Mar 31, 2016, 5:15 pm
Last edit by: Prospero
AA Bump Rates: Volunteer Compensation / Voluntary Denied Boarding
Passengers involuntarily denied boarding on AA are denied usually after calls for volunteers to accept vouchers (and occasionally variable other benefits), usually beginning at $200 or $300 but possibly going significantly higher, depending on passenger response. See more below, including AA Conditions of Carriage.
See IDB / Involuntarily Denied Boarding on AA & Compensation (master thread) for INVOLUNTARILY denied boarding.
Link to US Dept. of Transportation Aviation Consumer Protection Division's "Fly-Rights - A Consumer Guide to Air Travel" section on Overbooking
"IDB" (involuntarily denied boarding) compensation is governed in the USA by "14 CFR 250.5 - Amount of denied boarding compensation for passengers denied boarding involuntarily".
Link to CFR §250.5; as well:
14 CFR § 250.2b Carriers to request volunteers for denied boarding.
(a) In the event of an oversold flight, every carrier shall request volunteers for denied boarding before using any other boarding priority. 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. Any other passenger denied boarding is considered for purposes of this part to have been denied boarding involuntarily, even if that passenger accepts the denied boarding compensation.
(b) Every carrier shall advise each passenger solicited to volunteer for denied boarding, no later than the time the carrier solicits that passenger to volunteer, whether he or she is in danger of being involuntarily denied boarding and, if so, the compensation the carrier is obligated to pay if the passenger is involuntarily denied boarding. If an insufficient number of volunteers come forward, the carrier may deny boarding to other passengers in accordance with its boarding priority rules.
14 CFR § 250.9 Written explanation of denied boarding compensation and boarding priorities, and verbal notification of denied boarding compensation.
(a) Every carrier shall furnish passengers who are denied boarding involuntarily from flights on which they hold confirmed reserved space immediately after the denied boarding occurs, a written statement explaining the terms, conditions, and limitations of denied boarding compensation, and describing the carriers' boarding priority rules and criteria. The carrier shall also furnish the statement to any person upon request at all airport ticket selling positions which are in the charge of a person employed exclusively by the carrier, or by it jointly with another person or persons, and at all boarding locations being used by the carrier.
Link to AA Conditions of Carriage, "Oversales"
In the European Union, EC261/2004 governs denied boarding compensation.
Link to EC261 / EC 261/2004 complaints and AA (master thread)
On American Airlines, you are sometimes ineligible for IDB as allowed by the USDOT:
If a flight is oversold (more passengers hold confirmed reservations than there are seats available), no one may be denied boarding against his or her will until airline personnel first ask for volunteers who will give up their reservation willingly, in exchange for compensation of the airline’s choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, other passengers may be denied boarding involuntarily in accordance with the following boarding priority of American. In such events, American will usually deny boarding based upon check-in time, but we may also consider factors such as severe hardships, fare paid, and status within the AAdvantage® program.
If you are denied boarding involuntarily, you are entitled to a payment of
‘‘denied boarding compensation’’ from the airline unless:
- You have not fully complied with the airline’s ticketing, check-in and reconfirmation requirements, or you are not acceptable for transportation under the airline’s usual rules and practices; or
- You are denied boarding because the flight is canceled; or
You are denied boarding because a smaller capacity aircraft was substituted for safety or operational reasons; or
- On a flight operated with an aircraft having 60 or fewer seats, you are denied boarding due to safety-related weight/balance restrictions that limit payload; or
- You are offered accommodations in a section of the aircraft other than specified in your ticket, at no extra charge (a passenger seated in a section for which a lower fare is charged must be given an appropriate refund); or
- The airline is able to place you on another flight or flights that are planned to reach your next stopover or final destination within one hour of the planned arrival time of your original flight.[/code]
The previous thread is http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
Passengers involuntarily denied boarding on AA are denied usually after calls for volunteers to accept vouchers (and occasionally variable other benefits), usually beginning at $200 or $300 but possibly going significantly higher, depending on passenger response. See more below, including AA Conditions of Carriage.
See IDB / Involuntarily Denied Boarding on AA & Compensation (master thread) for INVOLUNTARILY denied boarding.
Link to US Dept. of Transportation Aviation Consumer Protection Division's "Fly-Rights - A Consumer Guide to Air Travel" section on Overbooking
"IDB" (involuntarily denied boarding) compensation is governed in the USA by "14 CFR 250.5 - Amount of denied boarding compensation for passengers denied boarding involuntarily".
Link to CFR §250.5; as well:
14 CFR § 250.2b Carriers to request volunteers for denied boarding.
(a) In the event of an oversold flight, every carrier shall request volunteers for denied boarding before using any other boarding priority. 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. Any other passenger denied boarding is considered for purposes of this part to have been denied boarding involuntarily, even if that passenger accepts the denied boarding compensation.
(b) Every carrier shall advise each passenger solicited to volunteer for denied boarding, no later than the time the carrier solicits that passenger to volunteer, whether he or she is in danger of being involuntarily denied boarding and, if so, the compensation the carrier is obligated to pay if the passenger is involuntarily denied boarding. If an insufficient number of volunteers come forward, the carrier may deny boarding to other passengers in accordance with its boarding priority rules.
14 CFR § 250.9 Written explanation of denied boarding compensation and boarding priorities, and verbal notification of denied boarding compensation.
(a) Every carrier shall furnish passengers who are denied boarding involuntarily from flights on which they hold confirmed reserved space immediately after the denied boarding occurs, a written statement explaining the terms, conditions, and limitations of denied boarding compensation, and describing the carriers' boarding priority rules and criteria. The carrier shall also furnish the statement to any person upon request at all airport ticket selling positions which are in the charge of a person employed exclusively by the carrier, or by it jointly with another person or persons, and at all boarding locations being used by the carrier.
Link to AA Conditions of Carriage, "Oversales"
In the European Union, EC261/2004 governs denied boarding compensation.
Link to EC261 / EC 261/2004 complaints and AA (master thread)
On American Airlines, you are sometimes ineligible for IDB as allowed by the USDOT:
If a flight is oversold (more passengers hold confirmed reservations than there are seats available), no one may be denied boarding against his or her will until airline personnel first ask for volunteers who will give up their reservation willingly, in exchange for compensation of the airline’s choosing. If there are not enough volunteers, other passengers may be denied boarding involuntarily in accordance with the following boarding priority of American. In such events, American will usually deny boarding based upon check-in time, but we may also consider factors such as severe hardships, fare paid, and status within the AAdvantage® program.
If you are denied boarding involuntarily, you are entitled to a payment of
‘‘denied boarding compensation’’ from the airline unless:
- You have not fully complied with the airline’s ticketing, check-in and reconfirmation requirements, or you are not acceptable for transportation under the airline’s usual rules and practices; or
- You are denied boarding because the flight is canceled; or
You are denied boarding because a smaller capacity aircraft was substituted for safety or operational reasons; or
- On a flight operated with an aircraft having 60 or fewer seats, you are denied boarding due to safety-related weight/balance restrictions that limit payload; or
- You are offered accommodations in a section of the aircraft other than specified in your ticket, at no extra charge (a passenger seated in a section for which a lower fare is charged must be given an appropriate refund); or
- The airline is able to place you on another flight or flights that are planned to reach your next stopover or final destination within one hour of the planned arrival time of your original flight.[/code]
The previous thread is http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...solidated.html
AA Bump Rates; compensation for VDB / Voluntary Denied Boarding (master thread)
Apr 25, 2012, 9:05 pm
#151
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
I'd read the fine print on those. Aren't they only good on AA flights/AA metal? That would exclude Hong Kong.
I redeemed one yesterday for Olympic Trials in Omaha ($452 fare---I've never paid that much for a domestic flight). Used another for Madrid two months ago.
If you do take an overnight bump I'd expect AA to provide a hotel. Ask about that when you volunteer.
I redeemed one yesterday for Olympic Trials in Omaha ($452 fare---I've never paid that much for a domestic flight). Used another for Madrid two months ago.
If you do take an overnight bump I'd expect AA to provide a hotel. Ask about that when you volunteer.
Apr 25, 2012, 11:07 pm
#152
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
I was booked on a SFO-JFK flight today. Checked in 3 hrs prior and the ticket agent offers a "free flight ticket". I said great and she booked me for the red-eye flight. Get the voucher and it says $250. I reminded her that she offered me a FLIGHT ticket (expecting a domestic ticket - do they still do that anymore??) Well I had to take it as she already pulled me out of the seat and supposedly lost it. Not a real biggie but slightly disappointed.
Walked to the new gate and an hour later I strolled by my old flight. Talked with one of people waiting around and asked him about the bumps. He told me they were offering $500. Doh! Feeling ripped off, I immediately went to the agent and she said I wasn't supposed to be offered the $250. After a few minutes, she whipped me out a new $500 voucher. Nice bonus for just walking by. Evidently this flight was way overbooked and they had something like 14 people with vouchers.
Waiting for my next redeye flight right now and looking at the passenger load, I might get lucky and score me a second voucher. I'm technically getting old for this sleep-in-the-airport gig but the house is empty and there's free wifi in SFO. Plus I'm on vacation for a few more days. Crossing my fingers now - lol. Looking to buy a ticket to HKG in June and fares are pushing $2k so these vouchers will definitely help.
Walked to the new gate and an hour later I strolled by my old flight. Talked with one of people waiting around and asked him about the bumps. He told me they were offering $500. Doh! Feeling ripped off, I immediately went to the agent and she said I wasn't supposed to be offered the $250. After a few minutes, she whipped me out a new $500 voucher. Nice bonus for just walking by. Evidently this flight was way overbooked and they had something like 14 people with vouchers.
Waiting for my next redeye flight right now and looking at the passenger load, I might get lucky and score me a second voucher. I'm technically getting old for this sleep-in-the-airport gig but the house is empty and there's free wifi in SFO. Plus I'm on vacation for a few more days. Crossing my fingers now - lol. Looking to buy a ticket to HKG in June and fares are pushing $2k so these vouchers will definitely help.
Jun 12, 2012, 9:35 pm
#155
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton GLD, Marriott Plat, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 2,872
I've been told that it goes by check-in time, but to some extent, it will be GA disretion (due to the ability to reroute you, get you a new connection in the next city, etc.).
Oct 8, 2012, 5:48 am
#158
Join Date: May 2004
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, UA 1K, Marriott/SPG Platinum Elite
Posts: 774
Oct 8, 2012, 3:10 pm
#159
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Oct 8, 2012, 4:00 pm
#160
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
AA Bump Rates - compensation for VDB?
For the record, the offer for my replacement flight from SFO was $300. No I didn't volunteer again.
Last edited by uxb; Oct 9, 2012 at 8:00 am
Oct 8, 2012, 5:33 pm
#161
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Alexandria, Va. USA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, DL Silver, UA Gold, *A Gold, OW Emerald
Posts: 1,492
I'm hAAppy
I was bumped from an AA flight departing at 8:05 Saturday morning from DCA to DFW. I received a $300 voucher. I checked flight aware and found that their 6 a.m. flight on the same route had been cancelled.
Nov 11, 2012, 11:06 pm
#162
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA & UK -- AA EXP 3.5MM, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat, Avis President's Club
Posts: 6,411
Would you take a bump for $40
At checkin for the 6:30 am BHM-DFW flight on Sunday, we received what just has to be the lowest VDB offer in history:
"We're oversold on that flight. Would you be interested in traveling at 5:55 pm tomorrow in exchange for a $200 travel voucher?"
Let's see, NOT take any of today's three flights, NOT take the first two flights tomorrow, finally fly on the SIXTH flight from now?
"Yes, I'd be interested in a $200 travel voucher for being bumped. You offered to bump me five consecutive times, so that's $1000 total, right?"
Wrong. $200 for five bumps works out to $40 per bump. Obviously, I declined their offer. One just has to wonder what would happen if they only need one volunteer from my party of two? The other traveler has to pay $150 change fee? Wow.
I wonder if they got their volunteer.
"We're oversold on that flight. Would you be interested in traveling at 5:55 pm tomorrow in exchange for a $200 travel voucher?"
Let's see, NOT take any of today's three flights, NOT take the first two flights tomorrow, finally fly on the SIXTH flight from now?
"Yes, I'd be interested in a $200 travel voucher for being bumped. You offered to bump me five consecutive times, so that's $1000 total, right?"
Wrong. $200 for five bumps works out to $40 per bump. Obviously, I declined their offer. One just has to wonder what would happen if they only need one volunteer from my party of two? The other traveler has to pay $150 change fee? Wow.
I wonder if they got their volunteer.
Nov 11, 2012, 11:13 pm
#164
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,813
I don't think saying 'take a bump for $40' is the right way to look at it. But there may well be people who for any number of reason might want an extra day in BHM.
Lots of times they are offering vouchers I see people literally running to the gate. From AA's perspective they might as well start low, even if in this case when the flight being offered is so far away. Someone might take it, and if not one minute later they can offer $400, etc.
Lots of times they are offering vouchers I see people literally running to the gate. From AA's perspective they might as well start low, even if in this case when the flight being offered is so far away. Someone might take it, and if not one minute later they can offer $400, etc.