The Bump Game
People always ask me... how do you manage to get “bumps” or travel first class so often?
Here are some frequent flyer travel tips to help increase your chances of better airline travel.
Make sure to register for your airline's frequent flier program.
Even if you are only flying them 1-2 times a year, the airlines still look to their loyal customers to upgrade, give bumps, etc. as opposed to the guy that booked the $3 fare on Priceline.
If your schedule allows, plan for flexibility.
I book one to two days before I need to be somewhere to allow myself time for issues if there are flight delays or cancellations (especially important from cruises and weddings).
Similarly for “taking bumps”...
Book the 6am flight, even if you need to be at your destination in the evening, so that you have the ability to volunteer your seat, even multiple times, and still reach your destination on time. This is how I managed $1600 of travel vouchers from 7am-12pm; I volunteered my seat 4 times in a row from LAX-SLC. (That’s a lot of free travel and I like when the airlines are paying me to do it!!)
Book for Bumps
If you want to position yourself for “bumps”, book your flight on really busy travel days and pack accordingly. You might be at the airport for a while, or even overnight, but you will be well compensated for it.
Gate Lice
Speaking of compensation, you need to be “gate lice” if you want to volunteer your seat. If you are shopping or drinking coffee or in the lounge or generally wandering around, you won’t hear the announcement at the gate asking for volunteers. And if they do ask for volunteers, don’t be afraid to knock over some people to be the first to give up your seat
Negotiate
But... if they are asking for 6 volunteers, the gate agent will continue to increase the amount given to passengers to entice them to volunteer. I always give up my seat by saying “if you accept my seat, can you make sure I get the highest amount you offer for the flight”. Or “I will volunteer my seat, but you are offering $300. Can you make it $400?” The worst they can say is no, and you are not obliged to give up your seat. I’ve had gate agents tell me that they would see if they can get enough volunteers at their initial asking price and then ask me once they don’t have enough volunteers and offer me my price. For this advanced negotiation, you need to know how much your travel time is worth to you or how much your seat is worth! (For rule of thumb, I almost always try to get at least the price I paid for the flight I am flying.)
Register for Frequent Flyer Programs
Again: REGISTER FOR FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAMS! Did I mention that already?!? This is also the only way airlines offer upgrades anymore. No loyalty, no upgrades. It's your honeymoon, and you are flying to Mexico.....guess what, half of the plane is on their honeymoon. Make sure you are at least a member of the airline program to ask for these perks! (And most airlines will accept mileage retroactively, so if you traveled recently and didn't collect your miles, you can still sign up and claim them even after you returned home.)
The Perks of Loyalty
Because of #7, try and build loyalty with one airline. If you fly more than 20,000-25,000 miles in a year, it is usually worth spending a few more dollars on "your airline's" flight to consolidate your miles and build airline status. This status pays off in the end with things like waived baggage fees, priority boarding, waived seat selection fees, drink vouchers, and/or first and business class upgrades.
Make the Ask
It never hurts to ask..... and ask.... and ask again! For today’s flight, I was told there was no way to upgrade with miles; then I was told the fee to upgrade to business class would be $4300 (one way ). And then upon check-in today, I asked if business class was full and if they had any “same-day upgrades” available. I will be enjoying great food, another little blue delft house, a lie-flat seat, and premium wines and service all for the price of a $560 upgrade on KLM.
(Extra tip, if I want to increase my chances of an upgrade, I book on lower traveled days like Tuesday and Wednesday. If I want a bump, I book on the weekend and during peak flying times or holidays!)
Kill them with kindness!
I find that many airport employees are often abused by ungrateful passengers, most of the time when that employee has no control over the issue. I often wait at the back of a line (if I have time) and ask politely for whatever I need help with. Recognizing that the airline staff may have had a stressful day and being kind has resulted in extra dinner vouchers, lounge passes, and upgrades or nicer seat assignments as a byproduct of just being a nice human being to the person helping you.... not to mention, it’s just a good rule of thumb on how to deal with people in life!
I hope these tips can help you in your upcoming flights and wishing everyone Happy Travels!!!
