Summary
- Elite status members are least likely to get involuntarily bumped from flights.
- Check-in timing and pre-assigned seats impact your chances of getting bumped.
- Arriving early, selecting off-peak flights, and boosting your frequent flier status can reduce bumping risk.
Have you ever gotten bumped from a flight that you were booked on? Did you hold a frequent flier membership with the airline? Did you have elite status with the airline? Airlines are known to overbook flights in the hope of maximizing their occupancy rate and flight revenues. This is usually done in anticipation of some passengers falling short due to last-minute cancelations, no-shows, or simply missing the flight after having checked in at the counter.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
While airlines hope to balance out overbookings with cancelations and no-shows, sometimes it comes down to having a little too many passengers trying to board the same flight. Airlines must bump some passengers, but how do they decide? Does your frequent flier membership and elite status benefit you in such circumstances?
Do frequent fliers get bumped from flights?
The process generally begins with the airline offering vouchers (airline credits, flights, cash, etc.) to volunteers before actually denying boarding. There may be some negotiation between the airline and potential takers, where the airline may uphold its original offer. In most cases, they are able to find enough volunteers to proceed with the flight. If they don’t, they have to decide who to bump.
While there are no written criteria that prevent frequent flier program members from getting bumped, it is least likely to happen based on a number of factors. First, having an elite status with the airline generally means that you are entitled to certain perks, such as complimentary seat selection, check-in, and boarding. Those perks alone make a huge difference in determining that you would least likely be the one being involuntarily bumped.
Photo: Universal Air
A general rule of thumb from most likely to least likely may look like:
|
Most likely to be bumped |
Least likely to be bumped |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Very late check-in passengers |
Non-revenue passengers |
Bulk fares |
Discounted fares |
Elite status holders/partner status |
Full fare passengers |
It is noteworthy that having a pre-assigned seat also makes a big difference in your chances of getting bumped. As mentioned above, elite status members generally get priority check-in, which allows them to check in and have seats selected (even if they do not have complimentary seat selection) sooner than others.
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As such, the chances of getting bumped are extremely rare. On the other hand, people who check in very late and have to wait for the seat assignment at the gate are most likely to get bumped if it comes to that. As highlighted by App in the air, passengers flying without the elite status with the airline often find themselves lower on the airline priority seating compared to those having a tier status, generally guaranteeing seat retention during overbooked flight situations.
Photo: David Tran Photo | Shutterstock
Don’t have a frequent flier status?
These tips would help to reduce the likelihood of getting bumped
Most global airlines have made it fairly easy for travelers to achieve a frequent flier status. As a member, there are numerous ways to accumulate airline miles or points, including credit card spending, hotel stays, car rentals, and online shopping. However, there are still many who travel without a frequent flier status.
- Arrive early: Arriving early at the airport, checking in (if you haven’t already), and getting a seat assignment dramatically lowers your chances of being bumped. This is because airlines generally look for latecomers when they need volunteers.
- Select off–peak flights: Flights during less busy periods significantly decrease the chances of being overbooked. Most early morning or late evening flights might be the way to avoid being bumped due to overbooked flights.
- Know which airlines bump the most: Have some knowledge about the airline you are traveling with, particularly when you have no flexibility in your travel plan. Frontier and Spirit Airlines are known to bump passengers the most in the United States.
- Register for and boost your frequent flier status: As mentioned earlier, numerous ways exist to accumulate airline miles. It is always a good idea to register for the frequent flyer program with your airline and start accumulating miles. One can accumulate miles fairly quickly by using multiple streams, such as flights, co-branded credit card spending, and shopping with select vendors.
Photo: ShutterStockStudio | Shutterstock
Which US airlines bump the most?
The April 2023 Air Travel Consumer Report shows bump rates for major US airlines:
- Frontier Airlines had the highest likelihood, having bumped 2,442 passengers (approximately 4 in every 10,000) during the first quarter of 2023.
- American Airlines had similar numbers during the period, bumping 2,069 passengers.
- Southwest Airlines showed much lower bump rates, with 610 passengers bumped between January and March 2023.
- Spirit Airlines followed closely with 444 bumps during the period.
- Alaska Airlines bumped the lowest number of people, just 66 during the first quarter last year.
Related
Frontier Airlines Involuntarily Bumps Passengers More Than Any Other US Airline
More than eight times as likely to involuntarily deny boarding as the next airline.
Notably, the statistics include passengers who received denied boarding compensation and those who did not qualify for compensation because of one of the exceptions in the Oversales rule.
What do you think is important to have a frequent flier status to avoid getting bumped from flights? Have you ever been bumped while having a frequent flier status? Share your experience in the comments section.