Oh, that is heartbreaking! They shouldn’t have had to be bumped off that flight because of someone else’s mistake- whoever it was. They had their hotel and vacation time all booked and plans made! Did they get the $1000 voucher or compensation of some sort?

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That’s just too bad. When we flew to NJ last xmas, they told us on the overhead that it was an overbooked flight and they were looking for anyone who would like to take the next flight with a flight voucher.

Ok you know what, it’s backwards. I know they’re counting on no shows. How about if there are no shows, THEN give away the seats. And I’m saying give them away about 20 mins to half hour before the flight leaves. none of this “let’s book more, and hope some people don’t show up.”

Let’s be honest, if someone checks in after that period of time, they may or may not make it through security in time. that’s what i’m thinking.

but then again, i don’t know anything about flying.

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Yes, i agree with your sentiment, how could flight be so overly booked? I think it’s quite common nowadays for such situation. Perhaps, the airlines are just playing safe in case of last minute drop-out bookings. But, they’re doing it at the expense of customers. I don’t think it’s a good practice.

Wow - that is a story!

Thanks for stopping by my site. I have a niece like your daughter - 5 going on 15. When we saw her at Thanksgiving, she made sure her lips were glossed and hair brushed first thing. Then she made at least 4 wardrobe changes through the day. Some kids are born divas. I have a bookworm and tomboy for little girls!

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That is a sad story. My husband has been flying back and forth to Illinois and has had many miserable situations. He says flying isn’t what it used to be (and he used to love it). One airline in particular seems to be booking flights that they can’t staff. Apparently they are low on pilots, but are taking advantage of the least bit of weather problem and are delaying and cancelling flights because of it (even though all of the other carriers flying from the airport at that time are getting in and out just fine.)

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While my husband was interviewing for residencies last year, this happened to them more than once. It was very frustrating for me and the kids because we hadn’t seen him in at least a week in most cases and now his homecoming was postponed another day. I have also noticed that airlines have been canceling flights more often now. Over the holidays, my husband flight to TX was canceled and then our return trip home was canceled, all within a 2 week period. Flying sure isn’t what it used to be.

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I love hearing your work stories. I absolutely love flying! Unfortunately, we don’t get to fly very often! I feel bad for that family. Hopefully, their schedules were flexible enough that they still get to do everything they wanted to do.

Flying definitely is not what it used to be. I remember hearing stories (this was before my time *grin*) of how it used to be a privilege to fly. All of the passengers would get dressed up like they were going to the White House and were very courteous. That is how all of your passengers are now, right?
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I enjoy your work related stories. Keep em coming, I say!

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I feel sorry for that family. I hope they were given $1000 voucher which was earlier offered to the first couple.

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Gosh I feel bad for that family. Were they given any compensation for their inconvenience?

It seems that most flights I’ve had in the last 5 or 6 years are all packed solid. I miss the days when you might get lucky to have an empty seat near you….long gone are those days.

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that is sad……..it’s never happened to me yet…so far so good. Thanks for the heads up, I had no idea you could get unbooked by mistake.

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Oh Kailani that is so sad….a trip to Hawaii is something most of us will never get to see, it’s an expense. You raised some great questions. I am one who definitely hopes the airline is made to compensate this family for their ENTIRE trip, hotel and flight. Maybe then they will listen, and maybe there will be more care taken with procedure.

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That’s so sad. That poor girl.

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Such a shame but all to common in the airline industry. Although I have to admit, I’ve flown many, many times and have never had a problem.

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So sad! We are the first ones to listen up for perks if the flight is full. If the price is right we may just do it. BUT NEVER for Hawaii nor any big vacation for which we have non refundable excursions & stuff. That’s why I don’t like flying with my brother’s buddy passes. First one kicked off and obviously no perks!

Oh no - how devastating. That poor family who had to get off the flight. I suppose you should feel better knowing you did everything you could to try and sort out the problem. I hope the company can find out how the first family were accidently unchecked so it can’t be avoided in the future. It’s the people, like you, working in the front line who have to actually face customer that have the hardest time when things like that happen - and it wasn’t your fault.

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Oh no - how devastating. That poor family who had to get off the flight. I suppose you should feel better knowing you did everything you could to try and sort out the problem. I hope the company can find out how the first family were accidently unchecked so it can’t be avoided in the future. It’s the people, like you, working in the front line who have to actually face customers that have the hardest time when things like that happen - and it wasn’t your fault.

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That is so, so sad! I have seen things like this happen before, and it’s made me wonder too. I guess the bottom line is the airlines have to make money and once you have the tickets they have your money and they feel they can do with you what they want.

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I know they count on no shows…but shouldn’t they be looking at average no shows for a flight? If this particular flight normally has zero no shows on a regular basis, it would seem to me that there should be no reason to oversell it at all. I don’t think there is any chance of the flight taking off not being full as many folks will get to the airport early to see if there is a chance of getting an earlier flight. right?
and then if a particular flight normally has about 5 no shows…then only over sell by 5. Still working on the same idea that standbys would fill up any remaining seats.

Like you said…who is gonna book a flight to Hawaii and not show up? folks save up for this for a lifetime…they’re gonna move heaven and earth to be there on time.

Poor family. I hope they still got a great vacation.

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I love your works stories too. I think they’re good travel tips.

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Are you kidding me?? I live for your work stories, Kailani. Not only are they amusing and you tell them so well, but they are life lessons - we can all learn so much by observing other peoples’ attitudes/behaviors.

So, you’re providing a community service - showing us how NOT to act and teaching us to put ourselves in others’ shoes. This is a lesson that I think we all need to be reminded of from time-to-time.

I enjoy your work stories… and I feel so bad for that poor family! I don’t know what I would have done in their position…

That whole overbooking thing has always baffled me, too. I don’t get it. I understand business, but as you said, what are the odds of someone NOT showing up for certain flights like the ones to HI?

Don’t stop with the work stories - they usually crack me up!

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That’s terrible. Not only did they lose a day of vacation, but I’m sure they had issues with the hotel as well. I hate the process of flying. It makes no sense that they purposely overbook.

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That poor family. And, I’m with everyone else. Your work stories and the stories about Girlie-girl and Baby Bug are the ones I look forward to the most!

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when things to go my way, i try to think that they’re actually going to turn out better than i’d imagined + enjoy the good stuff going on. life’s too short + at least they didn’t have any physically harmful effects.

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Ick! I have never understood why they overbook flights. I don’t think that the last family should have been bumped. It should have been the stand by family that took their seats that got bumped. I just hope that they were not leaving on a cruise from Hawaii as their entire trip would be cancelled. I hope that the people that “unbooked” them also were reprimanded.

Here’s another flying thing that I don’t get … why do they board first class first then have everybody else that’s getting on the plane walk through them? If I were in first class the last thing I’d want is to have peoples butts bumping into me over and over as I wait for the rest of the plane to board.

GAH! =)

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That is sooooooooooooooo sad!!! =( I don’t get it either and since you work for the airlines and you see this kind of stuff all time!!!! Poor, poor people!!! You know it’s really hard from them since they don’t deal with stuff like this all the time!!!! I hope they still have a GREAT vacation!!!!

You are soooooooooo RIGHT….who would NOT show up for their Hawaii trip?!?!? They would be CRAZY not to!!! That is just so sad!!!!

I love reading about your airline stories!!! lol =)

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That would be such a terrible situation to deal with as a family. Just seeing a look of disappointment on your child’s face is hard enough, let alone when they’re crying uncontrollably.

Hmm, I’m not sure how quietly I would have gone if that had been me…

Actually you saying how common this is makes me wonder if we have the same over-booking policies on domestic Australian airlines. I’ve never had that happen and I haven’t heard of it here, but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen. Next time I think I might ask my friendly travel agent.

And, I’m new here, but I’m intrigued by your work situation so I’m up for more stories!

Kelly

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That’s just too bad. When we flew to NJ last xmas, they told us on the overhead that it was an overbooked flight and they were looking for anyone who would like to take the next flight with a flight voucher.

Oh, how sad! I feel for the family and the people around them. If only there had been another solution….but there wasn’t another solution.

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Damn that sucks.

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That’s horrible. I feel so bad for that family. It’s just too bad that because someone was in a hurry and unchecked the couple, someone else didn’t get to take the flight. Honestly, I think the couple who got put in their seats should have had to stay back. That seems only fair to me. They didn’t have the tickets to begin with. But what do I know?

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I read your blog BECAUSE of the strange work stories . . .

This one was so sad!

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Awww, that is horrible! I’m really surprised that no one took the voucher, I would have! I was just talking about something that is barely related…. but you can always count on human error. It’s a fact of life.

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Oh how awful - what a horrible situation for everyone. I hope the airline at least did something to help make it up to that family, but I agree - there should be a better way than overbooking everything.
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How awful! Really, who WOULDN’T show up for their flight to Hawaii! Hubby and I went to Hawaii for our 6th anniversary . . . our first flight of the morning was cancelled (grrrrrrrr!) which meant there was no way to make it to HI that day (we were on a 6:00 a.m. flight!). We ended up staying in LA overnight and getting there the next day. Lost an entire day just because the first flight cancelled.

I feel for those people - they should have been very handsomly compensated!

Oh, that poor family. What a terrible situation to be put in. I hate that that happened.

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The airline should refund their tickets entirely - and still give them their next day flight and flight home.

Oh, that is so very frustrating! I’m guessing that it’s difficult to get someone to give up their seat…especially if they are on their way to Hawaii for vacation. But personally? I would be inclined to give up a day of travel for a $1000 voucher! You can always return next year!

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It seams it should have been the second couple who were given the seats who should of been asked to de board.

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I would have been screaming so extravagantly that I very likely would have been arrested by the time I walked off the plane. Please let us know: did the airline pay them off copiously since it was completely their fault?

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