Gobble, Gobble, Bump, Bump!
 

O.K., so we all know that we are travelling during one of the busiest air travel holidays, so...I must ask, what is the best way to secure a bump ticket at this time? My first thoughts are to get to the airport VERY early, so that you can get on the "wait list". Second, I should without a doubt, ask the question "can I be flight protected on another flight?'" Other than that, are there any other suggestions for me? I am going from ISP-FLL on 11/24 and returning on that infamous Sunday of the holiday. Flying Southwest, so I am not sure that my above suggestions will work. Is this worth the trouble on such a busy holiday?

Glad you said you are flying Southwest because I think you may not find it worth your while to be bumped. I just checked Southwest's website and all flights from FLL to ISP on both 11/26 and 11/27 are completely sold out, so they will not be able to protect you because they do not interline with any other carriers. It's also very unlikely they will pay for your hotel accommodations.

Recently at SJC, I heard Southwest offering a $300 travel voucher plus hotel accomodations. It may be up to each gate agent(s) though. Get all the facts first before attempting this with any airline. If you have the time to wait at the airport (preferrably in a lounge) you can talk (schmooze) with agents and pax to gain valuable infomation.

Also, it helps to know what other airlines are flying to your destination ahead of time. I've had experiences where I was bumped, asked to be protected on US Air, and made it home ahead of my other itinerary. Not too bad when you come home early with a BIG FAT voucher in your hand http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

I'll stop now cause there are many, many threads on this very subject http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by CART_Flagman (edited 11-19-2000).]

"Priority waitlist" is a mess, since they won't protect you. BUT Southwest's system can be gamed in this scenario if you plan in advance. (I've got a million SW tricks)

Not that I would ever do this http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif , but "what I've heard" you can do is buy multiple one-way tickets during an expected busy day on Southwest. Since they will all be at capacity or oversold, you can do this for flights A, B and C:

Flight A: ask to get bumped. If yes, take voucher and ask for refund of ticket (they will gladly do this to relieve themselves of the obligation to get you there). If no, get on plane, call the 800 number and cancel the other two flights (no $75 penalty on Southwest!).

Flight B: if bumped on A, repeat process.

Flight C: if bumped on A and B, get on this flight with $XXX dollars in vouchers for being a couple hours late. Have a drink. Enjoy the holidays. Repeat for the return trip.

Is this a SW-only trick? Couldn't you do the same thing on any airline? It sounds like we're talking about refundable one-way tickets, so the $75 fees wouldn't apply on any airline.

Did the airline ever figure out what your alterior motive was? Did they care?

Sure, you could do it if you can stomach flying on the cost of a "full fare" ticket. Not me.

Southwest's -discounted, nonrefundable advance fare- tickets are fully refundable in the form of vouchers, with no penalty. That's the trick. You can do the above with 3 $50 one-way tickets, and get a $100 voucher with the two that you do not use.

Try that with United and you'll have to pay an obscene amount for that refundable fare. If you do it with advance tickets, you eat $75 on each one. It's just not worth it.

If you REALLY want to do this on the cheap (tho I haven't tried it yet), reserve those seats using Rapid Rewards vouchers. You can get bumped with no upfront cost to you, but check the blackout dates. This one's a little riskier, since they may be able to involuntarily bump you with little or no compensation.

I see...I didn't realize that SW had low-fare one-way tickets where your cost could be totally recovered in the event you don't use them. This makes your up-front cash outlay much more palatable, I agree!

When I think "one-way", I automatically think "obscene fares". I've been spending too much time flying United, I think...