Stuck On The Ground

STUCK ON THE GROUND

To keep planes full, airlines often overbook flights. If too many passengers show up, the airlines seek volunteers to reschedule in exchange for compensation, then bump passengers involuntarily. Passengers denied boarding through the first six months of the year, by airline: Airline

Comair Atlantic Southeast Airlines American Eagle

Involuntary rate per 10,000 Voluntary Involuntary passengers

8,584

1,149

3.75

17,106

2,274

3.6

8,927

2,596

3.5

10,921

1,353

2.33

Alaska Airlines

4,439

1,482

2.11

Frontier Airlines

2,755

871

1.91

US Airways

50,134

4,449

1.7

Delta

27,962

4,744

1.64

United Airlines

46,175

3,832

1.52

Pinnacle Airlines

13,856

751

1.48

Mesa Airlines

12,811

789

1.47

Continental

19,592

2,598

1.41

Southwest

56,585

6,854

1.37

SkyWest

19,581

1,237

1.26

Northwest

23,917

1,271

0.71

American

28,141

1,935

0.51

AirTran

17,169

377

0.33

Hawaiian Airlines

96

15

0.04

JetBlue Airways

24

7

0.01

ExpressJet

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation

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