How to score free airline vouchers PDF Print E-mail
Bookmark and Share

Your guide to scoring free vouchers from the airlines 

Think about it – a lot of times you just have to make that flight and you cannot afford a change in your busy schedule.  Then again, there are times when you have a little time to spare and it won’t be such a problem to volunteer to give up your seat on the plane….especially if you will receive generous compensation, which will make it more than worth your while. If you can take the time to volunteer to get on a later flight, you will not only be doing something which will be to your own advantage, but you may be doing a good deed for a fellow traveler who needs to get on that flight even more than you do.
 
You may call it a game....it’s a game where everyone wins. Your frantic fellow passenger gets a comfortable seat on the plane and although you have to wait a while, you receive a prize for waiting.  Sounds good, doesn’t it? 

You are probably asking: How does it work? How do I cash in on a chance to travel free? Here are some proven ideas:

  • Get to the airport before everyone else.  This may sound obvious and even a little dumb, but whoever gets there first is ahead in the game.  If your departure is set for 9:30 AM and you’re there at 8:15 AM, you can go right up to the gate agent and ask him if he will need volunteers.  If he can’t give you an answer so early, make sure he takes down your name.  That way if he needs volunteers, you’ll be first in line and you are the one who gets a voucher for a free flight.
  • Choose the right flights.  It is known that most airlines overbook morning flights more than any others.  This is because they figure that they can delay a few travelers who will still get on the plane before noon.  Other good times to try are holidays and Sunday evenings. Another possibility: look for the popular destinations, whether it is for business or vacation travelers.  Busy flights to big cities like New York City are overbooked most of the time.  Do your online research – if you search the right way, you can find airlines which allow passengers to select their seats before paying for their tickets.  If you find that there are not many seats left, that is the flight to try for – they will most likely be looking for volunteers.  Another point to remember is that the most popular airlines are generally the ones who overbook.
  • Flexibility is the key to success.  Try hard to travel on a day that is designated specifically for travel, so you won’t be pressured.  If you can wait another day for important business meetings or sightseeing, you will be giving yourself time to get bumped off the flight without feeling anxious and tense.  You want to win that free travel voucher in the right state of body and mind so you can enjoy it!
  • Be an easy-going volunteer Show the gate agent how easy-going you are.  If you tell her that you only have a small suitcase which fits under your seat and you’re not in rush, she will see that you are a volunteer she can work with. Airlines would rather have volunteers who don’t need to check their baggage, and you don’t want to lose your belongings by having them fly on a different plane than you do.  Better leave the extra unnecessary stuff at home.  Make it clear that you don’t mind waiting a bit longer for a substitute flight and all you expect is to be reimbursed fairly.  You will be the light in the agent’s day….If you can add that you fly often and have experience with volunteering, she will be even happier.  Since gate agents deal with stressed people all day long, they will be thrilled to meet someone like you.
  • Think it over before leaving the house Take the time to think it all over at home.  Ask yourself how much time you will agree to be delayed and what the lowest compensation you are willing to accept is.  If you’re flying with your spouse or a group, discuss between you whether you will agree to being split up.  When the gate agent offers you a deal, it’s important to know what you want – he might not wait for you while you think it over.  Even better – check flight schedules online so you can suggest what later flight you prefer.  Agreeing to fly to another airport, not too far from your real destination, will make you an even more attractive volunteer.
 

 

When will you know if you are accepted?

As a potential volunteer you have let the gate agent know that you don’t mind waiting, but of course you want to have an idea how long you will need to wait before you get an answer.  There are a few points at which the airline realizes that it will need volunteers - when the plane is full; when the agent sees that there are more passengers checking in than the plane's capacity; when they are ready to release seats that were not claimed.
The gate agent might not be able to tell if they have a problem until about 20 minutes before departure time.  At that minute, the airline usually releases seats which have been reserved and are unclaimed.  Nowadays passengers often check in online and until they arrive, the airlines can never be sure they will show up.  Because of this the gate agents don't really know if they have a problem or not until they count the same number of people as the number of seats on the plane.  There might be a few confused moments until things become clear.  It is doubtful that you will know if you have been accepted as a volunteer until a half-hour or so before take-off.  Be forewarned that it might be only at the last minute.  Will you get on the plane? Will you stay in the airport for another couple of hours?  Try not to let the suspense rattle your calm demeanor.

A Reminder

It is much better to take a travel voucher as compensation than a roundtrip ticket, even if the ticket seems like a great deal.  The free ticket is affected by blackout dates and other rules which can make it complicated to use.  If the agent offers you a travel voucher, grab it, because you can use it pretty much anytime and anywhere and the flights it pays for can earn you frequent flyer miles, which the free ticket likely will not.
Don't be shy about asking for extras.  If you have to wait around for a long time, ask for a meal voucher or a pass to the airline's lounge.  If you have to wait until the next day for your rescheduled flight, confirm that the airline is paying for your hotel and any transportation expenses back and forth to the airport.  If you overhear another volunteer discussing what sounds like a better deal, go back to the gate agent and ask for a similar one.  They may say no, but you can always try.  Remember to always be cordial and friendly – there will always be other volunteers to take your place, and you want the agent to choose you.
And finally…if you are lucky and remain flexible, you may even score a few travel vouchers during your trip.  If you don't want to be held up more than once, though, you can ask the agent to confirm your place on the alternate flight and you will be on your way at last.  If the new flight is late or gets cancelled, check your rights if you are not allowed to board.  The airline ticket desks are required to have what is known as a "contract of carriage" accessible to anyone who asks for it.

Potential Problems

There’s a downside to everything, and volunteering to surrender your seat is no exception.  It makes sense to be aware of possible annoyances ahead of time.
Imagine this scenario: you are assigned the seat you prefer ahead of time and can get on the plane early because you are a “frequent flyer”. Then you decide to volunteer.  You give up your seat to someone else and negotiate a fair compensation.  At the last minute, the gate agent calls your name and tells you they won’t need you to volunteer after all and to get on the plane. They give you a new boarding pass for a seat which is in the middle of a noisy back row with little room for comfort or your carry-on bag.
What can you do?  Not much.  This is the negative aspect of volunteering.  You might ask to be compensated for the aggravation, with a free drink card or something else.  Again, it never hurts to try.
 

Finally…you are ready to board your alternate flight.  

Make sure you have a confirmed seat if you want to be absolutely certain of getting into the air….unless you decide to volunteer again.  If you listened to our advice, you came out ahead.  

Bookmark and Share