Trekeo

Sound to good to be true?  Chris Guillebeau at The Art of Non-Conformity has a new e-book called Frequent Flyer Master.  Chris claims that by following some of the suggestions in this 40 page document, you can travel anywhere in the world for nearly free.  He goes so far as to guarantee that by following his advice you can score a free ticket.

It it too good to be true?

Chris has sent us a copy of Frequent Flyer Master for our review.  Stay tuned as we dig into the content and see if it will live up to the promise. 

Yesterday Steph was bumped from a Continental flight and was awarded a $300.00 voucher.  Interestingly enough, she had purchased her original ticket with a $300 voucher that I scored earlier this year.  It’s free on top of free.  Bam!

How did she do it?  It’s all explained right here.  Give it a try and you could be flying free.

photo by richard moross

That’s me with the cheesy grin. As I write this, I am sitting in the Indianapolis airport with a fresh and FREE $300 travel voucher in hand.  My day just got better.

If your travel plans are even a little flexible, you may be able to score some vouchers as well.  This  system has worked for us in the past.  Today is further proof of the method. 

 

Here is how it works:

1. Book your tickets.  If you have a layover (or two) even better.
2. Check in at the airport, proceed to your gate as soon as you can.
3. Once at your gate, speak with the gate agent behind the desk.  Note: You may be at the gate before the agent.  That’s OK.  Just wait for them to show.  Once they do, let then get settled, then move in for the strike.  Ask them "Do you need any volunteers off the flight to [the city you are flying into - not your final destination].
4. Most times they will say "No, but thanks for asking."
5. Sometimes, like today, they say "Yes, we are.  Would you like to volunteer?"

It is at this stage that it gets fun.  Here is what happened with me today (and how it can work for you).

Scot:  Hi, do you need any volunteers off the flight to Columbus?

Agent:  Yes, we do.  We have oversold the flight.  Thank you.  What is your final destination?

Scot:  Richmond, Virginia.

Agent: Let me see, I can get you to Richmond today but it will be late?

Scot:  How late will it be Lori? [I know her name is Lori from her tag and I want Lori to be my friend in dishing out the compensation.]

Lori:  You would get in at 9:40 PM, but let me keep looking.

Scot:  What are you offering for compensation?  [Note: normally it is a travel voucher for $300]

Lori:  $300 plus we can give you some food vouchers since you will be hanging out here.

Scot:  Hmm.  Those travel vouchers spend just like cash when I book another flight with you right?

Lori:  Yes, just like cash.  All I can find is the evening flight.

Scot:  Well, I guess I could do that.

Lori: Great, let me book that.  Thanks so much for helping us out.

Scot:  You are welcome.  I wonder if you might be able to get me on 1st class on the flights that you are booking.

Lori:  Sorry, they are smaller aircraft.  [It is worth noting that many times they will upgrade your flights to 1st class, meaning you are getting paid to fly 1st class.]

Scot:  No problem.  Does your airline have a lounge that I could relax in while I wait for the flight?  [This was my first time to try this one but I figured I would give it a shot.]

Lori:  Sorry, we don’t.  Here are your tickets and vouchers.  Thanks again.

The gate agents love me because I made their job easier.  I love it because I scored 300 bones and some food vouchers ($20).  In addition, I got a few hours to myself in an airport, and I am loving the solitude.

Here are some additional considerations:

1. If they can’t get you out until the next day, they will offer vouchers and will pay for a local hotel room and transportation.  They want you off the plane.  They have sold extra tickets and the guy taking your seat just paid a ton because he booked it late.
2. Sometimes they will negotiate the price.  When you ask what they are offering, pause and say "Well, what is the most you can offer for compensation?" I forgot to do this today!
3. Be nice to them and they will be nice to you.  They have some negotiating power.
4. Make sure the vouchers will spend like cash.  On a past trip I scored 2 round-trip tickets on US Air.  Because they had so many blackout dates, I could not use them.  Ridiculous. 
5. The offer from them may go up.  The best I ever did was on a flight from Guatemala City to Miami.  I volunteered off for a $400 voucher.  They needed more volunteers and (over the speakers) offered $400 to anyone else who would take the deal.  No takers.  They upped the offer to $600 and someone volunteered off.  An agent came to me and said "You will be getting a $600 voucher as well."  That day, I spent 6 hours in the Guatemala airport waiting for a later flight.  I’ll take $100 an hour any day.
6. Your chances are higher if you are flying over peak times. 
7. In this economy, as the airlines cut flights and try to pack each plane, I think we will see more flights oversold. Good news for you and I.
8. Realize that you will get told "no"more than "yes."  In 2007 my family and I flew several flights in the Continental US, Hawaii, and Australia.  None of those flights were oversold.  Go figure.
9. More layovers mean more chances of getting on a full flight.  Go to the desk of every gate of every flight on which you are booked.
10. They will re-route your luggage on your new flight.

Good luck to you, fellow traveler.  Be a volunteer.  Sit on your can and make some coin to put toward your next adventure.

Do you have any other tips and tricks?