As a 1K, I've gone ahead on the VDB when I have volunteered, so I made the assumption that the computer list uses status like other DM lists. Agents definitely have discretion in using the list, particularly if you are making connections and they would rather take non stop passengers.

Sometimes it works in reverse, though. I volunteered from BNA to ORD (connecting to LAX) and it was much easier to get me from BNA to LAX on AA through DFW than to get the passengers looking to travel to ORD because all the other services to ORD were oversold.

My favorite experience was being thanked for giving up my seat by the confirmed passenger who was last to board, as I was collecting my travel certificates, lunch, and taxi voucher. Everybody left happy.

Charles