As Overbooking Wanes, Airlines Find More Savings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In a little noticed development in the airline industry, the often misunderstood and widely condemned practice of overbooking has vastly diminished.

The decline has resulted primarily from the move to nonrefundable fares and substantial fees for changing flights, both of which began following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and escalated recently during the record run in oil prices over the summer.

Airlines and passengers alike have benefited from the change. In the case of passengers, fewer fliers have been denied boarding, according to recent statistics, while for the companies, reducing overbooking is another step being implemented to weed out inefficiencies. ...