IL Postcard

Free Flights

Date: 06/22/2006

International Living Postcards-- your daily escape

Friday, June 23, 2006
Waterford, Ireland

Dear International Living Reader,

I was in Copenhagen airport, waiting for a flight to Moscow with SAS (the Swedish air carrier). A flight attendant started working her way through the seating area (my friend and I were about third in line) talking to passengers, asking if they wanted to take a later flight. It seems SAS had oversold the flight--air carriers do this all the time.

When she offered each of us a $200 voucher if we'd change our flight, we hesitated. Organizing our trip to Russia had involved a lot of red tape, and we didn't know if the Russians would mind if our arrival flight differed to that on our visas. But then she upped it to a $400 voucher each, so we took our chances.

A few things to bear in mind if this ever happens to you (and if you do any amount of regular travel, it will):

* Read the fine print. Different airlines will have different bumping policies. SAS, for example, will offer you flight vouchers, which you can use to pay for SAS flights or exchange for half their value in cash. (We used the flight vouchers to take a fishing trip to the Arctic Circle.) Find out the policy on the vouchers before you agree to anything: when the vouchers expire, what their cash equivalent is, and if there are any exclusions.

* Remember who's doing whom a favor. The airline is asking you to help them fix a problem that's all theirs. Hold out for the best deal possible. We only hesitated a few seconds and doubled our compensation, and I'm sure we could have done even better if we had the presence of mind to play hardball. Other methods of compensation can include free upgrades, cash/voucher combinations, and VIP lounge access.

* Be flexible. If you agree to be bumped from your flight, part of the deal is that the airline will do their best to get you to where you're going--as close as possible to the time you're meant to arrive--but your original plans will change. This means you could now have extra transfers, later departure and arrival times, and no special meals. If you (or your group) can't be flexible and take things as they come, then maybe you should rethink giving up your seat.

Len Galvin
For International Living

Editor's note: On any given flight, the passengers around you--those sitting in the same section of the airplane--will have paid different fares. Why? Well, it depends on a number of variables…when and where they bought their tickets, the day of the week and month of the year they chose to fly, how they planned their route, and more. But there is a way to make sure you always get the cheap seats…an easy way for you to get the best deal every time you travel. How? Read on to find out.