Mummy Mia!
A woman from Philadelphia who was having the time of her life in Naples, Italy, was able to extend her dream trip for free thanks to airline overbooking.
Susan Berry, a 36-year-old photographer, was told that American Airlines had not only overbooked her scheduled return flight on August 4, but had also done so for the next two weeks on that route.
AA therefore needed volunteers every day to stay in Italy at the company’s expense.
“Before the manager could finish his sentence, I was like, ‘Me! Me! Me! Can I please do this?'” she told Business Insider of her daily returns to the airport in hopes of continuing to move the trip forward.
Berry’s free extended vacation included several thousand dollars in four-star hotels – including the luxurious Grand Hotel Vanvitelli – private cars, fancy meals with Italian wine and vouchers for free flights.
She also connected with seven other flight attendants and shared the special moment on TikTok. After sharing the experience, she labeled it “Camp American Airlines.”
Shortly afterwards, the Internet encouraged her, as she wrote under a video, to “just take full advantage of the situation” as best she could.
Although Berry told Good Morning America she was “mentally prepared to stay for two weeks,” her trip was ultimately extended by three more nights.
In total, she has accumulated $3,550 in flight vouchers in addition to the free accommodation, meals and local transportation.
Berry’s goal was to win $10,000 in free flying.
Nevertheless, “I am happy, I have a beautiful journey ahead of me,” she said on the plane.
