How to improve bump chances? What to ask for?
 

Booked on:

NW FL 246 on 3/25 DTW to FLL
Cabin class: P0 F0 Y0 B0 M0 H0 Q0 V0 L0 T0 K0

How would you suggest I improve my chances of getting bumped?

What should I ask for as compensation if bumped?

What are your bump strategies?

Do you have any good bump stories?

Be at the airport ticket counter 3 hours before flight time
 

I would do the following:

1) Be at the airport ticket counter 3 hours early and ask the supervisor to put you on the volunteer list (in the reservations computer)

2) Be at the gate at the time the GA opens up and double check that you are "top of the volunteer list"

3) Request a US 48 state free ticket (Do not take the ECV dollars) because you can use the ticket w/o a Saturdasy night stay restriction and there is no requirement to stay overnight using the free ticket voucher.

Note: "W" space must be available to fly on the free ticket voucher, but there usually is an open routing that will work.

Good luck!

RC

Personally I ask for the $ECV.

My primary paid flights are DFW-LAX so there are several reasons the $denominated voucher is better for me.

1.) This market does not require any minimum stay ie: same day return allowed and NO sat night stay required

2.) I can earn miles with the ECV purchased ticket and there are alot of miles earned on this route.

3.) the fare has ranged from $150 to $219 for the past year, so whether I get $200 or $300 I still have at least one free R/T, that I earn around 13,000 miles on.

4.) If I am not going to LAX I generally am taking a weekend trip, so the Sat night stay is not a problem.

5.) All my travel is at my expense so I prefer to be able to earn miles so that I can continue to maintain Plat.

6.) For non elites or elites on Partner airlines W can be a hard class to find availability in.

You generally have the option of either a free R/T on NW metal, or a $ denominated ECV. The dollar amount is generally determined by the time before the next flight. I believe the cut off is 3 hours, but it might be 4 hours.

So if you get bumped and wait less than 3-4 hours for the next flight the compensation will be a free ticket OR $200 voucher, if it is 3-4 hours or greater you can choose either a free ticket or the $300 voucher. If it is overnight on Intl flights it can be either $700 or $1000 again depending on time of the next flight.

I heartily agree with worldtraveler -- always take the $voucher . . . unless to need to fly into some very small and expensive markets domistically.

I also agree with taking the money instead of the free ticket. Much easier to use.

Keep in mind that the 25th is the start of a holiday weekend and a lot of flights are going to be full. If you do get bumped and NW rebooks you on a later nonstop, chances are that flight will be full too and you can try for a second bump. More likely, you will get rerouted and have to make a connection somewhere.

I never advise people to take the "free ticket" voucher. Unless they have some kind of unique situation that would make it especially practical, the $ voucher with its far greater flexibility and the ability to earn miles/status with the flight is generally going to be the better choice.

It isn’t often that a day goes by in which somebody doesn’t begin a thread relating to “Will I get bumped / How to get bumped / What to ask for if I get bumped.” And often there’s multiple threads…

Since these questions have been answered endlessly, I think a “Master Bumping Thread” should be started and stickied.

Does that mean you do not use OLCI if you want to be bumped?

It does not really matter how you check in. I think RC is just saying that you should get there ahead of the "normal" check in time of 2 hours to insure that you get near the top of the list.

There have been times where NWA.com will ask if you want to volunteer when you do OLCI, so if this is the case and you are interested than you should click that you are available to Volunteer during OLCI.

I also want to say that the compensation you decide to accept needs to based on your individual travel needs. As I stated, for my travel I prefer to get the ECV. However, knowing some of RC's travel patterns (which vary greatly from mine) I could see the benefits of the Free Ticket. RC goes well above the Plat level every year in EQM, if I remember correctly in the range of 2 to 3 X's Plat level, and travels extensively practically every week. If I had those same patterns the benefits of the free ticket would be better since I would not be worried about EQM or banked miles.

So you definitly need to consider your personal needs when deciding which form of compensation would work best for you.

As of today, it is only over booked by 5 seats..... chances are slim :(

DTW-FLL bump =$300 voucher
 

My grandmother and her sister were recently bumped on a DTW-FLL ns and received a $300 credit voucher. NW wanted to put them on a connecting flight and I think bump them up a class, but they opted to go NS on a later flight instead to Miami.

I think they also received a meal voucher, but didn't mention an Amenity pack or discount off future travel.

In their case, though they didn't realize it at the time a r/t voucher may have been better. They knew of future travel plans to ATL and when they wen to book it was $324 so they had to fork out money towards the fare... On the same token, who knows if award seating would have been available on their "ideal" itinerary.

Since DTW is your origin, the earlier you get there, the better your chances of getting on the volunteer list early enough. I always go to the gate while there is an agent there for the boarding of an earlier flight from that gate, and when they aren't busy, I ask about a volunteer list for my flight. This has resulted in getting some bumps that I would have missed otherwise.

I always get the ECV since most of my flights cost less than that, and I earn miles to keep my status.

It doesn't hurt to ask to be put in F for the flight you actually take, I've found if it's open, they'll usually give it to me (this has worked even without elite status).

-Ed

I posted a post about getting bumped from DTW to FLL, Oct 2004. I would link to it if the Search was working (is it working now and I just didn't check it?) but anyways...

Our flight was the last one of the day, so we got a (crummy) hotel stay and a couple meals out of our bump, plus $300 ECV x 2.

IMO, I choose the ECV because of the mileage earning. Plus I might want to go someplace other than the US.

As that was my first bump and I was only slightly expecting it, I missed asking about a few things.
1) Amenity pack (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc). I think these might be available through the DTW Information Booth (or whatever it is called). And I don't know if you need something (like a note or if you can just show your new voucher) from the GA to get it or not. Not a big deal but would have been nice to have. Reason: our luggage was already on the plane heading to FLL.
2) Ask about possible upgrade to first on next flight as part of compensation. Never hurts to ask.
3) Ask to stay at a specific hotel (NOT Best Western). I would have chosen Hampton Inn (because of HHonors) or Westin (in airport). I doubt I would have gotten the Westin but again, it never hurts to ask.

Things I did to increase my chances of being bumped.
Booked a very full flight.

My only bump that involved an overnight stay was also at the DTW Best
Western, and I also strongly advise asking for another hotel!

-Ed

[QUOTE=infinityplusone]3) Ask to stay at a specific hotel (NOT Best Western). I would have chosen Hampton Inn (because of HHonors) or Westin (in airport). I doubt I would have gotten the Westin but again, it never hurts to ask.
QUOTE]

None of the programs give points for airline discount rate stays anymore, in my experience anyway. HHonors doesn't even give points for ANY stays not booked through them now. In fact the last two times I have been bumped the hotels did not even acknowledge my status. They just said that does not apply on this rate. No UG, no points, no water or anything special.