WineCountryUA

That might be the understatement of the day.

All these procedures changed for sUA March 2012.

channa

Theoretically they're supposed to go by the list in the computer.

In practice, < 10% do, IME. The CO computer is so cumbersome (plus the VDB app is a separate app), that most do it on paper.

PirateJeff

A few years ago when I was in the military I was training at a base near IND and had government paid leave during a break in training (right before Christmas, 12/23 I believe) before deploying to Afghanistan (so technically travelling on orders, in full uniform).

On arrival at IND the UA agents declared that no flights were leaving due to weather and everyone needed to return to base. Eager to get out of there I was the first one in the check-in line well before the counter opened. The agent was offering a flight days later when I noticed some folks passing security. I asked how they're getting through security if no flights are leaving and she replies hesitantly, "Well, they're going to ORD." I say great, send me to ORD. At the time I didn't realize how messed up ORD could be and figured I had a better chance of getting to the east coast via ORD without being stuck in IND. She obliges but informs me I can expect to be stuck there for days.

On arrival I check the terminal and find a new boarding pass for my final destination ~2 days later. I immediately proceed to the gate for the next flight and ask to be wait listed. At this point there are already around 45 people on the wait list and the GA tells me that I basically have zero chance of getting out on that flight.

Totally bluffing with zero idea about UA policies I state, "I believe military on orders has priority," (still have no idea if that is actually true?) at which point she becomes extremely irritated but seems to agree. Over the next couple of hours I collected 3 other junior ranking military en route to the same destination, asking the GA to prioritize those personnel as well.

Extremely long story short the GA ends up calling a supervisor (by angrily announcing some cryptic code over the PA) about 30 minutes after scheduled departure who in turn removes what I imagine was a family of 4 from the plane. I can only imagine how much they must have been compensated?

DBCme

I think it would be fun to play gate agent for a day and deal with what, as an outsider, seems like a whole lot of excitement. Delays, misconnects, gate lice, oversold flights, stupid questions. But at the end of the day, it must be a hard job. So, anything they can do ease the pain probably helps.

The OLCI listing of volunteers more often than not, never comes up in the convo between me and a GA. He/she usually says, "great, let me hold your boarding pass," or "let me get your seat number...". If I mention the OLCI, it usually comes as a surprise for them to now have to check this list.

Two recent oppty's:
SFO-LAS $150 voucher announcements (several volunteers needed, and they kept asking everyone as they boarded; I boarded)

LAS-SFO $150 OLCI, I asked GA she said "$200, but you have been patient, so $250." Also involved an overnight, meals, nice hotel. The free hotel / overnight is what I actually needed so worked well for me. But, the days of $400.... ?? Where have they gone?

channa

They don't typically look at it. It's a separate application they have to login to, and there are limits as to how many logins can be on the flight when it's under gate control. So if several agents are working, it might not even be possible to go to that system, from what I understand.

So it's more trouble than it's worth in most cases, so most GA's just irnogre it.


I usually counter when I hear lowballs like that. Or tell them I'm interested, but I need $X to do it. Sometimes they're receptive, sometimes not, sometimes they remember me if they get in trouble.

But I generally pass on the $200 and lower VDBs these days unless the reroute is awesome.


They can do $400, sometimes higher. Just depends on their need.

Delta is where I'm making the better VDBs these days. Nothing below $400, some $600's. GA's can do up to $800 at DL, I believe, with red coats allowed to do up to $1,300 if needed.

escapefromphl

Delta's figures are at least based on what they have to pay if they IDB you:

0 to 1 hour arrival delay : No compensation.
1 to 2 hour arrival delay : 200% of one-way fare (but no more than $650).
Over 2 hours arrival delay : 400% of one-way fare (but no more than $1,300).

$150 is really lowballing...

gobluetwo

My 8 yr old was upset with me last month on our vacation to Florida b/c we volunteered for an oversold flt, but they didn't need us. She was really looking forward to $500/person and first class routed through EWR. She was pretty passionate about it, lol. They needed 8; they first took a group of 5, we were next in line, but only needed 3 more. Oh well.

haddon90

if you are flying domestically, they typically will not put you in F.

gobluetwo

Typically not, but this is what was offered:

Instead of ORD-MCO in coach, fly ORD-EWR in coach and EWR-MCO in F + $500 vouchers per person. I was standing around the podium waiting when I witnessed the first 5 people getting called up and confirmed into F for the EWR-MCO segment.

cfischer

but this is not relevant here ... the thread is about VDB and not IDB. The IDB rules are the same for DL and UA.

VDB: DL rarely hands out $800 and even $600 last year needed a red coat approval.

haddon90

i am surprised that many F seats were open. typically, on day of departure, there may only be one or two F seats open.

PTahCha

All depends on the circumstance and what's left on the rebooking. And yes, if there's an economy class seat available, they would not put you in F. However, if they're desperate, that can be used as part of the bargaining chip.

channa

I think the point is the DL authorizations are more in line with IDB rules. I've seen UA hold firm at $300 - $400 when they were probably looking at a lot more than that in IDB cash.

Might explain UA's high IDB rates.


Leisure market on a weekend or holiday maybe? Aircraft sub with extra F seats? Stalled EUA that didn't upgrade people? Flight with "blocked" F seats that the GA saw and received authorization to use. It happens.

haddon90

most likely. but with it being summer season, it was prob an a/c swap. but we don't know for sure.

craz

sfogate as well as others have commented on this in the past.If I recall correctly the list is something they may use as a guide but need not.In other words if they need 3 people and #s 4,5,6 are together they can skip 1,2,3 and just go with 4.5.6. Or if the 1st few are on their return flighhts while others down the list are based from that airport = they will go home = no hotel voucher the GA can take them even thou they are further down the list etc etc I would assume if 2 are needed and 1 & 2 said they wanted F and $400 and 3 & 4 were willing to take $150 3 & 4 will be used