Doing the bump…

Oh how I cringed today while checking in for my flight to Alaska at the little Delta/NWA kiosk.  I had battled huge crowds to get to the kiosk and then when I went to see my seat assignment it pulled up a screen full of full seats.

The 5.5 hour flight was completely and totally booked… and I was sitting in the middle seat of a tiny row at the back of the plane.

Bummer.

I mean, seriously…

bummer.

While making my way through the airport I was thinking about my mom and her knack for taking bumps for travel vouchers and I made up my mind to volunteer as soon as I got to the gate.

Score.  I’m now pretty tired of being at the airport; however, I now have a $300 travel voucher, I’m only about 3.5 hours later in my arrival and I’m even in an aisle seat for my flight.

What’s better?

Since I was the first volunteer I got on the next direct flight to Anchorage, and those who volunteered after me are all having to change planes in Fairbanks.

I keep thinking about how much my time is worth to me and when I do the math it looks a bit like a 3 hour delay for $300 in travel makes me worth just under $100 an hour.

Overall I think I’m coming out ahead, but that’s due in part to also thinking that I’m a little closer to my mother today.  She sure did love a deal.

Thanks for the tips mom!

Says me,

S.