[DRHHUB]

As an occasional traveler, I probably have different thoughts regarding overbooking, but here they go. I always get to the airport early (usually 2 hours) so I've never been bumped as I'm one of the first ones to check-in. But, why not do away with overbooking completely by making tickets completely non-refundable. By that I mean, if you don't make the flight you're scheduled on, you don't get one cent back for that ticket. You can't use it for future travel. You don't have a credit less change charges. You simply lose your money. That way, the airlines know that if they sell a ticket they have the money. If you don't show up it's the passengers loss. If they did that, would there still be a need for overbooking?

If they continue to overbook after that, the penalty is simple. The airline must refund the total cost of the ticket (not only the unused portion), they must give you the denied boarding compensation (cash on the spot), and they must put you on another carrier at their expense to get you to your destination.

Like I said, I've probably got a different view than the business travelers that have their plans changed at a moments notice many times. But, my idea is simple enough that everyone should be able to understand it. I know there is no way this would ever be done, but it is a simple solution.