Have you ever been bumped from a flight?
If you have, then you know the irritation of having to wait around for your next one. The airline probably told you that they can't do anything for you, right?
Wrong.
Thanks to TikTok user @erikakullberg, you can actually get something out of the airlines after they inconvenience you. Let's find out how.
Lord know why, but they do it. This is a scenario people know all too well, especially during peak seasons. If this ever happens to you, Erika has your back! Let's let the sketch play out and see what happens.
In all likelihood, they won't offer up the information they have about what can actually be done. Airlines are businesses, and they don't like to lose money if they don't have to — and even if they are legally required to.
Erika is a lawyer who specializes in the fine print. She knows that being "bumped" is actually called "involuntary denied boarding." Anyone bumped may be entitled to financial compensation for their troubles.
That depends on how long the delay is. If it's over two hours, the Department of Transportation mandates that the bumped flyer is owed four times the cost of their flight.
Yup. You read that right: you can get four times the cost of your initial flight for your troubles.
If you paid $250 for your flight, you would be entitled to $1000. Since flights up here in Canada cost, like, $500 just to fly one province over, I'd be BEGGING for a bumped flight. That's one hell of a profit!
Multiple people said that they tried her trick while flying and each was compensated accordingly. Many said that they're able to pay for more flights with what they got back! I love a good corporate hack.
I just had to include this one. It wouldn't be TikTok if the top comment wasn't something that made me want to throw my phone down in frustration because I didn't think of that joke first.
It's just a matter of knowing your rights and advocating for yourself. However, the most important thing you can do when dealing with this kind of situation is to be very nice to the gate agent. Politeness and kindness go a long way. (Which is how I got upgraded to first class to Hawaii once. TRUST ME.)
Airlines like to treat us like idiots most of the time. But we don't have to take their many inconveniences lying down — in fact, we can stand up for ourselves!
What do you think of this trick? Would you try it? Let me know!
