Do you fit the bumpee profile?

You can submit your own question to us at askgeorge@airfarewatchdog.com. We will try to answer as many as possible. If we use your question in a future newsletter, we will send you a free Airfarewatchdog T-shirt. We do not print your name or other details in our newsletters.

To post a comment to one of our Q&A's please click on "read more" and then "post a comment."

Post a Comment

Dear +fazzer, Why are you asking such a question in the comments to a posting that has nothing to do with your question? And if your son is in college, why the heck isn't he booking his own flights and deciding whether or not he wants to fly through Chicago? Sincerely, a non-helicopter parent

by kat on Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Posted before reading responses...never a good idea. The rules for what they owe you vary not only from carrier to carrier, but from country to country. There are rules in the US, but the ones in the EU are more generous. At a minimum, you are owed what the law requires...but most carriers will offer less and get away with it. All the requirements are based on involuntary loss of a seat, of course. If you take their incentive, you get what you agreed to when giving up your seat yourself.

by mickisue on Tuesday, April 13, 2010

IF you have a seat assignment, and you follow the rules: checked in and at the gate 1/2 hour before the flight for domestic flights, you won't be bumped. But many lower fare tickets won't assign seats till check in, and you HAVE TO check in at the airport. If you are worried about a lost seat ruining your trip, it'd be wise to get to the airport even earlier than you might otherwise, just to be safe.

by mickisue on Tuesday, April 13, 2010

My college son needs to fly from Sioux Falls,Sd to either Philadelphia or Allentown,PA for Thanksgiving Day holiday. When should I book this flight for him? Prices are starting to creep up already in April. Should I wait for a better fare, or risk not getting one for his time frame? Also why is Delta priced so much higher than the competition. I'm trying not to get him to change plans in O'hare with United. Any thoughts would help tremendously. Thanks!!

by +fazzer on Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Airlines are required by law to ask for volunteers first. This generally does the trick, except in the worst cases. Then, most airlines bump in reverse order of check-in or arrival at the gate. Lesson here: check in on-line (not at the airport) and get thee to the gate in a timely manner. Know that your "rights" are few.

Mickisue writes:
"The best thing ... Is to be informed as to your rights."
Great advice. This means "read the airline's Contract of Carriage." There is a link on this site. Of course, the CoC that was in effect when you purchased 9 months ago is generally superseded by a newer CoC.

"KNOW how much money (not vouchers) they owe you."
The answer is that, inmost cases, it will not seem like a whole lot, especially if you really have to be someplace at a certain time.

"KNOW whether or not they need to feed you and pay for you to stay in a hotel, or pay to get you home, if you are in your home city."
If you take the cash, they put you on the next available flight and that is pretty much the end of the legal liability.

"KNOW if they need to reimburse you for any lost deposits, etc for the destination city that you will be forfeiting."
They do not "NEED" to do any of this.

Ebinc2,
On most airlines, a voucher issued in one name can be used for another person.

Radioguyrj,
What you are "entitled" to is defined by the CoC, but most airlines follow the minimums allowed by the DOT.

by jaded on Tuesday, October 06, 2009

The airlines may give you the difference Only If your ticket is the same "flight class" as the new fare. If you booked a "L class fare" and the lower rate is a "L class fare", you can ask the airlines for the difference. However, they will probably give you a voucher, good for 1 year and issued in the passengers' names only. I got stuck a few years ago this way because the passenger was a 12 year old, and she didn't fly again in the next year.

by ebeinc2 on Tuesday, October 06, 2009

I find it helps to be traveling with a small, very cute child who can stand by the podium, with tears in her eyes, and say, "But I want to see my Grandpa. Please let me go see my Grandpa."

by zzzzz78759 on Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Mickisue ... great post. HOWEVER, what exactly are we entitled to when bumped ? Does it vary from airline to airline ?

by radioguyrj on Tuesday, October 06, 2009

The best thing to do in the event of a possible bump is to be informed as to your rights. KNOW how much money (not vouchers) they owe you, KNOW whether or not they need to feed you and pay for you to stay in a hotel, or pay to get you home, if you are in your home city. KNOW if they need to reimburse you for any lost deposits, etc for the destination city that you will be forfeiting. And then, should they tell you that you are being bumped, slowly and calmly start listing the things that you know you are entitled to have paid. The worst case scenario is that you'll get bumped anyway, but the financial cost will be nil. The best is that they'll find somebody else who's not as knowledgeable and or has as many expenses for them as you do.

by mickisue on Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Popular Destinations

Popular Routes

Do you fit the bumpee profile?

Travel Q&A