These Airlines Are Most Likely to Bump You & What To Do About It

Imagine arriving at the airport, bags checked and boarding pass in hand, only to hear that announcement no traveler wants to hear: “This flight is overbooked.” Your heart sinks as you realize your journey might be significantly delayed or aborted because your seat, the one you paid for, no longer exists.

While overbooking happens frequently in airlines, each airline manages this practice differently. In fact, a recent analysis by Upgraded Points shows the U.S. airlines that are most prone to prevent you from traveling, even if you haven’t broken a rule.

So, keep reading to discover which airline is the worst offender of all and which one bumps less.

Why Do Airlines Overbook Flights?

Airlines often sell more tickets than there are seats, hoping that a few people won’t be there. But why, you may ask?

Well, the main reason is maximizing profits by avoiding flying with empty seats. However, when the bet doesn’t work out, airlines can either encourage people to give up their seats or board involuntarily.

Which Airline is Most Likely to Bump You?

TO discover which airline is notoriously ‘bumpy’, the Upgraded Points used data from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Q1 2023 to Q2 2024.

With this data, they were able to determine the number of passengers denied boarding per 10,000 for ten major U.S. airlines.

They looked at both cases of passengers being bumped by the airline and those who agreed to be bumped, as well as a survey about what passengers expect in terms of compensation.

The Worst Offender

If you fly with Frontier Airlines, you should make sure you have a backup plan just in case something goes wrong. According to the study, 3.21 out of every 10,000 passengers were bumped off their flights without their permission, which is much higher than the average for the industry. That figure means Frontier is the airline in America that is most likely to ask people to give up their seats and leave the plane.

While budget airlines often promise low fares, this data shows the cost of those savings may include unexpected inconveniences.

Top 5 Airlines for Involuntary Bumps

Besides Frontier Airlines, here is how the other major carriers ranked for involuntary denied boardings:

1. Frontier Airlines – 3.21 per 10,000 passengers
2. American Airlines Network – 0.6
3. Spirit Airlines – 0.43
4. Southwest Airlines – 0.14
5. JetBlue Airways – 0.09

Yes, I know these numbers may seem small for you; however, being among the unlucky few can mean a missed connection, costly delays, a ruined vacation, or worse.

The airlines where people most often give up their seats

On the flip side, some airlines handle overbookings better by asking people to give up their seats for a later flight, and they usually give something in return, like money, a voucher, or some travel benefits.

The Arlines that rank high in this category include:

1. elta 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

Delta’s high voluntary bump rate suggests a proactive compensation strategy that encourages cooperation rather than confrontation.

Which Is The Most Reliable Airline?

The study also discovered that the airline least likely to bump you is Allegiant Air. This airline did not have any involuntary bumps and only 0.59 voluntary bumps for every 10,000 passengers, which made it the most reliable out of all the airlines studied.

What are Your Rights if You’re Bumped?

If you are denied boarding on a flight without your consent, you are entitled to receive compensation as mentioned by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

So, in case of such scenarios, here is what you are entitled to get:

• Delay under 1 hour: No compensation
• 1–2 hour delay (domestic): 200% of one-way fare, up to $775
• 2+ hour delay (domestic): 400% of one-way fare, up to $1,550
• 4+ hour delay (international): 400% of one-way fare, up to $1,550

Airlines must also provide written notice of your compensation rights immediately upon bumping.

Final Boarding Call: Be Prepared, Not Surprised

Even though no one wants to be denied boarding, overbooking is still a common practice. Yet, if you know what to expect, you can prepare yourself. Check the airline’s history, learn what your rights are, and if you are asked to give up your seat, know what you should be compensated.

Whether you’re flying for business or pleasure, the key to smoother skies might just be choosing the right airline before you take off.