for the payment of compensation and each airline's boarding priorities are available at all airport ticket counters and boarding locations. Some airlines do not apply these consumer protections to travel from some foreign countries, although other consumer protections may be available. Check with your airline or your travel agent.
http://www.delta.com/legal/index.jsp
Feb 4, 2009, 12:55 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: MOB / PNS / GPT
Programs: DL Gold Hopefully be DL nothing in 1 more year / Hertz Something / Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 838
Here is what the DOT has to say about it.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3501.htm
Also, this link show's you through 2007, that not very many are invlountary.
http://www.bts.gov/publications/nati...ble_01_58.html
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3501.htm
Also, this link show's you through 2007, that not very many are invlountary.
http://www.bts.gov/publications/nati...ble_01_58.html
Feb 4, 2009, 1:35 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Right here
Posts: 2,940
I was just reading a post on an invol bump which involved some confusion over the actual amounts required for compensation. I know the laws changed recently and doubled the cash amounts, but it looks like the airline gate agents are still routinely short-changing customers by not following the law.
If the initial offer described in the other thread was for VDB, there was nothing sneaky/underahdned/short-changing going on at all. If it was an IDB offer, yes, very bad. Again, it's not clear exactly what the situtation was in the other thread.
I don't believe there are any laws for VDBs. The key is it's voluntary. If DL offers a nickel to someone to take a later flight and they accept voluntarily, that's their issue.
As for IDBs, if you're being IDBd, you can ask any airline for a copy of the applicable rules, and they are required to give them to you. One carrier was recently fined for failing to follow through on this.
Last edited by clarence5ybr; Feb 4, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Feb 4, 2009, 3:03 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,427
I was just reading a post on an invol bump which involved some confusion over the actual amounts required for compensation. I know the laws changed recently and doubled the cash amounts, but it looks like the airline gate agents are still routinely short-changing customers by not following the law.
And at the same time there is still confusion over voluntary bumps. Has DL updated policy at all to increase the amount they offer for voluntary bumps? If so, are the gate agents following the policy? Again, probably not.
So it is clear that ignorance of the law and of DL policy can be very costly for customers, so what I'm wondering is this:
Is there somewhere where I can print out the current laws and the current DL policies for voluntary and involuntary bumps? This would be handy to have as a quick reference when a bump looks likely, and to present to a gate agent when they try to screw you over.
And at the same time there is still confusion over voluntary bumps. Has DL updated policy at all to increase the amount they offer for voluntary bumps? If so, are the gate agents following the policy? Again, probably not.
So it is clear that ignorance of the law and of DL policy can be very costly for customers, so what I'm wondering is this:
Is there somewhere where I can print out the current laws and the current DL policies for voluntary and involuntary bumps? This would be handy to have as a quick reference when a bump looks likely, and to present to a gate agent when they try to screw you over.
Feb 4, 2009, 7:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
Even IDB have a lot of room for interpetation. I checked in one time and they put me on a later flight. Tried to get on my original flight and could not since it was oversold by 8. It was only 45 minutes for the later flight, but since I was not kicked off the plane it was not an IDB. Getting the FAA involved they agreed with Delta, I found that strange but not surprising with how one sided the rules are written.
Feb 5, 2009, 1:11 am
#7
Join Date: May 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 851
Here is what the DOT has to say about it.
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3501.htm
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot3501.htm
http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/rules/part%20250.pdf
i'm definitely printing out a copy of this (7pgs) and leaving it in my backpack for all future trips.
Feb 5, 2009, 6:16 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 62
so what I'm wondering is this:
Is there somewhere where I can print out the current laws and the current DL policies for voluntary and involuntary bumps? This would be handy to have as a quick reference when a bump looks likely, and to present to a gate agent when they try to screw you over.
Is there somewhere where I can print out the current laws and the current DL policies for voluntary and involuntary bumps? This would be handy to have as a quick reference when a bump looks likely, and to present to a gate agent when they try to screw you over.
Sep 8, 2009, 2:34 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2006
Location: PHL/EWR
Programs: UA, AA
Posts: 1,821
What exactly is the "airline's particular boarding priority"?
To be more specific, where does a ST Elite Plus stand with no seat assignment? The COC mentions Skymiles members with an elite EP status designation, but does this mean other SkyTeam elites are lumped into the general populace?
And yes, I searched high and low for this, using the FAQs, FT search, and Google
To be more specific, where does a ST Elite Plus stand with no seat assignment? The COC mentions Skymiles members with an elite EP status designation, but does this mean other SkyTeam elites are lumped into the general populace?
And yes, I searched high and low for this, using the FAQs, FT search, and Google
Sep 8, 2009, 7:12 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nashville
Programs: DL DM 3 MM AA PLAT HH Lifetime Diamond Marriott Plat AMB lifetime titanium Hertz PC
Posts: 6,187
What exactly is the "airline's particular boarding priority"?
To be more specific, where does a ST Elite Plus stand with no seat assignment? The COC mentions Skymiles members with an elite EP status designation, but does this mean other SkyTeam elites are lumped into the general populace?
And yes, I searched high and low for this, using the FAQs, FT search, and Google
To be more specific, where does a ST Elite Plus stand with no seat assignment? The COC mentions Skymiles members with an elite EP status designation, but does this mean other SkyTeam elites are lumped into the general populace?
And yes, I searched high and low for this, using the FAQs, FT search, and Google
Sep 8, 2009, 7:33 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Even IDB have a lot of room for interpetation. I checked in one time and they put me on a later flight. Tried to get on my original flight and could not since it was oversold by 8. It was only 45 minutes for the later flight, but since I was not kicked off the plane it was not an IDB. Getting the FAA involved they agreed with Delta, I found that strange but not surprising with how one sided the rules are written.