GETTING BUMPED: Best Chances?
 

I am planning a trip for two in December to fly from Orlando-Las Vegas on US Airways.

Can anyone suggest the best connections, times and days of travel to fly with the strongest probability of getting bumped as many times as possible in both directions?

Are you more likely to get bumped during the day? Friday and Saturdays? The last flight out that night?

Any help would be appreciated...

Be careful because there are also several HP flights on that route and, chances are, you would probably be rebooked and not compensated. Las Vegas is one market that they usually don't fool around with too much because of the large volume of advance booking leisure travel. Good luck.

In leisure markets I've found the best times to get bumped are Friday afternoons and evenings and Sunday afternoons and evenings, or just at the beginning or end of a major holiday.

I travelled to PSP over the Easter weekend via SFO and SEA. On most flights, they were overbooked, sometimes by as much as 20 people. We offered to be bumped on each flight (the first in line) and they never needed us. I guess a lot of people did not show. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Yes, tradition would say that certain obvious times are best for being bumped. Friday afternoon/evening, Sunday afternoon/evening, early Monday morning (when many business travelers fly), etc. Saturday is generally one of the least heavily booked day of the week. I don't know what your best chances would be for mid-week travel. E.g. always a early morning flight, etc??? Other good opprotunities, though less predictable of course, involve equipment swaps (smaller plane used), or the day or period after a major weather or other situation which requires many people to rebook. I too would appreciate knowing of any patterns people see out in the field on which flights are overbooked. I too find a lot that flights will be over by 10 or 15, and they will not need volunteers. It's best if it's 20-plus people overbooked and you are first in line.

JustinCredible: Dec. 23 is very busy day with greater chances of getting bumped. Also Wednesday before Thanksgiving and first Saturday am of spring break.

Spartacus posts Even then, they'd have to compensate you (unless you told them "No, please don't" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif). But you may well be right that bumping is simply less likely ot of LAS, since most travelers book in advance and are less likely to cancel.

Getting bumped into or out of LAS is easy on HP. I get bumped 5-6 times a year using LAS. I usually give the travel vouchers away as gifts. HP overbooks their LAS by as many as 25. Friday afternoons into LAS are a primetime for bumping on HP.