Originally Posted by
Delta Dude
Dear expert VDBers...
On a somewhat related note. Do VDBs ever happen earlier than when everyone else has boarded?
Occasionally -- it's rare, but it does happen.
Once during IROPS very late one night at ATL (our plane wasn't even there yet) the gate agent took advantage of a lull in the cacophony and processed our VDB paperwork.
Usually the gate agents aren't going to have time to do a bump early -- an overbooked flight also means a full flight with all the usual business to attend to. I've seen a couple so busy that they didn't even have time to ask for volunteers, so even if you think you're way too late, it never hurts to go up to the podium & ask.
One caveat: If you do find yourself the beneficiary of such an early VDB, it's best to remove yourself from the gate area graciously but expeditiously. There have been a few reports of such VDB's being rescinded if they turned out not to be needed and the recipients were still hanging around.