Anyone ever bumped flying to Europe?

Hi Greg,

In 2006 my husband and I volunteered our seats on an overbooked Swiss Air flight bound for Zurich (we were going on to Luxembourg). We were each paid $100 cash [EDIT: I checked my notes and it was $200 each, totaling $400] and rebooked on a United flight through Heathrow that ultimately got us to Luxembourg several hours earlier than we were originally scheduled.

I think part of what made it so appealing for the airline to choose us is that we had 2 seats together on that Swiss flight and didn't check luggage.

It worked out very well and we're always on the lookout to do it again (we're pretty flexible with our travels)... at the right price!

This happened over ten years ago....
I was booked on a British Airway flight from JFK to Zurich connecting at Heathrow. The segment from Heathrow to Zurich was overbooked,they made an announcement that anyone who volunteered to take a later flight would be given 300 pounds (which was about $600USD). As I had only paid $300USD for the entire RT ticket, I quickly gave up my seat. Thus I made a $300 dollar profit...like winning the lottery;)

Two years ago I was flying SAS from Oslo to Amsterdam that was overbooked....long story short I originally paid 50 euros for the ticket, they paid me 200euros to take the later flight.

Way to go, Michael!

Last July on Delta leaving from Atlanta they were looking for people willing to bump. They started offering only $200 and went up to $300. It did not seem that they had any takers. I thought it was not enough. They were looking for 8 people to volunteer. They ended up changing planes and no one was bumped but still, they were not offering enough money for the bump on an international flight that originally cost over $1500.

My going rule on bumping is $100 per hour or I don't bother to get off.

So for Europe they would have to come up with a lot of money in most instances :) $200 or $300 for a "lost" day...or numerous lost hours. Not worth it IMHO.

In 2007 I was bumped from a Delta flight leaving Shannon, Ireland returning back to the States. It was kind of scary, as Delta employee's met me at the door of the airport, called me by name and asked me to follow them. I was taken to the Delta office, not the counter and asked if I would be interested in letting someone else have my seat.

I asked the women what would be in it for me? She said that Delta would put me up in a room for the night and give me food vouchers, but that they needed my seat. It seems that they had over booked the flight out of Dublin by 60 people.

I told her, I expected that much. But that she didn't understand what I was asking. What was DELTA willing to GIVE ME!? She laughed and said that she could give me a $1000 dollars voucher toward a future Delta flight, plus the room and food. An if I was willing to stay more than one night, that I would get a $1000, room and food for each night I agreed to stay over. It ended up they only needed me to stay for the one night as people in Dublin agreed to be bumped the other nights.

It worked out great for me, as I knew I would be returning in a few months and now my ticket was paid for!

I so want to get bumped.. LOL

I would love to be bumped - on my way home. No way would I choose to do it on the way there! Who wants to miss a precious vacation day???

I'm not sure if I'm lucky or unlucky. I've never been bumped either domestically or internationally.

I've heard some calls for volunteers but I won't volunteer until at least the second call because then I know I have some bargaining power.

Not exactly bumped from a flight, but once on my way to Brussels I was bumped from coach to business class. Ahhh, the champagne and the reclining seat....!

A couple of years ago, my husband and I volunteered to be bumped on a Delta flight from Cinncinati to Rome. At the last minute, they didn't need us to stay back but as a thanks for our willingness, they bumped us to first class. Sweet deal!