Tips to snag travel vouchers
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<span class="byline">By <span class="author vcard"> <span class="fn"> <a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/tag/@motleyfool/"> Michele Lerner, The Motley Fool </a> </span> </span></span><br />
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When Scott Ford was laid off from his job in New York City back in 2008, he headed to JFK International Airport without thinking of anything other than getting on a plane to visit friends in sunny San Diego.<br />
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And when the Delta Airlines gate agent announced he needed a volunteer to be bumped from the flight because the plane was overbooked, Ford idly lifted his hand and accepted a voucher for a future flight.<br />
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"Suddenly, it clicked," says Ford, a native of Dayton, Ohio, who now makes his home in Portland, Ore. "Since I was unemployed I had the free time and flexible schedule to travel as much as I wanted if I could find a way to afford it."<br />
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As Ford accumulated travel vouchers and frequent flier miles by getting bumped from as many flights as possible, he developed a plan to spend every week of 2011 on vacation.<br />
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While not every traveler has the time and flexibility to voluntarily miss a flight, Ford's experiences offer a blueprint that some fliers can use to garner some of their own free travel.</p>
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Click through our gallery for Ford's top ten tips.</p>
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Ford says that if you want to accumulate vouchers and frequent flier miles, it's much better to build them up with a single airline. You can also leverage your loyalty to the airline for extra perks and upgrades.</p>
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Your likelihood of getting bumped increases when you travel when everyone else does, such as Friday and Sunday evenings or around holidays.<enter caption="" here=""></enter></p>
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Ford books as many connections as possible to increase the chances of being bumped on one or more sections of the trip.</p>
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Before you book any flight, check the seat map to see how many empty seats are available or call the airline to find out if a flight is nearly full. Book your ticket on the flight that has very few seats left.</p>
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If you can't always be flexible and offer to miss a flight, try to add some extra time to the beginning or end of each business trip or vacation when a few extra hours at the airport won't matter.<enter caption="" here=""></enter></p>
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If you're at the gate early, you'll have time to tell the gate attendant and the person at the check-in counter that you're available to be bumped.</p>
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Ask the gate attendant as soon as you arrive if the flight is full and let that person know you're willing to be bumped if they need someone.</p>
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Ask the gate attendant if there will be a "weight imbalance" on your flight. Instead of dumping too-heavy bags, the airline will sometimes reduce the plane's weight by bumping one or two passengers, says Ford.</p>
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If you do get bumped, it's much easier if you only have a carry-on bag rather than having your luggage pulled from the flight. Alternatively, pack belongings for one night and meet up with your bag later.</p>
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Always be calm and polite with the gate attendants so you're the one picked if there are several volunteers.</p>
