A good flight made better...

[8gv]

Tuesday I had a seat on SWAIR from Hartford to Tampa. I like Southwest. They're cheap. I'm cheap. It's a good match.

This flight was better than usual though.

As is my habit, I approached the gate desk and asked if they were "over". They were! I became a "voluntary" and risked losing my seat in exchange for a reward. As I walked down the jetway I heard my name called.

JACKPOT!!!!

There was a guy there who arrived last. Somebody would have to get off the plane because it was oversold by one. Since I volunteered, it would be me! He was very thankful because he was scheduled to present at a medical conference and needed to be there. The gate agent was happy because she did not have to deny the guy a seat.

Here's why I was happy:

For the difficult hardship of waiting another 45 minutes to board a different flight (with a connection) and arrive 2-1/2 hours later than planned, I was rewarded with a travel voucher for $485.

Let's see, $485 / 2.5 hours = $178/hr

Yeah, I'm good with that! But it gets better!

I was the last person to board and had trouble finding a seat. My carry on bag ended up being in the bin over row 16 and my middle seat was in row 3. Most would find this to be less than optimum but I was still celebrating my victory at the game of flight over booking.

Until the last twenty minutes of the flight there was no conversation between me and my seat mates, a husband and wife team that flanked me. Then we started discussing our dogs and as happens in these situations, our destinations and home bases.

It turns out this very nice couple resides in the lakes region and the husband participates here.

What a great flight!!!

[camp guy]

Did I miss something, or did you explain why you sat in the middle of a couple? Just asking...!

[8gv]

Originally Posted by camp guy

Did I miss something, or did you explain why you sat in the middle of a couple? Just asking...!

Some folks prefer aisle seats. Some prefer the window. Some prefer separation. On this I shall not speculate. I just figured the middle seat was penance for getting $485.

[brk-lnt]

These days the way flights get cancelled and forever delayed, if I have a confirmed seat on a plane that appears to be leaving on time, I'm not giving it up and risking it.

[tis]

I agree, the money wouldn't be worth it to me. We got delayed in Dec. and had to wait 5 days for the next flight.

[BroadHopper]

There are times flights get 'overbook' and I would volunteer my seat, then there would be an opening in first class at the last minute! But usually I do not have to wait more than 45 minutes for another flight. I fly frequently from DEN to MHT. Many times I would 'swap' from a flight with a couple of stops to a nonstop or even to another airline and arrive at the original time!

[minni on winni]

You can swap to another airline? I don't fly often and usually we have someone at the airport to meet us. So probably wouldn't give up a seat.I think it's great the $ voucher!! Kudos!

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by minni on winni

You can swap to another airline? I don't fly often and usually we have someone at the airport to meet us. So probably wouldn't give up a seat.I think it's great the $ voucher!! Kudos!

Certain Airlines have deals with each other that allow them to reschedule passengers flights onto their "partner" airlines in certain situations. I don't believe companies like SouthWest do this, but the major airlines do to some extent. It used to be extremely common place... I not sure how common it is these days.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

Certain Airlines have deals with each other that allow them to reschedule passengers flights onto their "partner" airlines in certain situations. I don't believe companies like SouthWest do this, but the major airlines do to some extent. It used to be extremely common place... I not sure how common it is these days.

Since Southwest bought Airtran in 2011 they will swap flights and pasengers back and forth. If you attempt to book on Airtran their website shows you what they have and also directs you to their "partner" airline Southwest so that you can see additional options.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by minni on winni

You can swap to another airline? I don't fly often and usually we have someone at the airport to meet us. So probably wouldn't give up a seat.I think it's great the $ voucher!! Kudos!

For general purposes, assume no. In *some* cases you can swap to a partner/codeshare airline. So for example United is part of Star Alliance, you *might* be able to get a swap to Air Canada (another Star Alliance airline), but you won't get on an American (One World) flight.

The other thing is that these days most flights are booked to about 102% of capacity, open seats are pretty rare. 10 years ago, it was easy (and free) to make last minute changes. Get to the airport early? If you're going to a popular place chances are your airline has an earlier flight WITH an open seat. Stuck and traffic and arrive late? No problem, they'll out you on the next flight out. These days though, if you're early, you're hanging in the airport for 3 hours. Late? You might need a hotel room for the night because the next open seat is 15 hours from now.

You're also not getting bumped to first class on any airline without some amount of status. If there is a free FC seat, there's usually 8 people in coach with Gold or higher status that are going to get moved there first.

I do about 60-80K miles per year on average, mostly domestic. Airline travel sucks these days, it's nothing but a constant pain in the ass.

[8gv]

As noted above, one needs to have to flexibility to partake in being bumped.

I'm retired so it would be on a rare flight that I couldn't say yes.

When our three kids were younger we frequently flew to Orlando or Tampa. Delta would over book in a big way during Christmas week and other school vacations. Several times they were happy to take all five of us off the plane.

On one trip they:

flew us to Dallas
covered transportation to and from the airport
put us up in a hotel
paid for dinner and breakfast
got us to Tampa by 11:00 the next day
gave us five more round trip tickets!!!

We were due in at 11pm the previous night. We had nothing planned in the twelve hours we missed and the kids loved the adventure!

[Rich]

Good for you (those that like to play these games and try to 'win')!

I've been traveling by air for 20 years, and I'm very tired of it!! I usually can't wait to get home. I've spend too many nights or long hours sitting in an airport waiting for a flight home. Those airport seats are not comfortable at all. Or, if I'm on an outbound flight, I can't be late as I'll miss business appointments.

There's not much I hate worse than sitting on a plane. I'm rarely comfortable and my back is usualy in some sort of pain. On travel days "Aleve" is my best friend!

I prefer aisle seats as it gives me a bit more room and less of a chance of the person in the seat next to me leaning on me, or falling asleep on me. Plus, if I want to get to the rest room, or need to stand to stretch, I can do it without bothering 2 other people. But taking an aisle seat I have a greater chance of being bumped by the refreshment cart or people just smacking me with their elbow, or bag as they get on or off the plane (I had a set of expen$sive noise cancelling head phones smashed while I was wearing them by another passenger once).

So to me, you taking that extra payment is worth it to me to allow me to get on my flight and get home on time. So thank you very much!

Perhaps someday (maybe when I'm retired), I'll like traveling by air again (it was fun for the first 3 to 5 years). But for now, it's getting very old.

Is it boating season yet?

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

You're also not getting bumped to first class on any airline without some amount of status. If there is a free FC seat, there's usually 8 people in coach with Gold or higher status that are going to get moved there first.

Looks like I got lucky, I just show them my frequent flyer card.

I know a woman from Manchester named Barbara Walters. She doesn't look like the one we know, but she sure gets first class service!

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by brk-lnt

You're also not getting bumped to first class on any airline without some amount of status. If there is a free FC seat, there's usually 8 people in coach with Gold or higher status that are going to get moved there first.

I do about 60-80K miles per year on average, mostly domestic. Airline travel sucks these days, it's nothing but a constant pain in the ass.

brk-Int --- I am so with you !!

I am consistent Platinum Status on Delta, and have mid range status on two other airlines (speaks to my yearly miles in the air) and TOTALLY agree flying these days sucks (sorry ladies)!

To your point about seats up front -- even as a Platinum member there are way too many Diamonds (125k+ flyers) scooping up the upgrades. The only benefit of "Status" is their hotline, which is awesome in times of need for rebooking due to cancelations or my personal schedule changes -- oh ya, with Status they waive the rebook fee too.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Looks like I got lucky, I just show them my frequent flyer card.

I know a woman from Manchester named Barbara Walters. She doesn't look like the one we know, but she sure gets first class service!

Your frequent flier number is already on your ticket, showing the card isn't going to do anything for you.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by Phantom

brk-Int --- I am so with you !!

I am consistent Platinum Status on Delta, and have mid range status on two other airlines (speaks to my yearly miles in the air) and TOTALLY agree flying these days sucks (sorry ladies)!

To your point about seats up front -- even as a Platinum member there are way too many Diamonds (125k+ flyers) scooping up the upgrades. The only benefit of "Status" is their hotline, which is awesome in times of need for rebooking due to cancelations or my personal schedule changes -- oh ya, with Status they waive the rebook fee too.

Right, the flexibility and priority rebooking is the biggest benefit. Or, when I take my wife on a business trip to Hawaii or Phoenix I can book us first-class straight through for free (well, i think you have to pay $10 for taxes or something). The penalty for the free flight is 100 nights away from home and countless frustrations

Oh well, for those of you will flexible schedules and no deadlines, please continue to take the bumps I'd gladly pay an EXTRA $200 to get home on time.

[8gv]

I agree with the comments about the seats being uncomfortable. My back side gets plenty sore after three hours.

In my own plane, a two seater, I can fly three three hour legs to get to FL with zero pain.

Sometimes I wonder if it relates to activity and distraction. I can drive my car about fifteen hours straight but wince at the thought of being a passenger for more than three.

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

I know a woman from Manchester named Barbara Walters. She doesn't look like the one we know, but she sure gets first class service!

How many forum members know that she graduated from our own Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro.

I used to travel between 50 and 100k miles per year on business. It was always a Catch-22. While I hated the travel, I certainly enjoyed the perks that came with being a frequent flyer that this level.

If only I had reached the lifetime perks level...

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

How many forum members know that she graduated from our own Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro.

Finally, a link to the Lakes Region.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

[DickR]

Originally Posted by Rich

.....
I prefer aisle seats as it gives me ..... less of a chance of the person in the seat next to me leaning on me, or falling asleep on me.

Wouldn't that depend on what she looked like?

[minni on winni]

I think the original link to the lakes region was the couple seated in the aisle and window seat. They were from the lakes region and were also familiar with the forum

[8gv]

Originally Posted by minni on winni

I think the original link to the lakes region was the couple seated in the aisle and window seat. They were from the lakes region and were also familiar with the forum

Yes, there's that but did I mention $485

[Rich]

Originally Posted by 8gv

I agree with the comments about the seats being uncomfortable. My back side gets plenty sore after three hours.

In my own plane, a two seater, I can fly three three hour legs to get to FL with zero pain.

Sometimes I wonder if it relates to activity and distraction. I can drive my car about fifteen hours straight but wince at the thought of being a passenger for more than three.

Yes.. best solution I've found so far: pop two Aleve before I leave my home for the flight. They work better and last longer than other brands.

[Phantom]

Originally Posted by Rich

Yes.. best solution I've found so far: pop two Aleve before I leave my home for the flight. They work better and last longer than other brands.

My best solution is to pop an extra one of my "Blood Pressure" meds .....


Oh, sorry, you were talking about aches and pains ..... I was referring to pain in the A___


.

[8gv]

$485 buys a lot of OTC relief...

[dpg]

That happened to my wife and myself a few years ago heading to Cancun. The flight was looking for two seats trying to keep a family of four together. We gave up our seats for a flight that left 1 hour later (yes one hour) and they put us in first class cause that's all the seats that were open. All in all a good start to our vacation week. Oh, did I mention the 400.00 credit for each of us which we used the following year? The dollar amount always starts out low for a credit and as they get more and more desperate they increase it. I jumped on it at 400.00 but they started at 250.00.

[jbg]

Just remember, the credit received from the airline for giving up your seat is usually only good for 1 year.

[BroadHopper]

9 tips for coping with cancellations
You can take steps to reduce the inconvenience and stress of flight cancellations.

• Buy tickets from a travel agent. You'll pay a small fee, perhaps $20 or $30. But a good agent watches your itinerary and, if your connection is canceled, re-books you on another flight while you're in the air, Murphy says. You can waltz off the plane and onto your next flight while your fellow passengers scramble to find new accommodations.
• Consider trip insurance. But be realistic about the coverage. For example, American Airlines says on its website:

Trip cancellation coverage will only refund prepaid, nonrefundable payments if you have to cancel for an unexpected covered reason. Covered reasons may include sudden medical emergencies, death of a family member or traveling companion, certain terrorist acts, being called for jury duty, or bad weather that completely shuts down your common carrier.

• Get early warnings. Download your airline's app onto your phone and sign up for flight alerts. Be sure the airline has your phone number and email address. Keep an eye on Flight Aware while traveling, to learn immediately if your flight's been grounded. The sooner you learn of trouble, the faster you can act.
• Get re-booked. Line up at the customer service counter and, at the same time, call the airline's toll-free number. Try getting re-booked to fly out on your current airline or another. If you find a flight on another airline, ask your first carrier to endorse your ticket to the new airline.
• Stay open to alternatives. When re-booking, try other airports or other cities near your destination. Try Amtrak, buses and even car rentals. (Before renting a car, ask about drop fees and mileage charges for one-way trips.)
• Mind your P's and Q's. When asking overwhelmed airline personnel for help, remember that they didn't cause the problem. Try to be gracious, if for no other reason than it'll get you further.
• Buy a one-day upgrade. If you're stuck in an airport and you don't belong to your airline's frequent-flier club, purchase a day pass for about $50. You get entry to a comfortable lounge and use of the loyalty program's hotline, advises The Associated Press. The main benefit, though, is that members get better, quicker access to help from airline personnel in the lounge.
• Travel in Europe. European Union laws are more generous than those in the U.S., says USA Today. Your airline must provide meals and "a hotel stay when the cancellation results in an overnight layover and a full reimbursement when the cancellation delays the passenger for five hours or more."
• Crucial last words. Don't leave home with a maxed-out credit card.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by jbg

Just remember, the credit received from the airline for giving up your seat is usually only good for 1 year.

You can also sell your credits if you are, or know someone, who uses ebay or craigslist. I fly jetBlue mostly and buy credits from people any time I see them offered. I haven't paid full price for a flight in a long time.