An American traveler in Italy racked up thousands of dollars and extended her luxury vacation by agreeing to get bumped from overbooked flights.
Susan Berry found out her first flight home to Philadelphia from Naples was overbooked and took the offer from American Airlines gate agents to get a $1,200 travel voucher in exchange for flying out the next day.
The freelance photographer learned there is no limit on the amount of vouchers she can receive so she decided to test her luck and volunteered to be bumped again.
Berry ended up extending her stay in Italy by four days, collecting $3,600 in airline vouchers. Plus she got to stay at four-star hotels, transportation and three meals a day covered by American Airlines.
‘The second day when I found out that there was potentially a two week opportunity to do this. That’s when I started being, like, “cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching,”‘ Berry told Good Morning America.
Susan Berry racked up thousands of dollars and extended her luxury vacation in Italy by agreeing to get bumped from overbooked flights
American Airlines gate agents offered $1,200 travel vouchers in exchange for flying out the next day
‘I was just getting started, so I was mentally prepared to stay for two weeks.’
Each day Berry would return to the airport with no intention of getting on her flight, instead she was hoping to cash in.
‘Apparently American Airlines has overbooked the same Philadelphia flight until August 15 and they need someone to volunteer to like stand by for the flight until then and every day they get $1,200 in travel vouchers,’ she said on TikTok.
‘I’m at $3,600 and counting I’m trying to get up to $10,000 and then travel the world.’
She documented her experience staying at the hotels the airline put her up in calling it ‘Camp American Airlines.’
Each day Berry would return to the airport with no intention of getting on her flight, instead she was hoping to reach $10,000 in travel vouchers
Some days Berry would be the only person bumped from the flight, other days she would be joined by groups of people.
At one point the gate agents began to recognize Berry and were surprised to learn she had not made it home yet.
However, on her fourth day after enjoying her breakfast the hotel the flight was finally not overbooked and Berry was sent home.
‘I’m going home, they’re kicking me out. You know what, I’m happy, I’ll take it, I got some good travel in front of me, she said.