We have our reservations for Thanksgiving 2004 on hold nonstop flights on CO from IAH to HNL. We would like to take our return flight on the day that would give us the best chances of getting bumped (4 of us) since our brother lives just 20 min. from the airport. Our return date from HNL back to IAH is currently on hold for the Saturday night following Thanksgiving. Do you think the Friday one would be better or should I stick with Saturday. Any luck on getting volunteerly bumped on Hawaii flights?
Thanks

Like I've said in the past, I've gotten bumped the past two years on Continental on flights booked on the Saturday and Sunday in question. I usually take the opportunity to check ITN frequently during that week and have found that in the past two years, Continental flights on Friday have not been as filled to capacity as the Saturday or Sunday after.

You will have equally a good shot on any flights, mainly the first HNL-IAH shot on Saturday and Sunday; however, both HNL-IAH flights on both Saturday and Sunday were booked to capacity this past November.

Best of luck and check www.bumptracker.com for more info.

aloha

Edited to add: Get to the airport early and check as the time gets closer, but it should be noted that there is no way to forsee a bump in the future, especially 10 months down the line. Just because Continental has overbooked its flights the past two years, doesn't mean they would do it again this year. As you know being a rep yourself, flights are overbooked by a computer which figures out certain variables that can change from time to time (e.g., historical data). In addition, some flights might not be overbooked by a whole lot, so getting their early and asking the GAs (Gate Agents) about an overbook is the only thing you can do. The rest is up in the air. Sometimes GAs give preference to elites and generally also give preference to those without checked bags or with connections that can be easily reaccomodated. On the last flight I was bumped off of, a man couldn't take a bump because they couldn't reaccomodate him on another flight, so use an airline scheduling website like www.skyguide.com to see what possible reacomm.s they can put you on (which will mostly be a flight on Continental or a partner airline, i.e. NWA or DL).

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by slippahs (edited Jan 06, 2004).]

VERY TRUE!,

really good $ vouchers were offered for bumps on our past four trips to HI from LAX or SFO on UA and on the return as well. Unfortunately we have never been in a position to take advantage of them.

This time we had some time on both the front and back ends of our trips and I was looking forward to some nice voucher $. This time of course there were no bumps offered even though travel was during prime Christmas/New Year's weekend travel. Go figure.

edited to add: Welcome to Flyertalk Twizzlerr

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[This message has been edited by Sweet Willie (edited Jan 07, 2004).]