How to get free flights without flyer miles

by Dave on 15/02/10 at 5:42 pm

It’s hard to gain those frequent flyer miles if you’re not traveling all the time for your company. Luckily, the guys over at MoneyCrashers.com found a great way to get free flight vouchers without using your frequent flyer miles. It’s taking advantage of overbooked flights!

Overbooking can be a dreadful thing for many of us, especially when you have plans that can’t be delayed. Overbooking is a standard practice across many airlines that allows them collect double fares – one from a passengers that made a reservation and another one from those who book late. Sometimes there will be empty seats and that’s when your changes for a free flight will arise.

When you volunteer, they will ask for your airline ticket and offer you another flight either later that day or the next day. If it is a next day flight they will offer you a hotel voucher as well. If they don’t mention this, make sure to check with them. Once you agree to a later flight, they will book you on that flight and return their attention to the boarding passengers. Take a seat near the information desk and wait until they call you. Do not wander off! Sometimes they’ll realize seats are available at the last minute. If that is the case, you are expected to board and may still get some kind of compensation!

For reference, Forbes released an article on America’s most overbooked flights where you’re most likely to get bumped.

Airline Post