These Airlines Overbook Flights More Frequently Than Any Others In America

The excitement that comes with booking a flight and finally kickstarting your journey is one that is hard to be matched. But imagine that you're full of cheers and excitement only to get to the airport to realize your plane — that you had a booking confirmation on — no longer has a seat for you. Sounds frustrating and depressing, right?

Unfornately, many airlines tend to overbook flights to ensure they are operating at full capacity and much-needed revenue is coming in. You'll be sad to know that while booking, you actually agree to overbooking and that it's fully legal to do so. But to prevent this from happening and ruining your trip before it even starts, there are specific airlines in America that have a tendency to overbook flights that you should be aware of. Statistics show that airlines such as Frontier Airlines and American Airlines have the highest rates of overbooking incidents in the U.S. So, if you want to ensure not getting bumped, read on to find out what you can do and why these airlines tend to overbook flights in the first place.

One of the leading offenders is none other than Frontier Airlines, known for its aggressive overbooking policies. With over 3 passengers denied boarding for every 10,000 passengers flying, it holds its place with a 400% more likelihood than the following offender. Unfortunately, this often results in passengers getting involuntary bumps. American Airlines comes in second despite its size and popularity. Involuntary denied boarding as a result of overbooked flights are actually quite popular on domestic routes on American Airlines. Coming up next are Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Jet Blue Airways.

The important question to ask is why do airlines overbook flights in the first place? Airlines try to fly at full capacity, overbooking several seats based on historical data of no-shows. By trying to maximize their profits, flying at full capacity even if someone misses their flight or has last-minute changes, many airlines tend to double book a specified amount of seats just in case. By selling extra tickets, the airline manages to make more money and cover the substantial losses that occurred during travel bans during COVID-19 lockdowns. Other times, it is not planned at all, but overbooking occurs as a result of mismanagement, system errors, or logistical oversights that tend to result in passengers getting bumped.

The first step to avoid getting bumped is by minimizing risks. This can include avoiding popular airlines that tend to overbook their flight no matter how tempting their deals might be — that's unless you don't have fixed plans and don't actually mind taking the chance. But there are a few strategies and tips to prevent the risk of getting bumped that many frequent flyers should be aware of. For starters, it's best to book direct flights to avoid the confusion that comes with transit flights and multiple planes, especially if they're more than one airline. Secondly, you should not only book early, but also aim to arrive early to the airport or check-in online in advance to secure your seat. If there's an option of selecting an assigned seat even if you have to pay extra, it's a better chance that you will avoid involuntary denied boarding. 

With many loyalty programs, there's a big chance you won't be their first bump option unless it is absolutely necessary, so always check if there is a loyalty program you can sign up for. Many are actually free. Last but not least, you can choose to volunteer to get bumped to the next flight and get monetary compensation as well.