Originally Posted by
mre5765
Limit the VDB auction to serious players who have a smart phone and airline app. Notify people booked on the flight the auction has started and start the bidding using the app.
Since each pax bidding paid different money for the ticket, some pax get a big VDB offer, some get a smaller VDB offer. This is better for the airline because its VDB offers are not broadcast over the PA for everyone to hear. Bids need to be customized because each customer is on a different itin, and part of the bid is the exact seat and flight the pax is on.
A machine processes the bids, and identifies the winners. Winners get their comp electronically, including a new BP. If they have checked bags, there is an indication if the bag will be retrieved or not, and if retrieved which carousel.
The auction is initially open to just those with no checked bags and no onward itin.
Everything is done silently. Pax not in the auction have no idea there were VDBs. The GA is not part of the process, so the stress is reduced.
The problem with this is that the bid value is not the lone determinant on whether a customer will accept a VDB. The new flights they will be assigned to and potential overnight accommodation come into play as well.
For example, a customer may initially be willing to accept a VDB for $400, until they find out the next available flight isn't until the following afternoon. i.e. They would take a $400 credit if they arrive at their destination 4 hours late, but want more if the delay is 24 hours plus. Or some other passenger may be adverse to a flight route that has a short connection or connects in a disliked airport.
The point is, dollar amount is not the sole factor in whether a pax will accept a VDB.... which is why the gate agent still needs to be part of the process.