OVERBOOKED FLIGHTS

PHIL Bloomfield, head of PR at Cheapflights.co.uk, says: “If you can be flexible and are prepared to set aside your traditional British reserve, then it can pay to be a bit brazen in the event of an airline overbooking your flight – just don’t expect a guaranteed outcome.”

Gilbert Orr, founder of frequentflier blog God Save the Points, recommends website expertflyer. com, which has a tool to show how many seats are left on any given flight. The fewer seats left, the more likely it is to be overbooked.

“At check-in, if volunteers are needed to be bumped, ask to be put on the list. Then stick around the gate area,” he says.

“Bumps are fast and swift, so even if you are first on the list, but not at the gate when your name is called, they will move to the next person. Travelling alone will also improve your success rate.

“Then it is down to negotiation. The key is gauging demand. On a Monday morning business route few people have flexibility so you can ask for more.”

The amount of compensation given to bumped passengers is laid down by regulations – up to £500 in the EU, plus meals, phone calls and, if necessary, hotels. It is up to £1,056 in the US. However, many airlines are willing to give greater value in vouchers, miles and future upgrades, allowing passengers room for negotiation.

Gilbert adds: “Full service carriers have more to offer than budget outfits. I know of a couple recently who was given a return business class flight by Virgin Atlantic for their troubles, and still accommodated on a later flight. Be polite and try, ‘look, I’m tired, I’d love to get home but if you can get me an upgrade on the next flight and a voucher I’ll make it work’.

“Vouchers, miles and upgrades are your negotiating currency.”