Frugal Tips by Jean Scott

Gambling at the Airport

For The Frugal Gambler, I wrote an entire chapter on the benefits of being bumped when you travel by air–in other words, getting comped before you ever get to the casino. I gave precise instructions on how to get bumped as often as possible, exactly as Brad and I had done for years and years before finally publicizing our methods in the book.

What happened next? Murphy and his law settled in with us for a long stay. We were rarely able to get bumped after the book was published. In fact, for the last two years, we haven’t been bumped at all. And it wasn’t for a lack of trying. I did everything I’d always done. I made reservations the day before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving–the busiest two days of the year in the airline business. I hung around gate counters so much that I was on a first-name basis with all the agents. I got to the airport so early that Brad threatened to carry an air mattress for naps.

Nothing worked. At every gate up and down the concourse, agents would call for volunteers, while our flight, time after time, would be only half-booked.

Finally, a few weeks ago, we scored. And wouldn’t you know it. it happened when I least expected it.

We had reservations on United at a time when the newspapers were full of stories on their delays and flight cancellations. Television news showed customers who were extremely irate, having waited for many hours trying to get to their destinations. I knew the airlines didn’t have to compensate customers for delays caused by weather, mechanical problems, or the many other excuses United was giving. Actually, I figured that with our recent luck, we would get bumped, but all we’d receive for it would be aggravation.

But I’m nothing if not determined.

We arrived at McCarran Airport two hours before our flight time. Checking in our baggage, I questioned the agent, who said the plane was almost full, but not overbooked. I was down, but by no means out of the game. Up at the closed gate counter, I stood in place, reading a newspaper, in order to be the first person helped when the agents arrived. About 15 minutes later, I was informed that, no, it didn’t look like they would be needing any volunteers, but I could check again later.

Just before they were going to make the last call for all passengers with confirmed reservations, I checked again. The agent, who was very busy, told me to wait to the side. They made the last call. We didn’t want to lose our seat assignments or miss the flight, so we started moving toward the boarding door, thinking the agent must have forgotten us. It was then that the agent called to us: "Give me your boarding passes."

I quickly handed them over. She went to the computer, typed a few seconds, and a machine punched out a new set of boarding passes. She slapped them into my hand and told us to hurry–the door would be closing very soon.

Going down the ramp we looked at our new seat assignments: First class! We settled back as the flight attendant served us a quick drink, then took our jackets and hung them in the wardrobe. We had plenty of room to stretch our legs. We felt like VIPs. Not a bad second prize!

All too soon, we were in Denver and immediately shocked out of our relaxing VIP mood. This was a United hub and there would be more peace in the middle of a cattle drive. One word dominated the electronic Arrival and Departure boards: "Canceled." We pushed our way through the hordes, arrived at our Indianapolis flight gate, and there, my spirits soared. Every seat in sight was occupied and hundreds more grounded passengers were milling around the area. That’s what we like to see; it means the flight just has to be overbooked.

Except, there were so many people, I started to worry that maybe our flight had also been canceled. I rechecked the monitor and saw that we were still a "go," and we now faced a delay of 30 minutes. That was more good news, since it meant that people from connecting flights would be more likely to make it. We wanted everyone with reservations on our flight to show up. No-shows mean less need for volunteers to give up their seats.

I quickly got in the long check-in line, but I was antsy. I hate it when connection times are too short to allow me to be first at the counter to volunteer. I wondered if anyone ahead of me had read The Frugal Gambler and learned how to get bumped.

"You both are already checked in," the harried gate attendant snapped when I finally reached the counter. "You didn’t need to stand in that long line."

"I know," I smiled sweetly, aware that a good attitude is a prime requisite for a successful bumpee, "but I was wondering if you might need volunteers to give up their seats if this flight is overbooked."

"Well, I think we’re just fine so far." Her voice softened a little. Agents love volunteers. "But thanks for offering."

I couldn’t understand it. Why were all these people at the gate, if not to catch this plane? There isn’t an aircraft big enough to hold them all.

We decided to get some exercise by checking out the new Denver airport. We returned to the gate just in time to hear the preboarding announcement. Soon, people started to disappear through the boarding door, but it didn’t seem to reduce the crowd size around us.

Finally, I said to Brad, "I don’t care what that agent said an hour ago, I think this flight is overbooked. Why don’t you go ask her if they need volunteers?"

At the counter, Brad turned and gave me the high sign. I hurried over to hear the magic words: "She wants our boarding passes!" He went on, "She says we have to stay overnight, but they’ll put us up at a hotel and give us dinner and breakfast, and give us each a transportation voucher for four hundred dollars."

Murphy doesn’t get to enforce his law every time!

We were given a voucher for a meal in any airport restaurant. We were taken by a free shuttle to a new all-suite hotel with an indoor swimming pool and workout room. We had a good night’s sleep. The next morning, we ate a free breakfast at the hotel, then the shuttle took us back to the airport. Instead of a straight-through Denver-Indy flight, which wouldn’t get us home until evening, they arranged Denver-Chicago and Chicago-Indy flights that got us home early in the afternoon. And on both flights, they assigned us to first class, where in comfort and luxury, I planned the free trip to Hawaii we could take to see our precious grandchildren, compliments of United Airlines. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Bumping is another form of gambling–but it’s one with few downsides and many glorious benefits.