What are the best days and best airlines for getting bumped? I know that around Christmas and Thanksgiving are big, but are there any other big travel weekends? I want to put together some runs for next year, and if I plan ahead, it would be nice to schedule these around busy travel days and get a bump or two.

Those days may have passed based on all the empty seats, I saw on NW Asia flights recently. Last several years, there was standing room only on these same flihgts.

I suspect that it depends on the airport and event of public interest. I had good luck getting bumped flying SEA-SLC on Presidents' Day weekend a couple of years ago. It seems that weekend is high ski season there.

I fly mostly from STL and DCA. I assume that there are some travel days that are busy systemwide. I fly mostly on AA and DL, and sometimes on US, NW, and UA.

I used to work for Continental Airlines several years ago.
The reason airlines overbook is because of the no-show rate - people will book and not show up.
So in very broad terms the country broke down like this
Midwest - 10%
East coast - 15%
West Coast - 20% no show and if I recall - this is over 10 years ago SFO flight consistantly were aroind 25% no show rates or more.
So look for flight that are heavily booked out of the midwest ---
In the West coast you could be over booked 30 pax on a 150 pax flt and still go out with open seats.

Also the airlines used to have to report to the FAA overbookings. I can't remember now if it's an overall number ie we denied xx pax per yy flights or if there was more detail.

Someone may have the power to poke around there and see.

I hope this helps.
Frank

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TANSTAAFL - but if you work it right, FF miles comes pretty close.

Thanks for the info. I've not been able to figure out the airlines' systems. I have been on completely overbooked flights and not had the chance to be bumped. I've also been on flights that I thought would be empty and been bumped.

I guess it's not smart to book with the expectation of being bumped, but if I'm going on a run anyway, it doesn't hurt to try.

In normal times, is Good Friday, Saturday or Easter good bumping days?

I think so especially if your coming out of Mazatlan with one crazy sister.

You can count on many flights to and from SLC during the 2002 Olympic games to be full.
Look for most anything in February there.