How much would it take for you to give up a coveted seat on an overbooked flight?
You Can Get Paid Big Money to Get Bumped from a Flight—Here’s How to Maximize Your Chances
Published on Mar. 06, 2025
Frequent fliers on popular routes are no strangers to oversold flights, frantic gate agents and the bidding game airlines play to entice passengers into voluntarily giving up their seats.
The compensation often isn’t enough for many travelers to justify the hassle of getting stuck sitting around at the airport waiting for another flight. But every so often, an offer comes along that’s way too tempting to ignore—leaving passengers wondering if they should take the deal.
Sometimes, it’s just too good an offer to pass up. One recent example is when Delta found itself in a jam and had to scramble to find five passengers on a Seattle to Palm Springs flight who were willing to give up their seats. According to View from the Wing, the airline was at a major disadvantage since it had only one flight a day between the two cities, so demand was high. The opening bid? A respectable $1,000 plus a hotel voucher. But the amounts quickly ratcheted up as volunteers held out—first to $1,500, then $1,800, and eventually $2,000. Delta finally sealed the deal with two volunteers at $2,200, another at $2,500, and a couple who scored $2,800 each. The site reports that in the end, all volunteers received the highest offer. Not bad for a flight delay!
While payouts like this are the exception, is there a way to boost compensation if you find yourself in a similar, potentially lucrative situation? And what besides money should you consider before taking the deal? We spoke with Anton Radchenko, a consumer rights lawyer and the founder of AirAdvisor, a platform that has helped thousands of air passengers navigate overbooked flights, to get the inside scoop.
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How much can you get paid for getting bumped?
That recent Delta payout was at the high end of the scale, but Radchenko says compensation can vary dramatically. He notes that a typical range runs from around $200 to $3,000, depending on demand, the route and the airline.
Can you negotiate a better compensation deal?
Getting top dollar for getting voluntarily bumped isn’t just luck—it’s about knowing how to play the airline’s own game. An airline rarely throws out its best offer to start, so keep in mind some key factors and take a strategic approach.
Know when to hold out for more
If the airline needs only one or two seats, don’t expect a massive payout. “It all boils down to how badly the airline needs volunteers,” Radchenko says. “If they need to free up more seats, they tend to sweeten the award package.”
The aviation expert also suggests considering the flight’s length and the time of year. International flights tend to yield higher payouts because of limited rebooking options. And “the busier the season, the better the deal,” he says. That means you’re likely to get more around holidays and less in slower months like March and September.
Don’t rush to get bumped
“The best and probably most obvious tip is to wait,” Radchenko says. “Don’t jump up and accept the first offer because the deal will get better as the flight gets closer to boarding.” Instead, he advises keeping an eye on fellow passengers. “If no one seems interested in giving up their seat, then you also have more bargaining power,” he explains.
Let an agent know you’re informed
If it looks like involuntary bumps are a possibility, make sure the airline knows you know your rights if you choose to give up your seat before being compelled to take a later flight. “Tell the agent that you’re aware of your rights as per the U.S. DOT rules,” Radchenko says. “If you know you can get $1,550 legally for being bumped, then they might offer more to avoid an involuntarily denied boarding situation.”
What to consider before accepting a bump buyout
You’re tempted to grab the gate agent’s offer—but is it really worth it? Before scoring what appears to be a great deal, there are several important factors to consider.
Your plans
Radchenko says that flexibility is everything when it comes to volunteering your seat. “If you accept being bumped and it’s a busy season, you might not get a rebooking until the next day,” he warns. So anything from foregoing a night at your prebooked, nonrefundable hotel to missing important events could end up costing you more than what the airline has to offer.
The fine print
Before accepting, find out exactly what additional perks come with the offer. Does the airline provide lounge access if you’re stuck at the airport for hours? What about overnight lodging and meals if your new flight doesn’t leave until the next day? All those unexpected extras could add up if they’re coming out of your own pocket.
Checked luggage
If you’ve checked luggage, ask whether it will be offloaded from the plane and returned to you or if it will travel on your original flight. If you won’t have access to suitcases until you’ve reached your final destination, it might be wise to rethink your decision, especially if you’ve packed essentials like medications or items needed for your work.
Cash vs. vouchers
Not all forms of compensation are created equal. “Passengers should be very careful about accepting travel vouchers or credits,” Radchenko warns, explaining that some come with multiple restrictions and blackout dates that could make them much less valuable than cash. “They also tend to have expiration dates, depending on the airline, so if you don’t use them, you could lose them.”
About the expert
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Sources:
- View from the Wing: “Passengers Hold Out as Delta Bump Offers Soar on Overbooked Flight—’$2,800 Paid Off Our Car'”
- Anton Radchenko, a consumer rights lawyer and the founder of AirAdvisor; interviewed, March 2025
