The benefits of being bumped

Leon Della Bosca

7 years ago

Marta wants to know why people actually volunteer to give up their seat on the plane. So in Travel SOS, Leon explains the benefits of ‘being bumped’.

Q. Marta
I was talking to a friend recently who was on a flight where the airline was asking people if they’d give up their seat and take a later flight. She said ‘no’ at the time, but was told later that she could have received cash or an upgrade if she said ‘yes’. Is this true?

A. Yep, it is true. It’s common practice for airlines to overbook flights, just in case someone doesn’t show up or there are cancellations. The only problem with that is, when everyone shows up, someone has to go.

So, airlines will ask for volunteers to give up their seat, either during the booking process or at the airport gate lounge.

More often than not, an airline will offer to book you on the next flight and if it can’t get you on the next plane, they are required to offer you 200 per cent of the cost of your original fare for a domestic flight, or 400 per cent of the original cost of your international flight. It may do this by offering you vouchers, upgrades, lounge access or flyer points, but you should know that you are actually entitled to ask for a refund to your credit or debit card or a cheque.

While it may sound as if it’s a hassle, being bumped from a flight can actually turn out to be a blessing. Just ask the lady who made $15,000 from being bumped – she played the airline perfectly, negotiating a fantastic deal for her and her family.

How do you get bumped?

When you arrive to check in, you can inform your airline that you’re happy to be bumped. This may not guarantee you compensation though. There are also few other ways that make you an attractive ‘bump’ prospect which will be more likely to lead to compensation. They are:

don’t have checked luggage

get to the gate early

sit near the desk and listen for staff chatter or announcements.

Here are some tips to get the most out of your airline:

ask for money not vouchers or points

negotiate a better reward

ask for lounge access while you wait

be nice and firm

make sure you’re being rebooked on another flight.

If you have the leeway in your itinerary, volunteering to go on the bump list can be quite lucrative. Now you know how to do it, you can take advantage of the situation should it arise.