I tried a search, but the posts on this topics are relatively dated. Is the BUMP program still in place? I'm flying MSY-ONT on Saturday and would prefer flying NW over DL -- more miles, chance at an upgrade, etc. The NW flight leaves MSY a bit after the DL flight. I have the DL eticket number. If I go to the NW counter, I may be able to get them to takeover the ticket, right? NW now is offering YUP tickets and shows about half of the first class cabin open on both flights.
Thanks.
tom

Based on my experience in the past, NW probably will not be able to take over your DL e-ticket (though I suppose that could've changed with NW's membership in SkyTeam).

DL will probably have to do one of two things: give you a paper ticket to take over to NW, or electronically "push" your e-ticket over to NW in the computer system.

Please let us know how it works out for you.

The BUMP program is still in place, and I have done this recently. A few things though, many agents do not know about it, you often have to explain it. It works best on the inbound leg of a trip, if you use it on the outbound leg you are in danger of having the airline that ticketed you cancel your return flight.

Does BUMP work even for deep-discount tickets? Or just for full/near-full fares?

Yes it works with all fares minus free fares and some types of consolidator fares, IIRC.

To echo and add to what wjm7733 said, in order to take advantage of the BUMP program, you'll likely have to ask NW first if they'd accept the DL ticket and then go over to the DL counter to request that the E-Ticket be released to NW (send control to NW). DL might not be willing to comply, so you could also ask the NW agents if a paper ticket would be acceptable for the BUMP program and pay the money to DL to get your ticket printed on paper.

In the past year, I've tried the BUMP program out twice and this has been my experience.

aloha

Unless the rules have recently changed, my understanding is the ticket has to be on paper and on refundable ticket, for it to be endorsable. But I've had NW take my deep discounted UA ticket on SFO-MSP with a bit of sweet talking. That was 3-4 years ago though when the UA flight was mechanically delayed.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm flying on Saturday and will see how it works. I'll first try with the NW agents at MSY. I did find in my search that for them to find the information on how to do this in the res system, they type "G ATO BUMP". What may simplify it a bit is that one leg of the trip has already been flown on NW, so maybe they can take control through that opening.
I'll post my response.
tom

I tried to use the bump program a few months ago on a very cheap DL ticket coming back from a trip PHL-SBN. I went to the NW gate agent at PHL, and they confirmed they had space, and said I just had to get the printout from Delta. I then went to the Delta agent, and they said they'd do it (give me the printout), but for a fee, which I think was $50 (maybe more). Anyway, I decided not to pay, as they both were connecting flights that got back at about the same time, so that seemed like a lot to pay just to be in 1st for a 1 hour flight.

So, the program was alive and well a few months ago as long as space was available, and you paid the fee to get the paper ticket. Not sure if having luggage would complicate it; I almost never check a bag

I had no luck at Newark with a paper United ticket two weeks ago. There was plenty of space, but the agent and supervisor looked at me like I was making this program up. Their mantra was, "why would we want your discounted United ticket. Go fly United."

Search for BUMP on this forum; Vegas agent posted a lot of info, such as:

and

Sorry I don't have the original thread references; these are just cut-and-paste references from my personal notes that I've saved on the program...

Good Luck!

Did this without any difficulty on Nov 29. Held a (not deeply) discounted coach e-ticket on CO. Outbound I took the original CO flights. The NW and CO returns left DTW at the same time but (obviously, because it was nonstop) the NW flight arrived much sooner. I walked up to the DTW ticket agent, showed her my CO e-ticket number and asked if she could put me on the plane. 5 minutes later and I've joined Mrs. Psychtobe on the NW flight. She didn't even bat an eye. I even got an exit-row seat, and 50% EQM bonus, because the CO ticket was B class. As I posted earlier, however, I did have to harangue NW a bit to get the miles to post.

I never got a chance to try the BUMP program since MSY was an absolute mess by Saturday afternoon. Snow started falling, not much, and according to the FAA www site, the airport was operating with minimal delays, except --- nothing took off after about 1 p.m. because there was no deicing fluid. (Is this a weather problem or an operational problem? The snow had been forecast several days in advance and it seems they could have trucked in some deicing fluid from DFW or MEM. )Fortunately, my plat card got me into the 1st class/Medallion plus line (several hundred people in line for the 3 agents working the regular line) at DL and a competent DL agent rebooked me for Sunday. But Sunday morning I discovered that rebooking had collapsed because of the COMAIR meltdown. 1 of 3 DL connection flights to DFW is COMAIR, the others are ASA and of course I was on the COMAIR flight; DL had rescheduled me for a Tuesday morning departure. I tried calling and couldn't get through so went to the airport and the same agent was working the Medallion line again, and there were no waits (again, several hundred people in line for the regular agents). NW could have gotten me to ONT, but first class only and although DL would rule 120.20 the ticket, I'd have to pay the difference. DL did eventually book me on a later flight to DFW and gave me a FIM to AA for a flight to Burbank with instructions to see the agent in Burbank to get a voucher or something to get to ONT. Of course DL doesn't fly to BUR so I rented a care and will be writing to DL for reimbursement -- see what happens. At DFW, the AA agent told me that had DL been willing to spring for an F seat on the FIM, I could have flown to ONT, my original destination.

I do think DL missed an opportunity here -- my record shows me as an NW Platinum (ST elite plus) flyer and had I been treated well, might give them more business, but although I was treated adequately, it sure wasn't "well."

Oh well, the turducken and I did make it to Claremont in time to be cooked (the turducken) for lunch today.
tom

IF they can take control of an e-ticket it'll work too.....but typically they can't, in that case you'd need a paper ticket

Remember this command in NWA's computer "GO ATO BUMP" it'll bring up the program and instructions for them

...or have your carrier "release" or "push" the ticket to them in the system. Anyone they have an interline agreement with (AA,AS,CO,DL and UA) can do this. It might save you the $$$ paper ticket charge...