How to Get an Airline Travel Voucher

Receiving a free airline ticket can greatly reduce your travel costs, but receiving a travel voucher can be a difficult task. The most common way to get a travel voucher is to give up your seat to another passenger when an airline has overbooked a flight. While most people won't get "bumped" voluntarily, if your travel schedule is flexible, you can fly for half the cost by following a few simple steps.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Increase your chances of getting bumped by purchasing a reservation on a flight that is likely to be full. The best times are weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., especially Monday mornings and Friday afternoons.

2. Arrive at your gate as early as possible and ask the gate agent if the flight is over-booked. If they say yes, ask them to put your name as a volunteer on the "bump list." Travel vouchers for bump tickets are given on a first come, first served basis, so try to get your name on the top of the list.

3. Get two airline travel vouchers in one day if your rescheduled flight has also been over-booked. Simply follow the same directions, get to the gate early and put your name on the volunteer bump list again.

Tips & Warnings

• If you receive a bump ticket and the airline re-books your flight a few hours later, ask the gate agent for a meal voucher, which will be good at all airport restaurants.

• If your rescheduled flight is set to depart the next day, you can ask that the airline to pay for your hotel expenses as well.

• Vouchers are usually valid for only one year from the issue date, so don't lose your ticket.

• Vouchers are generally nontransferable, and cannot be sold or used by another passenger.

• If you get bumped and you have checked baggage, the airline will not remove your baggage from the plane. Your bags will be sent to your destination and will be waiting for you when you arrive.

• Bumping rules are different on international flights, so ask your airline for details.