Living, as I do, on the other side of the planet, together with rarely getting back to the US, by luck of the draw I’ve never flown your airline.

Next time I’m there, I’ll try to make it a point to do so — because of you and the unnamed other lady.

Ps. The woman that is mentioned is a coordinator that works under me – she is a wonderful asset to the company and I will pass this link on to her – thanks again everybody!

If economic principles are more convincing to you ( and they are to me) I am sure you understand that as supply increases, prices fall, all else remaining constant. Overbooking is the equivalent of an increase in the supply of seats. By contrast, when airlines want to increase the costs of seats, they fly smaller planes which effectively reduces supply. Since demand remains the same, the prices increase.

Yes, it puts more money in the airlines pocket. Given how they have been bleeding money these past few years, we see the result of the airlines not having enough money.

no free checked luggage
no free drinks
fees for curbside baggage
no pillows
no blankets
no behind the seat storage on some airplanes
fees to book a ticket with a live person

Airlines with healthier balance sheets (i.e. a little more money) tend not to nicket and dime

Sorry, I have to disagree with this. The ticket prices are set by market forces, supply and demand, nothing else.

Overbooking just puts the extra money in the airline’s pocket; it is of no benefit to any of the passengers. Is that ok? Maybe. I think Mike makes a good point though.

Its neither ignorance nor stupidity on the passenger’s part.. Not everyone is a seasoned road warrior. The Spirit ticket agent should have immediately rebooked him on another flight. Its shouldn’t be up to the customer to know what to do. It is entirely reasonable to believe that if the airline cannot accomodate you on your flight the computer would flag that and allow you to fly on another day.

As far as overbooking. I don’t have a problem with it. Its certainly not illegal. That’s not in doubt. Whether its unethical, reasonable people can dispute. I don’t see the problem. When you know that historically on any given flight X percent of your customers will be no shows, its to everyone’s benefit to overbook. The additional revenue allows everyone to have cheaper tickets. If the airline guesses wrong, then you are given compensation. Usually there are enough people willing to accept compensation that people are rarely inconvenienced by overbooking.

Only once have I been in an oversold position, where I went to check in and couldn’t select a seat. I received a “Priority Verification Card” or whatever they call it. I went immediately through security and to the gate, and did not move from the area until I heard my name called to receive a real boarding pass.

Not everyone knows that this is what you have to do in this case. If you don’t get a seat, you become entitled to involuntary denied boarding compensation.

but what’s with this strange comment? Why shouldn’t they have oversold his flight?

Hmm, to not cause this whole thing to happen in the first place and deal with the headaches after? :)

Maybe because its unethical and should be illegal to take money for something that you know you cannot deliver.

While i will say that the passenger should have re-booked right then, it should also be squarely up to to the airline rep at the gate to help the passenger get on another flight. They are the ones with his money and they are responsible for making things right.