Article Travel Leisure Tip

Overbooking is not illegal
and most airlines overbook their scheduled flights to a certain extent in order to compensate for "no-shows." Passengers are sometimes left behind or "bumped" as a result. When an over-sale occurs
the Department of Transportation (DOT) requires airlines to ask people who aren't in a hurry to give up their seats voluntarily
in exchange for compensation. Those passengers bumped against their will are
with a few exceptions
entitled to compensation.

Voluntary bumping

Almost any group of airline passengers includes some people with urgent travel needs and others who may be more concerned about the cost of their tickets than about getting to their destination on time. Our rules require airlines to seek out people who are willing
to give up their seats for some compensation before bumping anyone in- voluntarily.

Here's how this works. At the check-in or boarding area
airline employees will look for volunteers when it appears that the flight has been oversold. If you're not in a rush to arrive at your next destination
you can give your reservation back to the airline in exchange for compensation and a later flight.

But before you do this
you may want to get answers to these important questions:

* When is the next flight on which the airline can confirm your seat? The alternate flight may be just as acceptable to you. On the other hand
if they offer to put you on standby on another flight that's full
you could be stranded.

* Will the airline provide other amenities such as free meals
a hotel room
phone calls
or ground transportation? If not
you might have to spend the money they offer you on food or lodging while you wait for the next flight.

DOT has not said how much the airline has to give volunteers. This means carriers may negotiate with their passengers for a mutually acceptable amount of money-or maybe a free trip or other benefits. Airlines give employees guidelines for bargaining with passengers
and they may select those volunteers willing to sell back their reservations for the lowest price.

If the airline offers you a free ticket
ask about restrictions. How long is the ticket good for? Is it "blacked out" during holiday periods when you might want to use it? Can it be used for international flights? Most importantly
can you make a reservation
and if so
how far before departure are you permitted to make it?

Involuntary bumping

DOT requires each airline to give all passengers who are bumped involuntarily a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier decides who gets on an oversold flight and who doesn't. Those travelers who don't get to fly are frequently entitled to an on-the-spot payment of denied boarding compensation. The amount depends on the price of their ticket and the length of the delay:

* If you are bumped involuntarily and the airline arranges substitute transportation that is scheduled to get you to your final destination (including later connections) within one hour of your original scheduled arrival time
there is no compensation.

If the airline arranges substitute transportation that is scheduled to arrive at your destination between one and two hours after your original arrival time (between one and four hours on international flights)
the airline must pay you an amount equal to your one-way fare to your final destination
with a $200 maximum.

* If the substitute transportation is scheduled to get you to your destination more than two hours later (four hours internationally)
or if the airline does not make any substitute travel arrangements for you
the compensation doubles (200% of your fare
$400 maximum).

* You always get to keep your original ticket and use it on another flight. If you choose to make your own arrangements
you can request an "involuntary refund" for the ticket for the flight you were bumped from. The denied boarding compensation is essentially a payment for your inconvenience.

Like all rules
however
there are a few conditions and exceptions:

* To be eligible for compensation
you must have a confirmed reservation. An "OK" in the Status box of your ticket qualifies you in this regard even if the airline can't find your reservation in the computer
as long as you didn't cancel your reservation or miss a reconfirmation deadline.

* You must meet the airline's deadline for buying your ticket. Discount tickets must usually be purchased within a certain number of days after the reservation was made. Other tickets normally have to be picked up no later than 30 minutes before the flight.

In addition to the ticketing deadline
each airline has a check-in deadline
which is the amount of time before scheduled departure that you must present yourself to the airline at the airport. For domestic flights most carriers have a deadline of 10 minutes before scheduled departure
but some can be an hour or longer. (Many airlines require passengers with advance seat assignments to check in 30 minutes before scheduled departure
even if they already have advance boarding passes. If you miss this deadline you may lose the specific seats you were promised
although not the reservation itself.)

Check-in deadlines on international flights can be as much as three hours before scheduled departure time
due partially to security procedures. Some airlines may simply require you to be at the ticket/baggage counter by this time; most
however
require that you get all the way to the boarding area. If you miss the ticketing or check-in deadline
you may have lost your reservation and your right to compensation if the flight is oversold.

* As noted above
no compensation is due if the airline arranges substitute transportation which is scheduled to arrive at your destination within one hour of your originally scheduled arrival time.

* If the airline must substitute a smaller plane for the one it originally planned to use
the carrier isn't required to pay people who are bumped as a result.

* The rules do not apply to charter flights
or to scheduled flights operated with planes that hold 60 or fewer passengers. They don't apply to international flights inbound to the United States
although some airlines on these routes may follow them voluntarily. Also
if you are flying between two foreign cities-from Paris to Rome
for example-these rules will not apply. The European Community has a rule on bumpings that occur in an EC country; ask the airline for details
or contact DOT.

The most effective way to reduce the risk of being bumped is to get to the airport early. On oversold flights the last passengers to check in are usually the first to be bumped
even if they have met the check-in deadline. Allow extra time; assume that the airport access road is backed up
the parking lot is full
and there is a long line at the check-in counter.

However
if you arrive so early that your airline has another flight to your destination leaving before the one that you are booked on
either switch to the earlier flight or don't check your bag until after the first flight leaves. If you check your bag right away
it might get put on the earlier flight and remain unattended at your destination airport for hours.

Airlines may offer free transportation on future flights in place of a check for denied boarding compensation. However
if you are bumped involuntarily you have the right to insist on a check if that is your preference. Once you cash the check
or accept the free flight
you will probably lose the right to demand more money from the airline later on.

However
if being bumped costs you more money than the airline will pay you at the airport
you can try to negotiate a higher settlement with their complaint department. If this doesn't work
you usually have 30 days from the date on the check to decide if you want to accept the amount of the check.

You are always free to decline the check and take the airline to court to try to obtain more compensation. The government's denied boarding regulation spells out the airlines' minimum obligation to people they bump involuntarily. Finally
don't be a "no-show." If you are holding confirmed reservations you don't plan to use
notify the airline. If you don't
they will cancel all onward or return reservations on your trip.