Why buying a plane ticket does not mean guaranteed seat?

Many people think that just by buying a plane ticket they are guaranteed a seat, but in reality they may be put on a later flight.

Even if you buy a ticket, you are not guaranteed a seat on that flight. The airline can legally move you to another flight. This is because some airlines sell more tickets than they actually have, because they expect passengers to miss their flights or arrive late. In some cases, the plane is changed to a smaller type, reducing the number of seats and not enough for everyone.

As a result, some passengers will be asked by the airline to give up their seats, also known as “bumped.” Many airlines try to negotiate with passengers to give up their seats, but the law still allows them to refuse transportation even without the passenger’s consent.

Illustration photo.

British tourists Scott McCormick and his girlfriend Helena Boshwick had a similar experience on a flight from Birmingham, England to Mallorca, Spain on May 1. Although they had already purchased tickets, they did not pay extra to reserve seats, which cost between $6 and $45, because they thought it would be okay to sit separately on the short two-hour flight.

At the boarding gate, they were surprised to receive an announcement that only one person was allowed on the plane because there were no more seats. Ryanair, the airline they had booked their tickets on, had changed the type of aircraft from a Boeing 737-8200 (197 seats) to a 737-800 (189 seats), causing some passengers to be removed from the flight.

They were also the last passengers to check in, so one of them had to be moved to a later flight. However, if they didn’t want to fly separately, one of them would have to buy a new ticket with a late departure fee of nearly $135.

Rory Boland, a travel expert at UK consumer group Which?, says overbooking is common. Some airlines are always trying to maximize profits. Rory says airlines are required by law to ask if anyone has volunteered to give up their seat before refusing to carry a passenger. But if they do, they lose their right to compensation. So passengers need to negotiate carefully, even asking for compensation equivalent to that of a cancelled flight.

Nicky Kelvin, an expert at the aviation news website The Points Guy, also advises passengers to carefully research their rights before traveling. According to him, many countries have clear regulations on the right to support meals, hotels, flight changes or refunds, and especially financial compensation when denied boarding due to overloading.

Passengers should keep receipts for any incidental expenses such as meals, taxis or hotels if they are affected. Contacting the airline as soon as possible will help ensure your rights in stressful and unexpected situations.

If you’re traveling in a group of two or more, Nicky often recommends booking seats next to each other in advance. This not only allows you to sit close to your loved ones, but also increases your chances of getting on the same flight if there’s an overbooking situation.

For passengers who volunteer to give up their seats (volunteers), airlines usually announce at the gate and offer compensation in the form of cash or gift certificates. In addition, they can choose an alternative flight or refund their ticket.

However, if a passenger is bumped off a flight without their consent, they are still entitled to compensation as long as they checked in on time. The amount of compensation depends on the length of the flight and the time of disruption.

According to vnexpress.net

Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/du-lich/vi-sao-mua-ve-may-bay-khong-dong-nghia-voi-chac-chan-co-cho-166700.html