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| Tip Sep 2010 |
| A small plastic freezer bag is the ideal size for toiletries when going through airport security. |
Travel Home > Directory > Travel Dictionary > O > Overbooking
OVERBOOKING – The over selling of airline tickets and hotel rooms. Some airlines will offer compensation to volunteers who are willing to give up their seats.
An airline, rail, or shipping company can book more customers onto a vehicle than can actually be accommodated by an aircraft, train, or cruise ship. This allows them to have a (nearly) full vehicle on most runs, even if some customers miss the trip or cancel at the last minute. If everyone shows up, at least in the case of airlines, the overbooking will cause an oversale. Airlines may ask for volunteers to give away their seats, and/or refuse boarding to certain passengers, in exchange for a compensation that may include an additional free ticket or an upgrading in a later flight.
