For most travelers, the only weight that comes to mind as a potential problem on a airplane is the weight of your luggage.
However, airlines do actually have issues with maximum takeoff weight, sometimes in the summer when light air makes takeoff more difficult, and in the winter when head winds make long westbound flights more difficult (just for two examples).
On a recent United Airlines flight, as reported by eTurbonews.com, apparently the airline needed to remove 20 passengers from a Burlington, Vt., to Washington-Dulles flight.
They apparently went after the passengers with the cheapest tickets and the least status. The eTurbonews story hinges on a Twitter report by a passenger, but certainly has the ring of truth.
The flight attendant on the plane asked for volunteers, but also called names of passengers to come to the front of the plane with their carry-on bags, (never a good sign when it is your name).
According to the Twitterer, @brucepoontip, “So uncomfortable with United Airlines removing families and older couples who bought cheap tickets. Sad frankly.” And “They start calling people up to take a long walk of shame through the crowd. To identify their luggage being taken off.”
While this does indeed seem like an unfortunate story, and one can only hope the bumped passengers were compensated, the fact is, this kind of thing happens more often than you might think.
No airline wants to bump anyone. But when someone has to go late check-ins are the easiest targets. The next easiest are the nonregular flyers and people on highly discounted tickets.
A couple months ago I had a client have South African Airways actually take back her discounted BUSINESS class boarding pass. (They eventually found her a seat in coach, but originally said she had to wait a day because they had priority passengers.)
Another regular account flies a number of young journalists in their 20s around the country to various points. While I know at least one recently was bumped for checking in right around cut-off time, others have reported later being bumped when they WERE on time. Often with no compensation, although I encourage them to write customer service — better yet, directly to DOT.
(And open note to readers, yes, not everyone tells the truth about when they got to the airport, but travel agents can usually see in our computers on an e-ticket the exact time when a passenger does check-in.)
It make sense that any airline would want to take care of their best customers, unless you’re not one of their best customers and you REALLY need to get where you are going.
The number one way to avoid being bumped is to make SURE you check in on time and get a boarding pass. (And during peak times, that might mean a middle seat rather than waiting for an aisle or window.)
If despite your best efforts the airline does try to bump you, politely stand your ground and ask them to try harder for volunteers. If that doesn’t work and you were on time, make sure you get compensation.
In addition these days, if you are online with a smartphone or laptop, try Twitter or Facebook or posting the story somewhere. It may not get you on the plane, but a good (non-profance) vent might at least make you feel better and get noticed.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
