Originally Posted by flyastrojets
Try the Code of Federal Regulations...
It's actually 14 CFR 250.2b....and it says something to the effect of
Wow,
flyastrojets, thanks for posting this! Is this code still in effect? Someone posted in this thread that AA makes up their own rules. I just don't believe each airline can make up their own rules.
Originally Posted by flyastrojets
"In the event of an oversold flight, every carrier shall request volunteers for denied boarding before using any other boarding priority.
Makes perfect sense. Some folks have posted that AA is NOT required to solicit volunteers. I believe that info is false. Whether by law or by company policy, I've never seen 'em bump someone without first soliciting volunteers.
However, I have seen Delta give IDB without soliciting volunteers! I really don't know why they did it. Maybe it was to save time. Maybe it was to save money. No way of knowing.
Originally Posted by flyastrojets
A “volunteer” is a person who responds to the carrier's request for volunteers and who willingly accepts the carriers’ offer of compensation, in any amount, in exchange for relinquishing the confirmed reserved space.
You're singing my song. ^ I willingly relinquished my seat, so I need VDB compensation.
I'm almost certain the GA was mixing up IDB and the VDB rules. She kept mentioning how I was getting to LAX earlier than ticketed. However, that provision only applies to IDB.
Let's toss one more monkey wrench into the works. During the discussion, I asked the GA "Who flew in the seat I gave up?". She replied that the next highest volunteer (they had 4 volunteers but only used 3, so the person who volunteered but was not used) got my exit row seat. The gate agent tried to claim that's why I wasn't paid: my seat did not actually go to an oversell. My seat went to someone who was already confirmed on the flight.
True, but who flew in the seat which was then vacated by Volunteer #4 who is now in the Exit Row? Answer: an oversell! There you have it. I gave up my seat, an oversell got on the flight, they owe me a voucher.
Someone posted in this thread that you can get bumped and still ask for "original routing credit". I don't believe that's right. IME when you get bumped, you give up the miles you would have accrued from that flight. The airline buys you off of the flight, miles and all.