Airlines are bumping more passengers from flights — should you volunteer?

With the summer travel season around the corner, and warnings from both the airline industry and federal aviation officials that it will be chaotic, it’s a good time to think about what to do if your airline is bumping passengers from your next flight.

More than 300,000 travelers were bumped from flights with the 17 largest U.S. airlines in 2022. Airline officials call it “denied boarding.”

Airlines ask for volunteers first, then start bumping involuntarily. In either case, you can expect compensation for the inconvenience. The percentage of passengers bumped involuntarily from the 17 largest airlines in 2022 nearly doubled from 2021.

Here’s some good information to know:

What should I do if asked to give up my airline seat voluntarily?