NPR

After Viral Scandals, Airline Bumping Rates Hit Historic Lows

A marked decrease in the airline bumping rate started in April, according to new data from the Department of Transportation. That's the month a passenger was bloodied and dragged off a United flight.
United Airlines garnered headlines in April when a passenger was dragged off a plane after the airline attempted to bump him from the flight. / Marcio Jose Sanchez / Shutterstock.com

It might seem like vocal discontent about airline bumping has reached a high-water mark recently, especially after a passenger was bloodied and dragged off a United flight last April.

Now, new data from the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that bumped-passenger rates are at their lowest level since 1995.

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