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Which airlines are you most likely to get kicked off?
According to the Department of Transportation, more people were involuntarily bumped from their flights last year than in over a decade. The total comes to a whopping 63,000 very angry passengers who had no choice but to give up their seats because of an overbooked flight.An additional 620,000 passengers voluntarily gave up their seats last year to get those free-flight vouchers and other goodies the airlines dangle. So which airlines have the worst habit of overbooking? Delta had the highest rate of involuntary bumps followed by Continental.
An involuntary bump really sucks. What if you had to urgently get somewhere? Or what if the next flight leaves two days later? What if your $3,000 cruise will be leaving the port without you unless you get on the flight?
The silver lining here is that the DOT is thinking about mandating airlines to give passengers up to $400 who are bumped, but end up flying out within 2 hours. The vouchers would escalate to $800 for longer delays.
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You'd hate to get kicked off Singapore Airlines, with their amazing new A380 -- it has a king-size bed! Check it out:
Gallery: Singapore Airlines' Airbus A380
Filed under: Airlines
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jyl Feb 9th 2008 7:17AM
It's about time something was done to these airlines for overbooking. People schedule those flights because they need to be a certain place at a certain time. These airlined need stiff penalties for overbooking and bumping people off of their assigned filghts. Besides fining them, they need to give that person an open flight ticket to use at thier leisure. If I missed my cruise boat because of overbooking I'd be more than irritated. I'd demand compensation!!!
ginny Feb 9th 2008 7:30AM
I had to fight to get my vouchers for being bumped off my flight along with 14 others in our group. Rep tried to tell me that we were late, I said no your plane was late getting us here and our connecting plane was still here but they bumped us. And if we missed our connection then how did one of our group with us get on that plane??? While being stranded for 3 days in Atlanta met alot of people who had been bumped due to overbooking sometimes by as much as 80 people!!!!!!Ours had been overbooked by 18. Delta did do right by us after many hours waiting for a rep on the phone.
Elise Feb 9th 2008 9:03AM
On US Air, being bumped was the last of many, many, many insults. Our party of 7 booked our flights together and with connections flew 5 different planes. Despite this, we sat all across the plane, including separating me from my two children (imagine if you were the passenger sitting next to my child while I was across the plane!!! Would you want to deal with him when he got bored, tired or just wanted to chat?). We had a dream vacation spoiled ONLY by our flights. On the trip home one of our party was moved to "standby." We were assured that she would have access to the flight and would not be left in a country by herself where she didn't speak the language. Keeping their promise, she boarded and was instead bumped in Pittsburgh. She was promised a voucher for a hotel, a meal and taxi fare. She was given a $14 voucher for a meal for herself and her husband who voluntarily stayed and cab fare to a hotel where the room wasn't very clean. Arriving at the airport on time for their flight they were told that she was bumped again and they would have to wait 5 hours for the next flight. If I was a paranoid person, I would think she was picked out for horrible treatment. Ask me about my once in a lifetime vacation and you will be regaled with stories of how we were mistreated by US Air as soon as I have mentioned the highlights. Anyway, thanks, US Air for making our dream vacation truly memorable.
H Marino Feb 9th 2008 9:19AM
I work for the airline and also am glad to hear they'll finally crack
down on us for overselling. These decisions are made to oversell by
the big wigs in their ivory tower, yet the ground employees have to
face the brunt of all the understandably angry passengers. I would
love to see it cost the airline more money, therefore they would do
it alot less. Greed is very obviously the bottom line.
xev Feb 9th 2008 9:47AM
how about before you buy your tickets they have to let you know (visual and or audio)what airlines are currantly"overbooking" (unless theres a storm or emergancy currently happening then you have to understand and get over it ) so you can make a choice thats informed ( i wonder how fast theyll get their acts together then ?)
Doug Feb 9th 2008 9:59AM
I agree...nobody should be bumped...BUT ALSO....People who blow off the flight SHOULD BE FINED alot of money...thats why airlines overbook...because many people dont show up everyday..YOU CANT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!!!!!
Robb Feb 11th 2008 3:48PM
People "blowing off" a flight don't get fined, they forfeit the fare, a considerable amount. Airlines are just another corporation sucking on our wallet.
Kevin Feb 9th 2008 12:09PM
If they don't show up the airline already has their money. By filling that seat they get paid twice.
Julie Raney Feb 9th 2008 10:26AM
It's time airlines were held accountable. We have terrible memories from a trip with United. We were coming back from Europe, my husband, myself, two young children and two elderly parents, and missed our connection to a United flight in London due to our connecting flight being late. Well, we were delayed three days because United couldn't get us home. They were offering other passengers a way to our hometown, but refused to offer us the same deal. They claimed the flights were booked. At one point, we asked to speak to a manager at the customer service desk, and were told by the employee we were speaking to that she "had no boss!" It was just one fiasco after another. We told them we were willing to split up in order to get home. Well, my husband and his dad were told they could board on one flight, only to be kicked off because United had miscounted. I could go on and on. It just seemed like a nightmare. We try to avoid flying United whenever possible!!!!
Speedy Feb 9th 2008 11:03AM
I have read most of these comments and I must say, they generally scare the bejeezes out of me. Last summer, I booked a flight aboard North Western Airlines into China from Tampa, and I connected with each flight--on time!! My luggage arrived in China unscathed and all flights were a wonderful experience, but I must make the same trip again this summer and after reading all the nighmares, I do have concerns. Perhaps the first flight was beginners luck?
K. Goodrich Feb 9th 2008 11:12AM
It is about time!!! A group of 11 were bumped off Air France at de Gaulle flying to Detroit. We checked in at out starting location (Spain) and transferred over in Paris. By the time the late partner airlines got to Paris, we had 30 minutes to spare. They made us go through customs and security again and we arrived at the gate with 12 minutes to spare. They wouldn't let us on the plane because they said the pilot wanted to go early and had left. We saw the shuttle at the door waiting and then it took off to the plane. We found out they had given our seats away to previously bumped travellers. It took us an additional 24 hours to get home and we had to rebook with minimal assistance from Air France. When I contacted Air France, there response was "Oh well". Nice!!!!
I have told all my friends not to fly Air France!!!
Deborah Feb 9th 2008 11:49AM
My sister and I were supposed to meet in Vegas on Dec 23, my dads birthday and spend 4 days together there. United called her a couple hours before her flight and cancelled her non-stop flight due to the crew all calling in sick. They assured her she would be on a morning flight on Christmas eve. The next morning they again called her at home and told her the flight was again cancelled due to crew simply not showing up. I guess they wanted to spend their holiday with their families, but didn't care that they were committed to work on those days and were ruining the holday plans of the passengers. They then told her they could get her on a flight with 2 connections, one in Denver that you may remember had people sleeping at the airport due to bad weather. Her original flight was a non-stop one. By then I had spent two days alone at a Vegas casino and she had been waiting two days to take her flight. Our trip was only going to be 4 days anyway. We had non-refundable tickets that were lost, etc. I eventually paid a small fortune to Continental and got her in around 11pm Christmas eve. Thanks to Continentals employees for actually going to work on their committed shifts. They saved the back end of our little trip. At least United refunded the tickets, and gave her a voucher. Never again though, United.
Wayne R. Feb 9th 2008 11:50AM
Boy it's not so bad having to drive the intercontinental United States. I have a short temper and I'm sure I 'd of been arrested for assault by now. I'm surprised more of these little pipsqueaks asses aren't beaten everyday, it's truly amazing.
pyo Feb 9th 2008 12:03PM
When my husband and I went to Ireland on our honeymoon we were bumped off our flight for four straight days. We were retired and it did not matter and every day we got $400 each and were put up in a beautiful hotel and given free meal tickets for every day. We got to spend three days in Dublin, loved it and came home with money to put in the bank......so getting bumped is not always bad if you are not in a hurry.
Doug Feb 9th 2008 12:44PM
Flying is a PRIVELAGE not a RIGHT.....When you buy a ticket...you are purchasing travel, from point A to point B, arriving sometime alive. PERIOD...If you get from point A to point B SOMETIME ALIVE you got what you paid for. PERIOD
Ashley Feb 9th 2008 1:15PM
You seroiusly must be high! Are you out of your damn mind???? It is not a privelage, it is a PURCHASE dumbass! You buy something, you get it, period.
mikem Feb 9th 2008 9:38PM
what kind of retard are you it is a privalage not a right what does that mean. when you pull in and spend 60.00 to fill your gas tank is it ok not to get your gas. The airlines sell a service when you pay for a service you should get what you pay for not get excuses and delays. If you truly beleive what you say then how about letting me sell you some tickets.
marc Feb 10th 2008 2:02PM
whats happening airline nazi? what you said might be true if there was one state-run airline and that was the policy people were forced to adhere to. fortunately for those of us who enjoy democracy and freedom of choice, there are many airlines to choose from, all of which should be vying for my dollar. it's called competition, and it is their privilege to be able to offer me an enjoyable flight, otherwise it is my privilege to choose another airline the next time i fly.
JEFF Feb 9th 2008 1:02PM
Contenental is the worst. First bumped and then lost luggage. And this was my honeymoon! I sued them and won. I hate Continenetal. they stink
JEFF Feb 9th 2008 1:03PM
Continental bumped us and then lost our luggage, and this was our honeymoon!
The travel agency said we were all confirmed but it didn't mater.