Overbooking can go wrong, however, when passengers refuse to be bumped. While most airlines aim to solve overbooking issues before passengers begin to board, there are cases where passengers must be removed from flights.
This was the case on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Louisville. An old man was forcibly removed from the flight in front of the remaining passengers.
It was distressing for everyone involved—and incredibly bad press for United Airlines. Not illegal, but really not a good way to show passengers you care. The extent to which plane tickets are oversold is based on extensive air travel statistical research.
Airlines invest in creating huge databases of previous passenger trends and past no-shows. These calculations are not foolproof, however, and can lead to passengers being bumped to different flights. When the statistics and algorithms do get it wrong, airlines have several options to work their way through.
These volunteers must receive compensation, as per EU regulations , in the event of denied boarding. Passengers flying to and from the United States are also covered by the U. The compensation received in the case of overbooking depends on the distance of the flights and can be claimed up to six years after the incident.
They also consider "severe hardships," ticket cost, and status within the carrier's loyalty program. Delta Air Lines also uses check-in order and loyalty status as determining factors, as well as class fare such as economy or business class.
Meaning, those ticketed in basic economy are likely to be bumped first. However, those with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, and members of the military are all protected from such practices.
The best strategy to avoid getting bumped is to check in for your flight online as soon as possible, and arrive at the airport early. If the airline lets you choose your seat at booking, do so. A full, oversold flight may not have seats available at check-in, and those without seat assignments may be more likely to be bumped. In the US, if an airline involuntarily bumps you from a flight, the US Department of Transportation has rules in place to protect you, as long as you have a confirmed reservation, checked in for your flight on time, and arrived at the departure gate on time.
You are entitled to demand payment on the spot. Do be aware that rules in the European Union are similar, but vary. At that point, there's really not much a passenger can do. According to the Canadian Transportation Agency, the Canadian carriers will "usually help passengers that are voluntarily or involuntarily "bumped" to find a seat on the next available flight at no additional cost.
The U. Although it's been suggested that passengers who get bumped are randomly chosen, Canadian and U. Some airlines, according to the U. Department of Transportation, will bump passengers with the lowest fares first. Others bump the last passengers to check in.
Their decision may also be based on the passengers' fare class meaning those in business class will likely avoid the bump , itinerary and frequent flyer membership. In Canada, the amount of compensation depends on the individual carrier. However, in , the transportation agency ruled that Air Canada had to increase its amount of compensation for bumped passengers on domestic flights following a complaint launched by consumer advocate Gabor Lukacs. In a recent interview, WestJet told CBC News that it doesn't intentionally overbook flights, but that passengers could be bumped if the airline has to swap a larger plane for a smaller one with fewer seats.
In the U. Nielsen also says to make sure to ask the airline if they will cover your meals and refreshments while you wait for another flight. Katherine Fan , senior travel features reporter at The Points Guy, tells Bustle that when a flight is overbooked , you have a good amount of flexibility to ask for perks you might not usually get if you were requesting a rebook for your own sake.
For example, you can possibly be rebooked on a direct flight if you were on a connecting flight before. But make sure you get rebooked and have a confirmation before the agent removes you from the oversold flight. By Natalia Lusinski.
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