It’s a situation that’s becoming increasingly common: You’re waiting for your flight to start boarding, when the gate agent announces the plane is overbooked and some passengers will need to be bumped to a later flight. How does this happen, and what can travelers do about it?
Planes only make money when they are flying full of paying passengers, so airlines sell a small percentage of seats more than the aircraft allows, assuming that people will not show up because they missed their connecting flight, got stuck in traffic, or simply changed their plans.
Most of the time, the system works and there’s no need to bump anyone. But in 2022, airlines are overselling more flights, which means passengers are getting bumped more often too. According to recent statistics from the Department of Transportation, involuntary denied boardings occurred three times as often in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the same quarter 2018, before the pandemic.
There are a few ways to avoid being bumped against your will, but if you are removed from an overbooked plane, you’re owed certain compensations from the airline. Here’s everything to know about dealing with an oversold flight.
First, avoid being bumped involuntarily
Airlines generally have systems when it comes to choosing who to bump. Passengers who checked in late (or last) and anyone without a confirmed seat assignment are first on the chopping block.
As such, checking in as soon as possible—even right when online check-in opens 24 hours before the flight—is best, says Mike Arnot, spokesperson for aviation analytics firm Cirium. He advises pre-selecting a seat, even if you have to pay an extra fee or cash in airline miles for one. (If your boarding pass has “see agent at gate” printed under the seat assignment heading, that could be an indication of possibly getting bumped.)
Passengers with basic economy tickets may also be more vulnerable during an oversale than someone on a higher-paid ticket or with elite status. So if you don’t have flexible travel plans, you’ll want to make buy tickets in regular economy or higher.
When is it worth it to volunteer your seat?
Before resorting to involuntary removals, gate agents usually ask for volunteers to give up their seats, offering flight vouchers, gift cards, or cash as incentives. If these sound tempting, keep in mind that as with most negotiations, you shouldn’t accept the first offer. There have been reports of some airlines giving as much as $10,000 in cash gift cards for passengers to take a bump. While compensation that high can be rare, the lesson is clear: Travelers can typically squeeze a few thousand dollars out of airlines, especially if they need to bump more than one person from a single flight.
When negotiating your payout, ask about any restrictions for the voucher or compensation provided. Can it be used for international flights? Is it only for yourself or can it be used for others? When does it expire?
While you can ask for other perks like a potential upgrade, this is not the standard if other compensation is provided. It usually depends on the situation. If there are few volunteers, and the airline really needs someone to give up their seat, you may be able to get other perks by asking respectfully. Demanding things outside of the airline’s standard protocol, however, will usually prove unsuccessful. Remember time is of the essence to get a flight out on time, and it’s best to think through what you would want in advance.
If you know you’d be interested in giving up your seat for money before you get to the airport, many airlines like American, Delta, and United have online or app-based, auction-style systems that allow fliers to bid the amount they are willing to accept to give up their seat. This gives passengers more time to consider changing their plans—and ask for higher compensation. Making a high offer is actually key to using the bidding system. For example, if you agreed to accept $200 to volunteer your seat and another passenger agreed to accept $400, the lower amount might be chosen first. But, if the airline needs two volunteers, many airlines will give both passengers the higher amount. Be vigilant and ask questions to see if others received the same amount. In some instances, you may be able to receive more than you originally bid.
You are not locked into the change by simply making an offer. You won’t actually know if the airline will need your seat until right before departure, so you’ll still have time to think it over. Gate agents may also ask for volunteers at the gate so be there early to throw your hat into the ring again. If you’re planning to offer up your seat, remember that it’s best not to check bags and it’s also a good idea to have some alternative flights in mind.
What are you owed if an airline bumps you?
There are federal requirements on how airlines must compensate a passenger who is involuntarily denied boarding. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the amount of compensation for an involuntary bump depends on the length of the delay it causes.
If you get to your destination within one hour of the scheduled arrival time, no compensation is legally required. On domestic flights, a delay of two to four hours requires the airline to give the bumped passenger 200 percent of the paid one-way fare to be refunded (some airlines cap it at $775). If the delay is longer, the required compensation jumps to 400 percent of the one-way fare (with some capping it at $1,550). International flights have similar payout amounts, but with expanded delay windows. An involuntary bump on international flights that causes a delay between one to four hours means airlines must pay passengers 200 percent of the one-way fare; delays longer than four hours require passengers to be compensated by the airline for 400 percent of the one-way fare.
Don’t forget many credit cards also provide travel insurance benefits if you are bumped involuntarily. These perks include flight cancellation support with a hotel or food, and even rental car refunds or insurance if an airline does not provide enough support. Popular cards like The Platinum Card from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card among others can come to the rescue if you find yourself stuck.