bumping strategy
Feb 27, 2004 | 5:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Roseburg, OR
Posts: 253
bumping strategy
I'm not sure where to ask this question so feel free to move it to the appropriate forum. We have a trip to Las Vegas planned and decided to try and extend our trip (non-refundable tickets of course). We know the return flight is full, probably oversold. If we volunteer to be bumped, do we have to take the next scheduled flight that has space or can we ask for a return several days later? There are obvious advantages to doing it this way although I realize our success is not guarenteed.
Feb 27, 2004 | 5:35 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AA Gold; HH Gold
Posts: 2,850
No, they won't allow you to pick a date to fly if they bump you off the flight. They'll put you on the next available flight. So definitely don't count on that. Might want to call the airline and see what the change fee is. You might be surprised and the change fee is small than you think.
Feb 27, 2004 | 6:53 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SF
Programs: /usr/bin
Posts: 1,334
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by scruffy:
sgosline presents a question that I'd never thought of before.
In Las Vegas, I have gotten serial bumps a few times (taken a bump, been put on another flight, then taken another bump from that flight). My all-time Las Vegas record is four bumps (one on the outbound to LV, three on the return).
I think gate agents always assume that any bumpee would want to get on the next available flight. What if the next available flight is also oversold & the bumpee offers to take a less-crowded flight a couple of days in the future? Would the gate agent have the authority to do this? I don't know. It's an interesting question!
[This message has been edited by scruffy (edited Feb 27, 2004).]</font>
sgosline presents a question that I'd never thought of before.
In Las Vegas, I have gotten serial bumps a few times (taken a bump, been put on another flight, then taken another bump from that flight). My all-time Las Vegas record is four bumps (one on the outbound to LV, three on the return).
I think gate agents always assume that any bumpee would want to get on the next available flight. What if the next available flight is also oversold & the bumpee offers to take a less-crowded flight a couple of days in the future? Would the gate agent have the authority to do this? I don't know. It's an interesting question!
[This message has been edited by scruffy (edited Feb 27, 2004).]</font>
It depends on the gate agent. I got bumped out of a busy holiday weekend in Jacksonville for 2.5 days (2 nights in a hotel). I ended up with 4 $400 vouchers. I told the gate agents my strategy (the CRC agents are amazing) and they loved it. They helped me to find the next booked flight and gave me the choice. I would come in each morning with my print out from the Sabre tool, tell her which flight to put me on and she would.
I think the trick is to not get too greedy and try and get on every flight. I would do one in the morning, one at night and I didn't raise too many red flags.
Feb 27, 2004 | 7:48 pm
#6
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
There is a difference between the next available flight (which is not what they are booking you on) and the next flight with availability (which is what they are booking you on.
Yes, you can get serial bumps, but those flights were still showing availability when they booked you. They will not normally book you on a flight that does not have availability (remembering that they oversell a considerable amount of seats).
I've been bumped and told that the next flight they could get me on was three or four flights later.
Yes, you can get serial bumps, but those flights were still showing availability when they booked you. They will not normally book you on a flight that does not have availability (remembering that they oversell a considerable amount of seats).
I've been bumped and told that the next flight they could get me on was three or four flights later.
Feb 27, 2004 | 10:02 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: SF
Programs: /usr/bin
Posts: 1,334
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by cordelli:
There is a difference between the next available flight (which is not what they are booking you on) and the next flight with availability (which is what they are booking you on.
Yes, you can get serial bumps, but those flights were still showing availability when they booked you. They will not normally book you on a flight that does not have availability (remembering that they oversell a considerable amount of seats).
I've been bumped and told that the next flight they could get me on was three or four flights later.</font>
There is a difference between the next available flight (which is not what they are booking you on) and the next flight with availability (which is what they are booking you on.
Yes, you can get serial bumps, but those flights were still showing availability when they booked you. They will not normally book you on a flight that does not have availability (remembering that they oversell a considerable amount of seats).
I've been bumped and told that the next flight they could get me on was three or four flights later.</font>
They were placing me on the waiting list of full flights with the hope that not enough people would show up. They placed me on flights that were oversold by 20 people or more.
Granted, my situation was unique as it was an incredibly oversold weekend and I was in Florida trying to get to the only major hub it was flying through (Atlanta).
Feb 28, 2004 | 1:08 am
#8
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MeLike2Travel:
They'll put you on the next available flight. </font>
They'll put you on the next available flight. </font>
Feb 28, 2004 | 9:26 am
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Niceville, FL, USA
Posts: 2,792
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by scruffy:
...My all-time Las Vegas record is four bumps (one on the outbound to LV, three on the return)...[This message has been edited by scruffy (edited Feb 27, 2004).]</font>
...My all-time Las Vegas record is four bumps (one on the outbound to LV, three on the return)...[This message has been edited by scruffy (edited Feb 27, 2004).]</font>
This was during the period when ASA was offering $200 in actual money for taking a bump, rather than vouchers or free flights. Talk about the good ole days!
Feb 28, 2004 | 1:12 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2001
Location: is everything...but...
Programs: dont matter anymore...
Posts: 3,019
Hi sgosline,
The MilesBuzz! forum is for posting of information related to the latest frequent flyer program buzz.
This doesn't appear to have anything to do with miles or points, so I'm moving over to TravelBuzz!.
Regards,
Flipside
The MilesBuzz! forum is for posting of information related to the latest frequent flyer program buzz.
This doesn't appear to have anything to do with miles or points, so I'm moving over to TravelBuzz!.
Regards,
Flipside