Just volunteered myself off a flight...

[feralkid]

Always ask for the upgrade, if they don't offer.

If there's an open seat, they usually give it to you.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Its more common now that airlines are at the highest load level in decades. You dont HAVE to change flights but if your schedule allows its not uncommon to get $200-800 depending on distance\urgency

really? i was under the impression that they've become better at estimating load and are a bit stingier in general

 

[mikeford]

Better maybe, but many routes are packed on all flights. I've seen maybe 1/3 of domestic flights I've taken in the last couple years over booked. Almost 100% have had people show up within a minute or so of doors closed. Sweet is the first class bump, but anything that gets you out of the cattle car area is good.

I've heard of people that buy cheap short flight tickets on flights they expect to be overbooked, then jump on the bump deals.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Better maybe, but many routes are packed on all flights. I've seen maybe 1/3 of domestic flights I've taken in the last couple years over booked. Almost 100% have had people show up within a minute or so of doors closed. Sweet is the first class bump, but anything that gets you out of the cattle car area is good.

I've heard of people that buy cheap short flight tickets on flights they expect to be overbooked, then jump on the bump deals.

how do you know which flights tend to be overbooked?

 

[Nox51]

Thanks for the replies! I honestly haven't seen it on any of the flights I have taken. Admittedly 95% of them were outside of the US.

 

[iamwiz82]

can you give some examples for how much you were offered?

$250-$400 is the norm.

 

[XLNC]

I was offered 600 EUR on a Lufthansa flight from Europe to Asia, but some passenger's no showed at the last minute and I lost out. I was bummed out but I ended up getting the same offer on the return, TWICE! I took it the first time. They put me in a nice hotel overnight, as the flight was the same time the next day. Buffet was included for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I seriously considered accepting the offer the second time but I had an important meeting to get back to. If I had gotten the deal all three times, I actually would have made money on that trip. Crazy.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I remember checking into my MSP to MILAN flight, and they offered like $2000 (both seats), at the kiosk, to take our flights, that would have been cool. We were on a timetable, so had to say no though. It was cool that it was at the kiosk though, as I checked in and would have just printed the vouchers right there and put us on standby for the next flight.

 

[feralkid]

Delta now does a "reverse auction" prior to flights.

http://www.budgettravel.com/blog/delta-is-turning-the-flight-bumping-game-into-a-reverse-auction,11612/

 

[Scarpozzi]

Over 10 years ago, I did that a few times, but usually got $400 max for domestic travel.

It just depends on how much your time is worth and whether or not there's a good bar in the airport.

 

[FearoftheNight]

Whoa...i'm on the return flight right now and the couple next to me told me that each each for $1200 checks for involtunarily denied boarding. :O

 

[Printer Bandit]

Compensation for Involuntary Denied Boarding

International Transportation

0 to 1 hour arrival delay: No compensation.
1 to 4 hour arrival delay: 200% of one-way fare (but no more than $650).
Over 4 hours arrival delay: 400% of one-way fare (but no more than $1,300).

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/250.9

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Whoa...i'm on the return flight right now and the couple next to me told me that each each for $1200 checks for involtunarily denied boarding. :O

Does being denied boarding for being insanely count as involuntary?

 

[FearoftheNight]

Compensation for Involuntary Denied Boarding

International Transportation

0 to 1 hour arrival delay: No compensation.
1 to 4 hour arrival delay: 200% of one-way fare (but no more than $650).
Over 4 hours arrival delay: 400% of one-way fare (but no more than $1,300).

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/250.9

haha nice. sounds awesome. never been that lucky

 

[Jeff7]

I used to volunteer to be bumped all the time...I don't know if you can still do it, but I used to sell the bump coupons for cash if I didn't have any plans for travel before they would expire.

I got a voucher when I was bumped. I signed the thing before I read up on it: Signing the thing means you immediately waive your right to cash.
Reading up on it though, including at the Department of Transportation, I could have asked for cash or check. However, "If your ticket does not show a fare (for example, a frequent-flyer award ticket or a ticket issued by a consolidator), your denied boarding compensation is based on the lowest cash, check or credit card payment charged for a ticket in the same class of service (e.g., coach, first class) on that flight."


I also hear this only rarely: They make an announcement asking for people to voluntarily stay off the flight, and they say that the person will get a voucher for some dollar amount.
Most announcements I've heard leave out that bit of information. They might get more volunteers if they stated that one important sentence.

 

[Exterous]

really? i was under the impression that they've become better at estimating load and are a bit stingier in general

Well its anechdotal but the numbers of full flights I have seen with bump offers have been much higher lately and I know the load capacities are at the highest level in the last 20+ years. Its a shame I have had so many meetings\connecctions to make

 

[velillen]

We used to do this all the time. When we went to travel to see grandparents my mom would always put us on "the list" to be bumped. Well actually anytime we flew. Got a lot of free flights from it. SEA to Minneapolis was usually 400 per seat if i remember right. If two seats got bumped it paid for our next trip pretty much. Plus you got food vouchers so you got a free meal. A couple times they couldnt get us out that night so they put us up in the Double Tree Inn for the night. Did it a couple other places too like Hawaii and Orlando.

Ive noticed them asking for volunteers still but at this point when im flying its going to or from somewhere for work and i just want to either get there or get home.