They Pay Me To Fly!

[Bicycle_B]

Not sure where to post this - if there's a better spot, let me know.

So I arrived at the airport this morning this morning, two carryons in hand, ready to visit a relative who lives in another U.S. city.  Southwest needed someone to drop off an overbooked flight. I jumped over to the counter and signed up.  Voucher value of $702 is more than twice what I paid for the original round trip!

[deborah]

Great stuff!

[Bicycle_B]

Forgot to ask my question to the airborne public - are there any tricks to this? Special ways to maximize or stretch the flights received? Any pitfalls? Tricks for getting more free flights? Related anecdotes and adventure land welcome...

[Bicycle_B]

(adventures, not adventure land.  Typing on phone at airport.  At least can share with friends.

Ok, out for now)

[marty998]

So how long did you have to wait for the next flight?

[kpd905]

Forgot to ask my question to the airborne public - are there any tricks to this? Special ways to maximize or stretch the flights received? Any pitfalls? Tricks for getting more free flights? Related anecdotes and adventure land welcome...

The trick is just to be flexible.  Most people probably have to get back to work the next day, so they aren't willing to be bumped to a later flight.

[wienerdog]

Also if you are flexible you can tell the airlines you are interested in being bumped.  Usually it goes by first come first serve.  They will usually let you know if the flight looks like it might be full or not.

[DangleStash]

I wish I remembered this more often, but usually I'm flying to get somewhere by a certain time.  An added bonus of this is if you book certain commuter-hour flights, you may have a greater chance of being able to be bumped then just grabbing a quick nap.

[I'm a red panda]

I noticed last time I checked into Delta (the day before the flight) that they had me "bid" how much it would take for me to be willing to be bumped off the flight. 

I thought that was smart. None of the flight attendant routinely paging to ask someone to volunteer, while everyone plays chicken waiting for more.  They have it all registered in.

Never seen anything as generous as $700!  The most I've gotten is $400, and people usually offer once it gets to $200. 

[johnsmithindustries]

They Pay Me To Fly!

As a pilot I get to have this small realization every now and then and it's a pretty awesome feeling.

[Dexterous]

They Pay Me To Fly!

As a pilot I get to have this small realization every now and then and it's a pretty awesome feeling.

I was actually expecting this to be a new pilot's posting. 

[patrickza]

I always volunteer to be bumped. I generally fly the night before I need to be anywhere, got bumped from a flight to Nairobi, and had to wait 5 hours for $300. Had a great dinner for less than I would have spent in Nairobi, browsed the duty free, spoke to some people I knew in the airport and collected the cash on the other end.

What I need to figure out now is how I can try time my flights so I will get bumped more often...

[CmFtns]

My dad and I volunteered to do this with southwest one time. We were both put on different flights later that day and had layover in 2 different airports but we ended up in our destination only 4-5 hours later than scheduled and with 2 $500+ vouchers.

This is the way to go if it is ever offered and you have the flexibility

[TonyPlush]

I always volunteer to be bumped. I generally fly the night before I need to be anywhere, got bumped from a flight to Nairobi, and had to wait 5 hours for $300. Had a great dinner for less than I would have spent in Nairobi, browsed the duty free, spoke to some people I knew in the airport and collected the cash on the other end.

What I need to figure out now is how I can try time my flights so I will get bumped more often...

Busier flight times, on busier routes, are most often oversold. This means Monday morning flights, Friday afternoon flights, and holidays, and most often between two big airports.

So book your Monday flight at 7:00 AM instead of noon and you will have a better chance at being bumped.

I hear Monday offers all the time but have to pass them for work. Friday offers are a little more rare. In either case, they almost always happen on 6 AM-9 AM Monday flights or 1 PM to 7 PM Friday flights.

My most recent bump came on Easter Sunday night.

[Bicycle_B]

So how long did you have to wait for the next flight?

About 3 hours.

Sorry not to answer earlier - missed it at the time.