mjs: I always travel light with only a 19 or 21 inch rollaboard (up to about 4 weeks that works, when I am on a longer trip I sometimes check a bag). The main advantages: No long lines for check in - Just the regular security queue and show up at the gate (when you check a bag you have to wait twice - once for check in and once for security); No lost luggage - ever; Able to get on the occasional earlier flight since I didn't check anything; And makes taking Bump offers a lot easier.<BR><BR>But if you do check luggage they will get it to you - and if it is delayed you will be compensated (see Leslie's post re this)

Janis, thanks for the reply. I normally only bring a carryon, too. But when I'm coming back to the United States from Europe I usually have two bags, my original bag and another smaller one full of whatever I've picked up over there. So I have to check one. Then I don't know whether I'll ever see the bag again if I get bumped on either the international flight or the domestic connection.<BR><BR>It's not that I worry about the checked bag being delayed, it's that I worry about it going ahead on my original flight and then disappearing when I'm not there to claim it. I feel like I should have been able to figure out a solution, but I haven't. Any ideas?

I'm loving this thread! My husband travels frequently for work. After reading this thread I told him to take the bump if it's possible on future flights. He told me he's had plenty of opportunities to get bumped but hasn't taken them thinking I'd prefer him home sooner. Heck no, we want cash, free tickets, etc! Besides, his flights often end up delayed, or with missed connections, etc, so he's usually a little late anyway. Better to have something to show for your trouble at the end of the day, I say!

Sounds like it's a great deal if you can afford the time. I may have to try that the next time I fly.

One stormy night my husband and I managed to get bumped on a Delta flight going from Atlanta to Charleston, SC. We both got a free round-trip ticket. While we were getting the voucher, they told all of us (10 people) that the next flight was overbooked, so would we accept another voucher each. We jumped on it - got 4 round-trip tickets anywhere in US (including Hawaii and Caribbean), a night at the Westin, $20 in meal ticket, and about 5 phone cards). Am sure we'll never duplicate that honey of a deal again, but it sure was nice! We ALWAYS take advantage of bump tickets when we can - but they're not out there like they used to be.

Getting bumped is a great deal. Whenever I'm on business travel I jump at the chance for a bump. For example on a business trip to Orlando sans kids (much to their disappointment) I was offered a bump. For the price of getting home a few hours late I was able to get a voucher for $600 which translated to 4 tickets back to Orlando. That combined with hotel points equaled a trip to WDW for the cost of park passes and food. Have been bumped other times too and used passes for trips to California etc.