If you don't mind having your plans altered a bit, next time you fly somewhere on vacation, become a "volunteer" for one of the major airlines - Delta, American, Continental, United, Northwest. Book your travel for Monday morning and/or Friday afternoon flights. On the days of your flights (going and coming), show up at the airline gate an hour early and tell the gate agent that you are will to be a volunteer. Because flights are often overbooked or are needed for last minute business travelers who are paying up to ten times as much as you are for a ticket, you will probably get bumped. This is particularly the case on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons when business travelers are either heading out or want to come home. We had a KSL Travel Show listener tell us that he and his wife got $300 in vouchers from Delta for simply agreeing to go on a flight that left two hours later than the one on which they were booked. Some people have gotten free flights, plus vouchers for taking later flights. Airlines have been known to give overnight hotel stays, dinner and breakfast, as well as free tickets on future travel, plus vouchers. It all depends on how much they want that seat of yours. From the airline's point of view that frequent flier, business traveler, who is paying somewhere between $1,500 to $2,100 for a last minute ride home following a grueling week on the road, is very important to satisfy. They want her or him a lot more than someone who flies only once in awhile on discount tickets they purchased for $198. Go ahead, let them buy you off!

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