4 ms·

Is it possible to sell an overbook and a non-overbook class of tickets separately, and clearly delineate that to the customer as such?

s73ver 10y ago
That's usually called "standby"
briandear 10y ago
If you buy a higher fare class you won't get bumped -- or extremely rarely. I fly 60,000 miles per year and I have never been bumped. But I also don't buy bulk-fare consolidator tickets from travelocity-type sellers either. Involuntary bumps are extremely rare statistically anyway.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
bilboa 10y ago
Yes, that's what "standby" tickets basically are. Some airlines would (not sure it's still a thing) sell you a "standby" ticket for cheaper than a normal ticket, which meant you show up and wait at the gate until near departure time, and then if there are any seats available they let you on the plane. If not you have to wait for the next flight.
- SilasX 10y ago
  Yeah, but the problem is that most tickets are now, in effect, standby, but not labeled as such. Hence why the parent suggested making the status (and the option to upgrade) clearer and more readily available.
  - dawnerd 10y ago
    On Delta the Basic Economy (E) basically are standby since you can't select your seat and are only assigned one at check in (or at gate? can't remember). It's not even that much cheaper than regular main cabin.
    - zeroer 10y ago
      I wouldn't expect it to be much cheaper, as involuntary bumping is extremely uncommon.
  - dx034 10y ago
    According to the article, 4% of planes are overbooked. And if they are, <5 will usually be re-booked. Which is a low single-digit percentage of passengers. So your chance of being denied boarding is probably <0.1%. Wouldn't say that all tickets are standbye. It's rather that thanks to the internet we know of stories like these. 10 years ago no one would've known.
    - SilasX 10y ago
      I say that you're "effectively on standby" when there's a potential for the overbooking to keep you off the plane, which is the kind of risk that should be made explicit.

s73ver 10y ago

That's usually called "standby"

briandear 10y ago

If you buy a higher fare class you won't get bumped -- or extremely rarely. I fly 60,000 miles per year and I have never been bumped. But I also don't buy bulk-fare consolidator tickets from travelocity-type sellers either. Involuntary bumps are extremely rare statistically anyway.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

bilboa 10y ago

Yes, that's what "standby" tickets basically are. Some airlines would (not sure it's still a thing) sell you a "standby" ticket for cheaper than a normal ticket, which meant you show up and wait at the gate until near departure time, and then if there are any seats available they let you on the plane. If not you have to wait for the next flight.

SilasX 10y ago
Yeah, but the problem is that most tickets are now, in effect, standby, but not labeled as such. Hence why the parent suggested making the status (and the option to upgrade) clearer and more readily available.
- dawnerd 10y ago
  On Delta the Basic Economy (E) basically are standby since you can't select your seat and are only assigned one at check in (or at gate? can't remember). It's not even that much cheaper than regular main cabin.
  - zeroer 10y ago
    I wouldn't expect it to be much cheaper, as involuntary bumping is extremely uncommon.
- dx034 10y ago
  According to the article, 4% of planes are overbooked. And if they are, <5 will usually be re-booked. Which is a low single-digit percentage of passengers. So your chance of being denied boarding is probably <0.1%. Wouldn't say that all tickets are standbye. It's rather that thanks to the internet we know of stories like these. 10 years ago no one would've known.
  - SilasX 10y ago
    I say that you're "effectively on standby" when there's a potential for the overbooking to keep you off the plane, which is the kind of risk that should be made explicit.