Does Alaska Overbook Flights?
Apr 13, 2017, 6:39 am
#46
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If you overbook as part of the core revenue process, you probably have also refined the VDB process to minimize IDB (and cash outlay) - otherwise you erode the financial benefits of overbooking. I'd bet the carriers that don't overbook at all, or not as aggressively, aren't as good at getting volunteers to take vouchers instead of cash. They might swap equipment or something and start canceling tickets.
Just my speculation. I can't base this on any actual knowledge.
Just my speculation. I can't base this on any actual knowledge.
Apr 13, 2017, 8:44 am
#47
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Actually that falls under the list of exemptions of weight/balance restrictions required by operational and safety reasons.That flight was not oversold which is the basis of IDB.
I've been trying to figure out why airlines that don't overbook have such high IDB ratios compared to the other carriers. For instance AS is only .35 per 10,000 when Jetblue is 1.19 and WN is .80
I've been trying to figure out why airlines that don't overbook have such high IDB ratios compared to the other carriers. For instance AS is only .35 per 10,000 when Jetblue is 1.19 and WN is .80
That's because B6 doesn't intentionally oversell. It's a weight/balance or equipment swap that does it to them, so it's usually a bad situation they're not ready for.
Last edited by channa; Apr 13, 2017 at 8:52 am
Apr 13, 2017, 8:49 am
#48
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JetBlue doesn't oversell as far as I can tell. Equipment swaps probably do it. From their website, their A320 has 162 seats, and the A321 has 200. If they have to swap a plane, they'll probably have to IDB some folks. At some point it's cheaper to do that vs issue huge vouchers.
I don't know if they ever have to swap in an E90 for a 320, but that would be an even bigger problem.
I don't know if they ever have to swap in an E90 for a 320, but that would be an even bigger problem.
Apr 13, 2017, 9:01 am
#49
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JetBlue doesn't oversell as far as I can tell. Equipment swaps probably do it. From their website, their A320 has 162 seats, and the A321 has 200. If they have to swap a plane, they'll probably have to IDB some folks. At some point it's cheaper to do that vs issue huge vouchers.
I don't know if they ever have to swap in an E90 for a 320, but that would be an even bigger problem.
I don't know if they ever have to swap in an E90 for a 320, but that would be an even bigger problem.
This issue could very easily come up with AS/VX as A321s come on board. If one has a mechanical issue, they may not have any alternatives as they are unlikely to have a spare given the very low number of them they will have in the short term.
Apr 13, 2017, 9:02 am
#50
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JetBlue doesn't oversell as far as I can tell. Equipment swaps probably do it. From their website, their A320 has 162 seats, and the A321 has 200. If they have to swap a plane, they'll probably have to IDB some folks. At some point it's cheaper to do that vs issue huge vouchers.
I don't know if they ever have to swap in an E90 for a 320, but that would be an even bigger problem.
I don't know if they ever have to swap in an E90 for a 320, but that would be an even bigger problem.
Apr 13, 2017, 10:03 am
#51
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Apr 18, 2017, 4:09 pm
#53
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Aug 23, 2017, 10:32 pm
#54
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I and my friend just got VDB on Alaska. $400 travel voucher + $12 meal voucher each. It was AS411 from Nashville to Seattle. It was two days after the solar eclipse, so the flight was packed.
The GA said there was an equipment swap (re-configured vs not re-configured), so there were three seats fewer than the original aircraft. There was one no-show, so it worked out for the two of us. There was another lady who was initially called to the podium, but AS ended up boarding her, saying the two of us were on the volunteer list ahead of the lady anyway.
We were put on Delta BNA-LAX-SEA, and we would land in SEA "just" 5 hours behind our original arrival time. I told the AS GA I was surprised AS would put VDB on DL (instead of AA), and the GA said he would put us on any flight and any airline that works for us. The GA in BNA even said he would give us a hotel room and seats for the once daily flight on the following day if the flight on the following day had not been oversold as well.
I even got to try the SkyClub in BNA and LAX with my AMEX Platinum card.
The GA said there was an equipment swap (re-configured vs not re-configured), so there were three seats fewer than the original aircraft. There was one no-show, so it worked out for the two of us. There was another lady who was initially called to the podium, but AS ended up boarding her, saying the two of us were on the volunteer list ahead of the lady anyway.
We were put on Delta BNA-LAX-SEA, and we would land in SEA "just" 5 hours behind our original arrival time. I told the AS GA I was surprised AS would put VDB on DL (instead of AA), and the GA said he would put us on any flight and any airline that works for us. The GA in BNA even said he would give us a hotel room and seats for the once daily flight on the following day if the flight on the following day had not been oversold as well.
I even got to try the SkyClub in BNA and LAX with my AMEX Platinum card.
Aug 24, 2017, 12:00 am
#55
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I and my friend just got VDB on Alaska. $400 travel voucher + $12 meal voucher each. It was AS411 from Nashville to Seattle. It was two days after the solar eclipse, so the flight was packed.
The GA said there was an equipment swap (re-configured vs not re-configured), so there were three seats fewer than the original aircraft. There was one no-show, so it worked out for the two of us. There was another lady who was initially called to the podium, but AS ended up boarding her, saying the two of us were on the volunteer list ahead of the lady anyway.
We were put on Delta BNA-LAX-SEA, and we would land in SEA "just" 5 hours behind our original arrival time. I told the AS GA I was surprised AS would put VDB on DL (instead of AA), and the GA said he would put us on any flight and any airline that works for us. The GA in BNA even said he would give us a hotel room and seats for the once daily flight on the following day if the flight on the following day had not been oversold as well.
I even got to try the SkyClub in BNA and LAX with my AMEX Platinum card.
The GA said there was an equipment swap (re-configured vs not re-configured), so there were three seats fewer than the original aircraft. There was one no-show, so it worked out for the two of us. There was another lady who was initially called to the podium, but AS ended up boarding her, saying the two of us were on the volunteer list ahead of the lady anyway.
We were put on Delta BNA-LAX-SEA, and we would land in SEA "just" 5 hours behind our original arrival time. I told the AS GA I was surprised AS would put VDB on DL (instead of AA), and the GA said he would put us on any flight and any airline that works for us. The GA in BNA even said he would give us a hotel room and seats for the once daily flight on the following day if the flight on the following day had not been oversold as well.
I even got to try the SkyClub in BNA and LAX with my AMEX Platinum card.
Aug 24, 2017, 1:21 am
#56
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Aug 24, 2017, 1:34 am
#57
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Aug 24, 2017, 8:24 am
#58
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To: [email protected]
From: rustykettel
Subject: Original routing credit for involuntary reroute
I was involuntarily rerouted by the Alaska SFO gate agent due to flight delays from our original routing of SFO-SEA-PAE, all on Alaska in First (fare class P), to SFO-PAE on AA in Economy (fare class Y), on 8/25. I am requesting original routing credit in place of 8/25 AA789. Below are the boarding passes from my original routing.
rustkettel
Mileage Plan# xx1
Alaska ticket# 027xxxxxxxxxx-xx
Resv# foobar
8/25 AS 123 SFO-SEA, fare class P
8/25 AS 456 SEA-PAE, fare class P
From: rustykettel
Subject: Original routing credit for involuntary reroute
I was involuntarily rerouted by the Alaska SFO gate agent due to flight delays from our original routing of SFO-SEA-PAE, all on Alaska in First (fare class P), to SFO-PAE on AA in Economy (fare class Y), on 8/25. I am requesting original routing credit in place of 8/25 AA789. Below are the boarding passes from my original routing.
rustkettel
Mileage Plan# xx1
Alaska ticket# 027xxxxxxxxxx-xx
Resv# foobar
8/25 AS 123 SFO-SEA, fare class P
8/25 AS 456 SEA-PAE, fare class P
Last edited by rustykettel; Aug 24, 2017 at 10:38 am
Aug 24, 2017, 10:32 am
#59
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Thank you for the email address for the mileage plan. The gate agent did ask me to call Alaska and request original routing credit. I forgot to ask him to put a note in my PNR. I still have the original boarding passes and the $400 travel certificates, so I hope those will be good enough.
Aug 24, 2017, 10:39 am
#60
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Thank you for the email address for the mileage plan. The gate agent did ask me to call Alaska and request original routing credit. I forgot to ask him to put a note in my PNR. I still have the original boarding passes and the $400 travel certificates, so I hope those will be good enough.