What does the term "oversale" refer to in airline operations?

The term "oversale" in airline operations specifically refers to the practice of selling more tickets than there are seats available on an aircraft. This strategy is implemented by airlines to maximize revenue, as they anticipate that a certain percentage of passengers may not show up for their flights. By overselling tickets, airlines aim to ensure that flights are fully booked, which is essential for maintaining profitability.

The notion of oversale is a calculated risk, as it can lead to situations where more passengers arrive than there are seats available, resulting in the need for the airline to find alternative arrangements for some passengers, such as bumping them to a later flight. This practice is common in the industry and reflects the balance airlines try to strike between demand for seats and actual capacity.

In contrast, providing free upgrades, offering additional baggage allowances, or delaying the boarding process do not relate specifically to the concept of overselling tickets and do not carry the same operational implications regarding managing passenger capacity relative to seats sold.