Originally Posted by
mherdeg
I think that is what is being referred to here (the OLCI screen that shows 3 alternatives and asks you to choose your VDB bid in miles or travel voucher dollars for each of the 3 options).
In my experience those specific displayed options have never been the ones I've discussed in person with an agent -- sometimes the inventory is gone by the time we get to the gate, and sometimes there are better alternatives.
Yes, I'm referring to what was displayed on the online check-in app on the United Website. However, unlike your experience, the suggested flights were actually quite good. The first IAH connection even got her to the destination earlier than through EWR. Unfortunately, something about that process made her lose her seat assignment. Though, I suppose it still could have been the online suggestion for volunteering was then passed onto a gate agent who took away her seat at some point during the reshuffling and then assigned her a new one when it wasn't necessary.
I'll try to ask her more details about what happened when she arrives later today. For now, she just sent me a short Whatsapp Message saying she didn't get VDB and they had given her a different middle seat as a result.