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Getting bumped from a flight is what happens when an airline denies you a seat on a plane you have a reservation for. Airlines often book more than 100% of a flight because they know that there is a certain percentage of passengers who don’t show. When the numbers game doesn’t work quite right, the airline has to ask for volunteers to be bumped or bump people who don’t want to be.

For most air travelers, getting bumped from a flight would be disastrous. Arriving at a destination late or missing a connecting flight is a huge problem for most, but for people whose travel plans are flexible, getting bumped from a flight can be financially rewarding. Why? Because passengers who get bumped are often rewarded with a cash reward or a free round trip ticket to be used at another time.

Some passengers who know that their travel itinerary is flexible and understand the benefits of getting bumped even volunteer for it. Typically, here is what you can do if you’d like to get bumped.

• When you get to the gate agent, ask if the flight is overbooked. They must tell you if it is or not. If you are told that it is overbooked, ask what the airline’s compensation is for passengers who get bumped to another flight. If the compensation is worth it to you, there are a few more things to find out before volunteering.

• Ask what other arrangements will be made if you are bumped. Ask if they can guarantee you a seat on the next flight to your destination. If they say they can’t, ask if they can get you a seat on another airline. If you are planning on asking to be bumped, before you leave for the airport, print out a flight schedule for other airlines so you can ask for a specific flight.

• If the alternate flight is acceptable to you and if the compensation for being bumped is acceptable to you, request to be put on the list to be bumped.

• When you request to be bumped, be very courteous and respectful. Other people may be requesting the same thing, and you want the gate agent to think of you favorably. The gate agent gets to choose who gets bumped and who doesn’t. Stay close to the gate desk so the agent knows you’re serious, but don’t be a nuisance.

• If you get bumped, and your new flight is more than two hours from your original departure time, ask about getting vouchers for free meals or admittance into their airport club which is usually reserved for preferred flyers. Again, be courteous and respectful when you make your request.

• One warning – Some free tickets are subject to the same restrictions as frequent flyer tickets. That may mean black out dates and limited flights.

All airlines have different rules and compensation for bumped passengers. You may want to look at your airline’s webpage for their specific rules and compensation before the day of your flight.

If your schedule is flexible, planning to get bumped may be a good idea. It may even make your next flight a free flight.

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