'Tis the season for involuntary 'bumping' from cramped planes

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

See recent posts by Josh Roberts

Flights these days are as full as they’ve been since before 9/11. With the holiday travel season approaching, when even more people are expected to be traveling, your chances of getting bumped from a flight are better than ever.

The Boston Globe notes that 33,513 passengers were bumped from a flight in the period from January through June of this year (the latest figures available). That’s up a staggering 34 percent over the same period in 2005.

Unless you’re one of the penny-pinchers who enjoys getting bumped in order to snag some extra perks from the airlines (and more power to you if you are), this is probably not good news. Most people I know prefer to arrive and depart at the times listed on their tickets.

So how can you avoid getting involuntarily bumped? The Globe offers a suggestion that passes muster with us here at SmarterTravel.com, too: Get to the airport early and check in as soon as possible. You can also check in online up to 24 hours before your flight with many airlines.

“The last passenger to check in is usually the first to be bumped,” notes the Globe.

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