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#1
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
(CNN) -- Anyone who has traveled lately knows that planes are jam-packed.
And more passengers than ever are getting bumped. Do you know what to do if this happens to you? According to the October Department of Transportation Consumer Report, airlines involuntarily bumped 23,480 passengers from January through June of this year. That's up from 16,641 involuntary bumps during the same period in 2002. But airlines are quick to point out that the chances of being involuntarily forced from a flight are small overall -- roughly one person is bumped for every 10,000 passengers boarded. But the key word in the airlines' statement is "involuntarily." Thousands more were "voluntarily" bumped -- and there's a big difference between the two I want compensation! Let's look at involuntary bumping first. According to U.S. Department of Transportation rules, if you show up for your flight on time, and the airline can't accommodate you, you are entitled to compensation -- depending on how inconvenienced you are. If the airline can get you on another flight, and get you to your destination within one hour of your original arrival time, you get nothing. If the replacement flight gets you to your destination between one and two hours late, you are entitled to a cash payment of up to $200. If you get there more than two hours late, you are entitled to a cash payment of up to $400. Ask for cash Don't let the airlines try and buy you off with an offer of a free ticket, or a travel voucher -- they owe you cash if you are involuntarily bumped, and subsequently delayed. Federal law requires this. (And remember, this only applies to involuntary bumping. The airline does not owe you cash if your flight is delayed, or canceled.) Voluntary bumps When you volunteer to be bumped, the free market reigns. Some airlines offer travel vouchers of a certain amount -- usually starting at about $250 -- which can be redeemed to buy tickets for future flights. Other airlines offer free roundtrip tickets, good for travel for up to a year. Sometimes, in situations where there are few volunteers and lots of people, the airline is going to have to compensate with cash payments, so they will increase the offer. They'll offer vouchers for higher dollar values, or offer free trips that include Hawaii or Europe, for example. Bump strategy It's best to volunteer to be bumped on morning flights because it will be easier for the airline to find a seat for you on a later flight going to your destination. Sometimes it really pays off because you'll only be delayed for an hour or two. The key is to volunteer ahead of time -- if it looks like a flight is going to be overbooked, ask the gate agent when the next available flight is to your destination. If it's only a few hours, and you are flexible, go for it! It's an easy way to pay for your next vacation. |
#2
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
The only problem with all this is that if the airline gets enough
people to accept vouchers voluntarily then you don't get bumped at all and get nothing but your original flight. They aren't that stupid. On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 10:05:01 GMT, "None" wrote: (CNN) -- Anyone who has traveled lately knows that planes are jam-packed. And more passengers than ever are getting bumped. Do you know what to do if this happens to you? According to the October Department of Transportation Consumer Report, airlines involuntarily bumped 23,480 passengers from January through June of this year. That's up from 16,641 involuntary bumps during the same period in 2002. But airlines are quick to point out that the chances of being involuntarily forced from a flight are small overall -- roughly one person is bumped for every 10,000 passengers boarded. But the key word in the airlines' statement is "involuntarily." Thousands more were "voluntarily" bumped -- and there's a big difference between the two I want compensation! Let's look at involuntary bumping first. According to U.S. Department of Transportation rules, if you show up for your flight on time, and the airline can't accommodate you, you are entitled to compensation -- depending on how inconvenienced you are. If the airline can get you on another flight, and get you to your destination within one hour of your original arrival time, you get nothing. If the replacement flight gets you to your destination between one and two hours late, you are entitled to a cash payment of up to $200. If you get there more than two hours late, you are entitled to a cash payment of up to $400. Ask for cash Don't let the airlines try and buy you off with an offer of a free ticket, or a travel voucher -- they owe you cash if you are involuntarily bumped, and subsequently delayed. Federal law requires this. (And remember, this only applies to involuntary bumping. The airline does not owe you cash if your flight is delayed, or canceled.) Voluntary bumps When you volunteer to be bumped, the free market reigns. Some airlines offer travel vouchers of a certain amount -- usually starting at about $250 -- which can be redeemed to buy tickets for future flights. Other airlines offer free roundtrip tickets, good for travel for up to a year. Sometimes, in situations where there are few volunteers and lots of people, the airline is going to have to compensate with cash payments, so they will increase the offer. They'll offer vouchers for higher dollar values, or offer free trips that include Hawaii or Europe, for example. Bump strategy It's best to volunteer to be bumped on morning flights because it will be easier for the airline to find a seat for you on a later flight going to your destination. Sometimes it really pays off because you'll only be delayed for an hour or two. The key is to volunteer ahead of time -- if it looks like a flight is going to be overbooked, ask the gate agent when the next available flight is to your destination. If it's only a few hours, and you are flexible, go for it! It's an easy way to pay for your next vacation. |
#3
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
wrote in message ... The only problem with all this is that if the airline gets enough people to accept vouchers voluntarily then you don't get bumped at all and get nothing but your original flight. They aren't that stupid. Oh, but they are. Airlines invol passengers all the time and managers instruct their gate agents to list them as "voluntary" because they hand them a voucher and get them to sign the release. Many people aren't aware of the cash law, and the airlines take full advantage of that because they don't tell them, which they are supposed to do. International passengers get jerked around the most because they aren't aware of U.S. travel laws. I was involuntarily bumped twice this year, both times I demanded cash compensation, and both times the agents had to check with management, because the agent wasn't aware even, that the cash law existed. Of course, they offered a voucher, which I quickly turned down. Why take a stinking 200 dollar voucher that the airline will write off, when 400 in cold hard cash is what I am owed? If you don't teach them, they'll never learn. |
#4
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
On Fri, 31 Oct 2003 12:54:23 GMT, "None" wrote:
wrote in message .. . The only problem with all this is that if the airline gets enough people to accept vouchers voluntarily then you don't get bumped at all and get nothing but your original flight. They aren't that stupid. Oh, but they are. Airlines invol passengers all the time and managers instruct their gate agents to list them as "voluntary" because they hand them a voucher and get them to sign the release. Oh really? And just what proof do you have of this other than just posting it and making some claim? Many people aren't aware of the cash law, and the airlines take full advantage of that because they don't tell them, which they are supposed to do. International passengers get jerked around the most because they aren't aware of U.S. travel laws. Says who? Show me where it says that the airlines have to tell a passenger what the law is. And again some me some proof you have of international passengers getting jerked around. When airlines think that they may need to bump someone they ask for volunteers. If they need them, they offer compensation, usually vouchers. They have absolutely no obligation to offer anyone cash nor to tell them that they can refuse and if involuntarily bumped can get cash. Only if they don't get enough volunteers do they have to involuntarily bump someone and then give them their options. If a passenger isn't aware of the law, that's their problem not the airlines. Ever hear that ignorance of the law is no excuse? I was involuntarily bumped twice this year, both times I demanded cash compensation, and both times the agents had to check with management, because the agent wasn't aware even, that the cash law existed. Of course, they offered a voucher, which I quickly turned down. Why take a stinking 200 dollar voucher that the airline will write off, when 400 in cold hard cash is what I am owed? So that makes all agents for the airlines involved the same? Or all airlines the same? Your post is typical of all those that have some bad experience (real or imagined) then go out and blame a whole industry for one or two incidents (being perfect themselves, of course). If you don't teach them, they'll never learn. Since you're so good, why don't you go out and turn around the airline industry then? |
#5
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
None wrote:
wrote in message ... The only problem with all this is that if the airline gets enough people to accept vouchers voluntarily then you don't get bumped at all and get nothing but your original flight. They aren't that stupid. Oh, but they are. Airlines invol passengers all the time and managers instruct their gate agents to list them as "voluntary" because they hand them a voucher and get them to sign the release. Nonsense. |
#6
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
wrote:
The only problem with all this is that if the airline gets enough people to accept vouchers voluntarily then you don't get bumped at all and get nothing but your original flight. They aren't that stupid. And, if you play the game properly, you can get a voucher worth considerably more than the cost of your flight. If you're going to be flying soon anyway, it's well worth it. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#7
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
wrote in message ... Show me where it says that the airlines have to tell a passenger what the law is. The airlines most certainly ARE obligated to explain a passenger's options to them when they are denying boarding (involuntary bumping) to a passenger who that airline already sold a confirmed ticket to. Get off your high horse and show ME where it says they airlines are NOT obligated to explain a passengers options to them. Involuntary bumping is frowned upon. Thats when airlines blatantly sell and take money for something (a seat) that they don't have. |
#8
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
None wrote:
wrote in message ... Show me where it says that the airlines have to tell a passenger what the law is. The airlines most certainly ARE obligated to explain a passenger's options to them when they are denying boarding (involuntary bumping) to a passenger who that airline already sold a confirmed ticket to. Get off your high horse and show ME where it says they airlines are NOT obligated to explain a passengers options to them. It is difficult to find laws about what someone does NOT have to do..... I assume this is why he wanted you to point him to one that says they have to do this. |
#9
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
None wrote:
Get off your high horse and show ME where it says they airlines are NOT obligated to explain a passengers options to them. Show me where it says you are NOT obligated to give me everything in your wallet. miguel -- See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/ |
#10
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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!
"Miguel Cruz" vomited and out came: Show me where it says you are NOT obligated to give me everything in your wallet. miguel You MUST work for AA - that is strictly an AMR attitude. |
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