You might think that once you’ve purchased your ticket, gone to the airport, and made your way through security, it’s certain that you’ll soon be on a flight to your destination.
As many travelers learn the hard way, this isn’t always true. There are many things that can get in the way between a potential flyer and their vacation. For example, travelers can face seemingly endless delays. They can also be told, for one reason or another, that they’re not allowed to board the plane.
One flyer recently shared their airport experience in which a group of passengers were denied boarding. But why?
Why Weren’t These Passengers Allowed To Board?
In a video with over 740,000 views, TikTok user Tori (@tori.bobori) shows herself and others waiting at the Philadelphia airport.
“Frontier at Philly airport is savage for this,” Tori writes in the video’s overlay text. “Just called like 15 peoples names over the loud speaker and said ‘sorry you no longer have a seat on this flight.’”
In the background, one can overhear an airline worker say, “We will be boarding shortly. So, if I did not call your name, today is your lucky day. You do have a seat.”
“‘If I didn’t call your name, it’s your lucky day, you have a seat’ is willlldddddd,” Tori writes in the caption.
What Happens If You Get Booted From A Flight?
On the surface, being denied boarding may sound like your vacation has reached a premature end.
However, passengers who are denied boarding due to overbooking are entitled to more than they might think.
Generally speaking, airlines overbook flights in order to maximize profits. They have formulas to determine how many people are likely to not show up—meaning that they can sell the most tickets possible without denying anyone boarding.
That said, sometimes, these calculations are inaccurate, and more people show up to the airport than the airline thought. When this happens, the airline has to deny passengers. This is called “involuntary denial of boarding,” also known more simply as “bumping.”
When an airline bumps a passenger, they are generally required to put them onto a different flight. Depending on how much later that flight is, the passenger may be entitled to significant compensation.
According to the Department of Transportation, rebooked flyers on domestic flights arriving within an hour of the original time receive no compensation. However, if they arrive an hour or more after they would have otherwise, they are entitled to 200 to 400 percent of one-way fare or more, up to between $1,075 and $2,150. The exact compensation depends on the length of the delay.
How Can Passengers Receive This Compensation?
While there are some circumstances that make it so airlines do not have to provide this compensation—for example, if the bump is due to an aircraft change or weight and balance adjustments—most of the time, an airline that bumps you is required to compensate you.
That airline is also legally required to provide you with “a written statement describing their rights and explaining how the carrier decides who gets bumped,” per the DOT website.
Additionally, airlines are required to offer bumped flyers compensation at the airport on the same day. You may still arrive at your destination later than expected. That said, you can at least land with a little bit more cash in your wallet.
Commenters Have Complaints
In the comments section, users expressed their dislike of this practice.
“This should be illegal,” declared a user.
“This is why i could never fly frontier because i will be on that no fly list if you tell me 10 minute before take off that my seat has been revoked,” said another.
“Oh Frontier does this ALL the time. Usually they give people a chance to volunteer first & they’ll get you on another flight but if not enough people volunteer they pick at random. I always get anxiety flying w/ them,” stated a third.
@tori.bobori “If I didn’t call your name, it’s your lucky day, you have a seat” is willlldddddd. 😂😂😂 #foryoupage #philadelphia #funny #frontier #planes
BroBible reached out to Frontier Airlines via email and Tori via TikTok direct message and comment.