How can you fly from point A to point B
without ever opening your wallet? You've got to
know your way around an airline.
The easiest way to fly free is to get yourself
bumped.
Airlines typically overbook their flights by
10% to 30%, knowing that a certain number of paying
passengers will not show up for one reason or
another. Sometimes, though, their calculations are
off, and they're faced with 200 seats and 205
passengers, five of whom are likely to become very
annoyed unless something is done in a hurry.
That's where you come in. You made a
reservation on that flight, because you knew it was
very overbooked. And you are standing at the end of
the check-in line, observing airline officials as
they realize their predicament. So, you step out of
line, find an airline representative, and offer to
be bumped from the flight. You're doing the airline
a favor -- and in return, it will do you the favor
of allowing you to fly to your destination free on
the next plane out. What's more, the airline will
put cash in your pocket for your trouble. (The
amount varies, depending on the airline and the
circumstances.)
The frequent flyer story
Many airlines offer frequent flyer programs
that allow passengers to accumulate points every
time they take a trip with that airline, and then
redeem them in the form of free tickets to selected
destinations. You have to fly a lot of miles to win
any free trips, but for the business traveler, this
is an easy way to arrange free travel.
The main problem with Frequent Flyer programs
is that they change their rules or become
discontinued altogether faster than you can say,
"I'd like a round-trip ticket to Cabos San Lucas,
please." The best way to get up-to-date information
is to contact the airlines themselves.
If you know you won't travel enough in any
given year to accumulate enough points as a
Frequent Flyer to earn a free trip, you can still
take advantage of Frequent Flyer miles. Coupon
brokers buy these Frequent Flyer awards and resell
them to the public at very low prices. Coupons are
especially good deals if you want to fly first or
business class or if you will be flying a very long
distance. Generally, you must wait five to six
weeks to get the coupon issued in your name.
But you must be careful when dealing with
coupon brokers. Airlines are not fond of what
coupon brokers are doing and are on the lookout for
tickets purchased from them. For the past several
years, airlines have been confiscating tickets
issued by coupon brokers and leaving the ticket
buyers stranded at boarding gates all over the
world.
It is not illegal for coupon brokers to
operate in most countries, but it is illegal in
some. It is, however, against the airlines' rules
in all countries, which prohibit the sale of
Frequent Flyer coupons.
But if you're willing to take the risks, you
will be rewarded with a very cheap airline ticket.
You will usually find coupon brokers advertising in
the travel classified advertising of major Sunday
newspapers around the world.
