Why can an airline sell more tickets than it has seats?
Short answer: Airlines sell extra tickets because some passengers never show. Here's how overbooking works, why they ask for volunteers first, and what bumped passengers can be owed. So airlines overbook because some seats would fly empty, and the rules make them ask for volunteers first.
Full transcript
Hook
Why and how can an airline sell more tickets than it has seats? It's called overbooking, and with holiday travel coming, it's worth knowing how it works.
Noshow
Airlines know some passengers won't show up. People miss connections, change plans or skip flights. And an empty seat earns nothing once the plane takes off.
Math
So airlines use past data to predict how many people will no show, and they sell a few extra tickets to fill those seats.
Legal
In the United States, overbooking is legal. But when too many people show up, the airline has to ask for volunteers first.
Volunteer
Volunteers usually get offers like travel credits or cash to take a later flight.
Bumped
If there aren't enough volunteers, someone can be bumped. Bumped passengers are often owed cash compensation, up to four times the one way fare depending on the delay, with a cap.
Who
Who gets bumped? Airlines can consider things like check in time, the fare you paid and frequent flyer status. So checking in early helps.
Close
So airlines overbook because some seats would fly empty, and the rules make them ask for volunteers first. ThatsWhyHow.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service
- U.S. DOT oversales rule (14 CFR Part 250)
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