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Get Bumped? You're entitled to CASH, not a voucher!



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 31st, 2003, 11:05 AM
None
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Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 01:18 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 01:54 PM
None
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 03:08 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 04:05 PM
mrtravel
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 04:07 PM
Scott Dorsey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 07:17 PM
None
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 07:39 PM
mrtravel
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 11:44 PM
Miguel Cruz
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Posts: n/a
Default 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  
Old October 31st, 2003, 11:56 PM
None
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default 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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