Can This Trip Be Saved? Getting Bumped During the Holiday Season
by John Hawks

Question: Last year, my brother and his wife were literally pulled from a crowded, oversold flight the Sunday after Thanksgiving. They had purchased their seats months ahead of time, they checked in at the airport two hours ahead of time that day, and my brother told the gate agent that he absolutely had to make that flight in order to get home to work the next day. None of that mattered, however. And, to make matters worse, the airline only gave them vouchers for a future flight -- no cash, no meal vouchers, no overnight hotel stay. Just coupons!

Now, I'm worried about traveling for the holidays this year. What are my legal rights if my flight is "oversold" and the airline wants to bump me?

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