| CRBJ Charter Member: |
|
|
| CRBJ Home > December 2006 | |||||
Tips for keeping your seat on that overbooked flightBy Betty Stark
It's a generally recognized fact that most airlines overbook their flights on the assumption that there will be enough no-shows at departure time to offset the reality that there weren't enough seats to begin with. While this logic worked a few years back when most carriers flew every plane they owned or leased no matter how many seats were occupied, it's no longer true today. There are a number of reasons for this. Cash-strapped carriers have made drastic cutbacks in the number of aircraft aloft. They've also rushed to downsize their fleets, mothballing older fuel-guzzling full-size jets in favor of smaller "regional" aircraft. And they did all this just as the number of air travelers returned to full-tilt free-wheeling pre-2001 days. It's no surprise then that in the first six months of 2006, one in every 650 air travelers was bumped off a flight. (It's important to note that this statistic includes both voluntary and involuntary bumping. Some travelers WANT to be bumped in order to collect compensation from the airlines. And it could be said that by giving up their seats these zealots help out the frantic business traveler who must get to a destination or face dire consequences). If you number yourself among those frenzied business travelers who just have to get there, there are a few things you can do to minimize chances of becoming an involuntary bumpee. First, arrive at the airport in plenty of time, especially if your flight is popular with business travelers. Better yet, check in for your flight on the airline's Web site as soon as it's allowed, typically 24 hours before departure. If you're not sure what the rules are for the carrier you're booked on, look for that information on their Web site or ask your travel agent. Most airlines require that you check in at least 30 minutes before your domestic flight departs -- some, including Northwest, now recommend at least 75 minutes. Airport check-in delays are increasing. New and tighter security rules are slowing down both the process of checking luggage in and running the security screening gauntlet. Factor in extra time for these procedures, too. The price of your ticket and whether you're a loyal customer can affect your status as a potential bumpee. Airlines have a pecking order of sorts that they use to determine who gets bumped and who gets to fly. Elite frequent flyer members, for example, and those who pay higher fares (full coach, business class, first class) are generally welcomed onboard. Conversely, non-member passengers flying on discounted fares and frequent flyer tickets, or late arrivals at the gate are usually among the first to be denied boarding when there are not enough seats to go around. The US Department of Transportation requires airlines to first ask for volunteers who are willing to give up their seats before they can begin the process of involuntary bumping of passengers with confirmed reservations. At this time, if you have the flexibility and the inclination to voluntarily wait for a later flight, ask what compensation is being offered, and review the terms carefully. Free ticket vouchers can be difficult to redeem because they often are subject to the same capacity controls as frequent flyer ticket inventory. If possible, try to get a voucher for a specific dollar amount instead. If there aren't enough volunteers, the airlines must then follow procedures established by the Federal Aviation Administration. In a nutshell, they are as follows for passengers with confirmed reservations who are involuntarily bumped: • You must be given written notice of your rights. If this doesn't happen, ask. The information is usually entitled "Overbooking Notice." • If the airline can book you on a different flight that gets you to your intended destination within one hour of your scheduled arrival time (including later connections) they owe you nothing. • If they offer to put you on a flight that is scheduled to arrive at your domestic destination between one and two hours of your original arrival time, they must reimburse you an amount equal to a one-way fare to that destination, capped at a maximum of $200. • If it's longer than two hours later, they must double the above compensation, for a maximum of $400. • As you might expect, there are exceptions to the rules. The airlines are not "required" to put you on another airline if they have no room for you on their own flights. This is discretionary and actual procedures vary from one carrier to another. Some spell it out, others are vague. If the carrier replaces your original aircraft with a smaller one, they are not required to compensate you at all. If the aircraft has fewer than 60 seats or if it's a charter flight, no compensation is required. If you bought your ticket at the airport last-minute and shy of the required check-in time for the flight they're about to bump you off of, you're out of luck. And if you're flying internationally, a different set of rules will most likely apply. Whatever the circumstances, you are entitled to keep your original ticket and use it at a later date (time limitations apply) or you can ask the airline for an "involuntary refund." There's one more rule, albeit unofficial. As any frequent traveler knows, the decision about who stays and who goes is often made by the agent at the gate. Addressing him or her in a friendly, low-key, professional manner in the midst of all that chaos might help get you onboard as planned. Betty Stark is a Madison travel industry consultant and business travel writer with 25 years' experience. travelingwriter1@aol.com madison.com ©2009 Capital Newspapers. All rights reserved. |
|
||||