Let the Airline Pick Up the Tab
How can you fly from point A to point B without
ever opening your wallet? You've got to know your way
around an airline.
The easiest way to fly free is to get yourself
bumped.
Airlines typically overbook their flights by 10%
to 30%, knowing that a certain number of paying
passengers will not show up for one reason or another.
Sometimes, though, their calculations are off, and
they're faced with 200 seats and 205 passengers, five
of whom are likely to become very annoyed unless
something is done in a hurry.
That's where you come in. You made a reservation
on that flight, because you knew it was very
overbooked. And you are standing at the end of the
check-in line, observing airline officials as they
realize their predicament. So, you step out of line,
find an airline representative, and offer to be bumped
from the flight. You're doing the airline a favor --
and in return, it will do you the favor of allowing you
to fly to your destination free on the next plane out.
What's more, the airline will put cash in your pocket
for your trouble. (The amount varies, depending on the
airline and the circumstances.)
The frequent flyer story
Many airlines offer frequent flyer programs that
allow passengers to accumulate points every time they
take a trip with that airline, and then redeem them in
the form of free tickets to selected destinations. You
have to fly a lot of miles to win any free trips, but
for the business traveler, this is an easy way to
arrange free travel.
The main problem with Frequent Flyer programs is
that they change their rules or become discontinued
altogether faster than you can say, "I'd like a round-
trip ticket to Cabos San Lucas, please." The best way
to get up-to-date information is to contact the
airlines themselves.
If you know you won't travel enough in any given
year to accumulate enough points as a Frequent Flyer to
earn a free trip, you can still take advantage of
Frequent Flyer miles. Coupon brokers buy these
Frequent Flyer awards and resell them to the public at
very low prices. Coupons are especially good deals if
you want to fly first or business class or if you will
be flying a very long distance. Generally, you must
wait five to six weeks to get the coupon issued in your
name.
But you must be careful when dealing with coupon
brokers. Airlines are not fond of what coupon brokers
are doing and are on the lookout for tickets purchased
from them. For the past several years, airlines have
been confiscating tickets issued by coupon brokers and
leaving the ticket buyers stranded at boarding gates
all over the world.
It is not illegal for coupon brokers to operate in
most countries, but it is illegal in some. It is,
however, against the airlines' rules in all countries,
which prohibit the sale of Frequent Flyer coupons.
But if you're willing to take the risks, you will
be rewarded with a very cheap airline ticket. You will
usually find coupon brokers advertising in the travel
classified advertising of major Sunday newspapers
around the world.
