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Theoretically will UAL let me change flights if mine is already oversold?
I am wondering, in theory, if UA will let me change my flight if my current flight is oversold.
Suppose there are 5 flights daily LAX-IAH. I am on the 4th flight, which is obviously in oversold status.
Would I be able to change my flight to the last flight, if there are plenty of seats there, without paying a change fee?
It would seem that the airline would allow me to do that, even encouraging that, to free up higher demanded seats on the flight I am presently already on.
Nope. They oversell because they assume people will no show or change their plans. They don't proactively let people change unless they're like 20 seats in the hole.
OP if they do let you it wont be till its very close to the Departure time and they know 100% that they will need Vols.
'12 was my worst year for getting VDBs and many of my flights were Soldout at least 1 week in advance. When all was said and done almost every flight that was Oversold took on not only SBYs but left with at least 1 empty seat.So theers no incentive for UA to let you do something that would have earned them some $$ instead Unfortunately
The seat map is showing full, but the flight was still showing up as a result of the search for flights for that route for that day.
If they are still selling seats they are not oversold. A flight doesn't become oversold until after check-in is completed and more people check in than there are seats. Even then they may not have to VDB anyone.
It wouldn't surprise me to see an airline sell 20% more tickets for a cabin than there are seats.
1. The seat map means zippo.
2. How would you know that a flight is oversold when UA doesn't even know it's oversold?
3. UA overbooksbetting that it won't oversell.
4. Actual oversells are relatively rare.
5. No reason for UA to offer freebie changes to people who bought non-changeable fares. If they did that, who in their right mind would purchase refundable/changeable fares?
1. The seat map means zippo.
2. How would you know that a flight is oversold when UA doesn't even know it's oversold?
3. UA overbooksbetting that it won't oversell.
4. Actual oversells are relatively rare.
5. No reason for UA to offer freebie changes to people who bought non-changeable fares. If they did that, who in their right mind would purchase refundable/changeable fares?
1. I agree
2. ?? whenever I see the seat map for my upcoming flight w/o any available seats I call and ask what the load factor is in the back or front and they will tell me we are over by x and yet they are still selling seats , since they know about their no shows
3.actually they oversell knowing that there will be no-shows and people CXing their fully refundable tkts
4. Rare? if you mean where they will end up needing VDBs or IDBing folks that maybe true but Overselling is anything but Rare
5.?? how can I know that my flight next week was gonna be Oversold when I purchased it back in May.Yes May as its the trip to put me over the requalifying for 1K before UA wentback to the old way that the GPU/RPU wont be given when you cross over even if its done in Jan (100k)
I booked 2 trips for Feb last month how can I know that any of my flights would become Soldout 2 months ahead of time. Most likely those buying a tkt close to the departure date , wont be on a Real ElCheapo
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Often1
5. No reason for UA to offer freebie changes to people who bought non-changeable fares. If they did that, who in their right mind would purchase refundable/changeable fares?
While I understand the need to make changes somewhat rigid (to prop up the value of changeable tickets), I have always thought that some of this was highly counterproductive. If I ran the airline world, I would allow passengers same day changes from more full to less full flights. This can only help the airline and satisfies the pax. Far from no reason, the reason is that it is highly in their interest to do so.
About a year ago I had a US flight from ORF to PHI. I was told by the check-in agent that the flight was oversold. I added myself to the volunteer list. I arrived at the gate in time to take an earlier flight. The agent would only allow me to board for the (then $75) change fee. No thanks. An hour later, my flight gets to boarding oversold and they seek volunteers. I do, pick up a flight voucher and catch a later flight. All the time thinking "what a stupid policy."
Last Christmas, United called me asking if I would accept an upgraded flight departing later than my scheduled (but oversold) flight out of HNL. I was impressed at the proactive effort. Didn't take it as my kids were with me on a different PNR on the same flight. But i was impressed.
Last Christmas, United called me asking if I would accept an upgraded flight departing later than my scheduled (but oversold) flight out of HNL. I was impressed at the proactive effort. Didn't take it as my kids were with me on a different PNR on the same flight. But i was impressed.
Just had a call like this last week.
It's not so much that they are overselling flights, it's the equipment swaps that kill them. That said, you don't contact United about an oversold flight..... they contact YOU. (Which is a bit ironic, because you would be offering to swap for FREE, and they would be offering you $$$ to swap. But nobody said that beancounters were smart....)
Just to clarify, I think the airline industry uses the term "overselling" in a way that is different from other industries. Airlines say they overbook a flight but don't declare it oversold until passengers actually show up for the flight. The approximation used is passengers checking in for a flight.
In contrast, the communication and computer industry will say they oversell capacity when they sell more capacity than they have, even if their customers don't actually use that capacity.
Just want to clarify that there is less disagreement here than one might suppose.
IME, the folks at the airport have way more flexibility than the phone desk when it comes to this situation.
If you really want to get back sooner, you could always get to the airport early and see if they'll put you on standby for the earlier flight, but I highly doubt you'll get a confirmed change over the phone (until the SDC window).
