Maybe the bloody incident on United where a passenger was beaten and hauled off for refusing to be bumped influenced Delta’s decision. However, the recent super-generous airline announcement of that potentially lofty offer for as much as its most expensive tickets should result in some very eager volunteers.

Your travel4senior.com editor doesn’t seek bumps once seated aboard flights, but on a dozen occasions over the decades has volunteered when an offer was announced. In almost all volunteer bumps, I received $100 or more, as well as a free ticket for a future flight. On occasions when it involved overnight waits, I was given a free hotel room and breakfast.

Several times, in addition to the cash gift, I was put on another airline’s flight that left an hour or so later and arrived at my destination not long after my original schedule. Further, I recall at least once when I actually landed an hour ahead.   

If you’re a senior air traveler and don’t have a priority schedule for business or other critical timing, consider getting bumped from an over-full flight. Of course, if the bumping is involuntary, be sure to make a big fuss as you’re being dragged out, and have a very smart lawyer.