It's no secret that airlines don't have customer service first in their minds. But even with this being the case, many people are shocked to hear that airlines routinely book more passengers than can fit on flights. Especially during busy seasons, they'll book as many as 10-20 more passengers than can fit on the plane. So, if you arrive to the airport and find that there are no more seats available (a surprisingly common occurrence), this is probably what happened. Of course, the airline employee will probably try to put it in nice terms, but in reality you've been the victim of corner-cutting practices.
But, if you are bumped from a flight, there are FAA regulations governing what airlines have to do. You are within your right to demand that they do these things, and if they don't, this gives you leverage. That's why it always helps to know the rules.
1. Announcements: First, before bumping anyone, airline employees must go on the intercom and ask waiting passengers if there are any volunteers to be bumped. In many cases, there are a few passengers who don't mind being bumped, and this helps the airline to clear seats without seriously inconveniencing anyone.
2. What you're owed: Based on the flight that you were originally booked on, what time were you supposed to land at your destination? If your new flight gets you to your destination within two hours (before or after) of this time, then the airline must give you a one-way ticket of up to 0 in value.
However, if your new flight gets you to your destination in over two hours before or after your original landing time, they have to pay up to 0 for your new ticket. You know what this means, right? 0 is often enough for a first-class ticket. So if you get bumped, being armed with this information can earn you a real smooth ride (when you actually get a flight).
3. Accommodations: Unfortunately, if you're bumped because of weather, and the next flight isn't until the next day, airlines do not have to pay for you to stay in a hotel room.
However, if you are nice and don't make a scene, airline employees are often understanding. If you talk to the right person in the terminal, you may be able to get them to swing something for you at one of the local hotels. In any case, it can't hurt to plead your case (in a polite manner). Just don't count on it, because there are usually lots of passengers in these situations, and accommodating everyone would be pricey.
However, here's the thing: If the flight is delayed because of something that the airline did, you are entitled to accommodations within reason. So, if you can, try to get to the bottom of what's going on with your delayed flight. For example, it might be because a pilot or crew member didn't show up, or any number of other things. In this case, they have to take care of you.
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