Several people have asked my opinion about the current United Airlines debacle. I guess, because down through the years I have written much about the possible financial benefits of being bumped from an airline flight, they feel I am an “expert” on all airline subjects.
Actually I really have no opinion on the current controversy and certainly have no advice for United. I’m sure they have a multitude of lawyers and PR people working on the problem. And this issue is with the airlines “involuntary bumping” procedures, that is, denying people a seat when they already have a firm pre-paid reservation. Brad and I are experts in the total opposite procedure which is volunteering to give up our reserved seats. In fact, when Brad and I first saw the dragging video on TV, we looked at each other and immediately had the same thought. Too bad he and I weren’t on that flight; we could have saved United possibly millions of dollars they may have to be shelling out because of this incident – and scored a nice financial bonus ourselves!
We don’t earn “airline comps” – what we have called volunteer bump money – as much as we used to when 33 years ago we started flying from our home in Indianapolis to visit casinos in Las Vegas and all over the US and overseas. For one thing, we don’t have the energy to travel as much as when we were younger and we aren’t as anxious to earn money by spending extra hours in an airport. And since we moved to Vegas permanently, we are already in our #1 casino destination. Also we have found that the airlines have been doing a better job the last few years – thanks to “big data” analysis – in estimating just how much they need to overbook to come very close in achieving full – but not over-full – flights. The need for bump volunteers has not disappeared but, in our experience, has decreased considerably.
That said, I have been surprised that the bumping procedure has not changed much the last 33 years. When I started writing my new majorly-updated Frugal book, I carefully re-read my previous ones. Although so much has changed in the casino world, when I looked through The Frugal Gambler, my first book, written in 1998, the only chapter that had almost no out-of-date details was the one talking about making money with airline bumps. (A good reason why Frugal 1 is still a terrific buy at the sale price offered at ShopLVA since I didn’t have room for that subject in the new book. However, if you fly to get to your casino destination, there are still tricks you can use that might lead to possible ways to add to your gambling bankroll before you even arrive in the casino.)
We still use the very same techniques we used 30+ years ago when we are interested in possible bumps, checking in with the gate agent as early as possible to see if they are starting a volunteer bump list. We like to be at the top of that list. And even after we board, we listen carefully to see whether they will announce a last-minute juicy bonus for people to give up their seats. Some frugal habits just refuse to die!
This is my first time to Vegas. I’m 53 and going with my sisters. This information was very helpful! Thank you. Kim.
Love, love, love the bump. I’ve earned at least a dozen free flights to Vegas over the years getting off and waiting. Almost got a “double bump” a couple times. Got on the list for the second flight but there were just enough open seats both times for us not to hit the jackpot.
I don’t understand why in the United Airline case they did not simply keep offering more money as a incentive to get someone to get off the plane. Everyone has a price. I heard Delta now can offer as much as $8000 to change flights. For$ 8000 I’ll walk home!
It’s 300 miles so more like a 5 hour drive so I can see the passenger not wanting to do it but the airline could have rented a car and made their employees drive it.
It’s possible the bumpee may have been asleep and didn’t hear the announcement, or not fluent enough in English to understand why he was being bumped. Perhaps he was over medicated…he appeared confused in one video.
You probably will think I’m crazy but Delta was offering a $1200 voucher for anyone giving up their seat(s) on a flight we took from Las Vegas a few weeks ago. We did not take advantage of it because of one reason: We were babysitting my first grandchild the next day! LOL! 3-month old baby trumps airline voucher!!!!
I’m with you Jean. My wife and I used to make an easy $2400 in vouchers every year just by annually booking the last flight to Los Angeles or Las Vegas out of Newark, NJ on the Eve of Thanksgiving. We would also negotiate in that our morning flight, a mere 7 hours later, would need to be a first class seat (which they always obliged since the upgrades for their frequent fliers do not go through until much closer to flight time and first class rarely sells out). The most difficult part for us was knowing how long to wait to volunteer. If you waited too long, you sometimes lost the bump. But never on Thanksgiving.
As to the United situation…I’m sure you think like us and would have gladly traded a three hour car ride (they would have certainly paid for the rental car) for an $800 or so voucher. If I was Dr. Feelgood (I would have refused to leave unless they offered me this and the same for his wife. Heck, I can’t remember the last time I got paid $267 an hour (or $533 combined) to drive for three hours.
What made me curious is that the United flight was going from Chicago to Louisville–what, a three-hour drive? There aren’t taxis or limos in Chicago? Or charter aircraft available at one of the world’s largest airports? They couldn’t have gotten their employees to Louisville one of those ways?
In any event, this suggests a refinement of the Frugal tactic. That flight was on a Sunday night, and even an $800 inducement wasn’t enough to get anybody to give up their seat. So I suggest that people wanting to get bumped should pick Sunday night as their travel time, and hopefully their untravel time. That has been the time when I’ve gotten the best bribes to get bumped.