The Airlines Most Likely To Bump You [2024 Data + Survey]

You can be sold a plane ticket for a seat that’s already taken. It sounds illegal, but it isn’t.

Airlines often overbook flights because they expect no-shows and want to ensure their flights are as full as possible. Some carriers are more guilty of this than others, making them more likely to bump passengers from a flight they paid for, leaving travelers scrambling to find another one and negotiating compensation.

To help travelers be more prepared for this unfortunate scenario, we analyzed Department of Transportation (DOT) data on denied boardings — both voluntary and involuntary — across 10 major U.S. airlines and found which ones are most likely to bump you.

To take it a step further, we surveyed people nationwide, asking what compensation they think is fair when denied boarding their flight due to oversales.

Keep reading to see how the airlines stack up and just how far off the actual requirements are from what people think is fair regarding airline bump compensation.

The Airlines With the Most Involuntary and Voluntary Denied Boardings

Overbooking is a common practice in the airline industry, where more tickets are sold than there are available seats on a plane. This often results in passengers being denied boarding, either voluntarily or involuntarily. While the Department of Transportation (DOT) has established rules to protect passengers in these situations, the experience can still be frustrating. According to the DOT, airlines overbook because they expect some passengers not to show up. When this doesn’t happen, they may ask passengers to voluntarily give up their seats or, in some cases, bump them involuntarily.

We analyzed data from the DOT on denied boardings from 10 of the largest U.S. airlines. The findings reveal which airlines are most likely to bump passengers and where travelers are most willing to voluntarily give up their seats due to oversales. The average for involuntary denied boardings (bumps) across the 10 carriers in our study was 0.47 per 10K passengers, and the average for voluntary denied boardings was 2.85 per 10K passengers.

The Airlines Most Likely To Bump You (Per 10K Passengers):

1. Frontier Airlines: 3.21
2. American Airlines Network: 0.6
3. Spirit Airlines: 0.43
4. Southwest Airlines: 0.14
5. JetBlue Airways: 0.09

Frontier Airlines tops the list by a wide margin. With over 3 passengers per 10K being involuntarily denied boarding, it bumps over 400% more passengers than the second-place carrier, American Airlines, at 0.6.

Each of the other 10 carriers analyzed bumps less than 0.5 passengers per 10K, with 2 bumping less than 5 total passengers in the past year and a half, Delta Air Lines (5) and Allegiant Air (0). 

Before passengers are involuntarily bumped from a flight, airlines will often ask for volunteers to give up their seats willingly for additional compensation (voluntary denied boardings). Let’s see how involuntary bumps compare to voluntary denied boardings.

The Airlines Where Passengers Willingly Give Up Their Seats the Most (Per 10K Passengers):

1. Delta Air Lines Network: 7.49
2. Spirit Airlines: 3.88
3. Frontier Airlines: 3.27
4. Alaska Airlines Network: 3.26
5. American Airlines Network: 2.54

Considering it almost never bumps passengers, it shouldn’t be too surprising that Delta Air Lines sees significantly more voluntary denied boardings than any of the other carriers we analyzed, with 7.49 per 10K passengers. The only airline that finished in the top 5 for voluntary denied boardings that we didn’t see top the list for bumps is Alaska Airlines, which finishes in the middle of the pack in both rankings.

Interestingly, Allegiant once again ranks at the bottom of the list, with just 0.59 passengers per 10K willingly giving up their seats. It seems that Allegiant either avoids overbooking intentionally or has quite a grasp on its passengers’ boarding tendencies.

Why Do Some Carriers Bump Passengers More Than Others?

Airlines like Frontier and Spirit not only bump more passengers involuntarily, but they also see a fairly high number of voluntary denied boardings. This indicates that their overbooking policies are more aggressive than other carriers, leading to more offers for passengers to give up seats when needed. Airlines that offer lower-priced tickets may need to ensure that their flights are as full as possible to make up for the discounted air travel.

On the other hand, Delta’s large number of voluntary denied boardings suggests that it’s easier for passengers to make that decision willingly rather than being bumped. This is likely attributed to the compensation Delta offers for denied boardings and the frequency of flights, which makes it easier for passengers to get another one quickly, but we suppose it could just be that more generous people are flying Delta!

In the next section, we’ll dive into our survey results and find out what compensation Americans think is fair for being bumped from a flight.

What Compensation Do Americans Expect When Denied Boarding?

When passengers are denied boarding due to oversales, compensation is often provided, but how much is enough to satisfy travelers? We surveyed people across the U.S. to find out how much they’d require to consider willingly giving up their seat on a flight.

Before we get into that, it’s important to know that the DOT has guidelines on compensation for those who are involuntarily bumped from flights. They vary based on ticket prices, domestic vs. international flights, and delay timelines. Still, in most cases, airlines will pay bumped passengers up to 200% of their ticket’s value or $775, whichever amount is lower. 

Now, let’s find out what Americans call fair compensation for willingly giving up their seats.

State Residents That Would Want the Most Money if They Were Bumped From a Flight

We asked survey respondents what the minimum amount of compensation they would need to voluntarily give up their seat due to an airline overbooking a flight. The national average across all states in the survey came in at $599, but some expect much more to make up for the inconvenience. The residents from the states that would require the most money are:

1. California: $832
2. Iowa: $799
3. Utah: $784
4. Alabama: $774
5. Texas: $729

California tops the list, with passengers wanting at least $830 in compensation to voluntarily give up their seat on a flight, significantly higher than the average response in the study. Iowa and Utah follow closely behind, with residents wanting just short of the $800 mark to give up their seats. Travelers in Alabama and Texas round out the top 5 and would settle for $774 and $729, respectively.

The compensation that Americans would require to give up their seats varies quite a bit regionally. This could be influenced by factors like travel frequency and cost of living fluctuations, providing people with varying perspectives on what fair compensation looks like for a delayed arrival at their destination.

What Else Do Americans Expect for Compensation?

Aside from monetary compensation, passengers have clear preferences for other forms of reimbursement if they’re denied boarding. 

• The minimum compensation the average American would need to voluntarily give up their seat on a flight is $599. Gen Z leads the charge, expecting $700, followed by millennials at $630, Gen X at $546, and baby boomers at $489.
• The types of compensation Americans want most if they’re bumped from a flight include:
  • A Full Refund: 88%
  • Extra Cash Compensation: 83%
  • Meal Vouchers: 59%
  • Future Airline Credits: 53%

Beyond compensation types, we also got an insight into other considerations that come with denied boardings.

• Nearly half of Americans (46%) say the longest delay they’d accept on a future flight is 2 to 4 hours if they voluntarily gave up their seat. However, 13% would be willing to wait over 7 hours if necessary.
• 50% of Americans would be less likely to give up their seat during peak travel times, like the holidays.
• 42% think fair compensation for being bumped involuntarily is a 200% refund plus rebooking on the next available flight. 27% believe the refund should be 400% or more, while 25% think a 100% refund is enough.

Our data shows that while cash is king, bumped travelers would also appreciate additional perks like meal vouchers or future flight credits, younger Americans would expect higher cash payouts, and there’s a limit on how much of a delay they’ll tolerate even when fairly compensated.

Methodology

To determine the airlines most likely to bump you, we analyzed quarterly data from the U.S. Department of Transportation on denied boarding due to oversales from Q1 2023 to Q2 2024. We found an average number of passengers denied boardings both voluntarily and involuntarily per 10K passengers to allow for accurate comparisons across airlines.

To find out more about how Americans feel regarding airline bumps, we surveyed over 2,200 people from 44 states about the process. We got specific insights into the compensation types and amounts they’d want and expect if they were denied boarding on a flight (either voluntarily or involuntarily). 

Final Thoughts

When it comes to air travel, not all carriers provide the exact same thing. Some airlines are more likely to need to bump passengers, while others have passengers willingly giving up their seats more often. Knowing which airlines have a track record of overbooking (and bumping) can make all the difference in avoiding unforeseen travel headaches.

For travelers, being informed is key. Whether you’re choosing between carriers or negotiating compensation for a denied boarding, a little research can go a long way. At Upgraded Points, we want to arm travelers with everything they need for a smooth journey. Whether it’s understanding the pros and cons of the airline you choose or maximizing your travel rewards, we’re here to help you make the most out of every trip.