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)
Jul 31, 2011, 9:33 am
#76
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Southern California
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Diamond; SPG Gold
Posts: 279
While I haven't been flying AA quite as much as UA, I've seen some full-in-Y AA flights this year, but nothing oversold. A quick comparison of the five or so posts here in 2011 compared to the many, many pages in the UA forums thread on 2011 VDB compensation suggests that bumps are much more frequent over there (which coincides with my experiences between AA and UA).
Is that actually the case?
Is that actually the case?
Jul 31, 2011, 10:45 am
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,492
While I haven't been flying AA quite as much as UA, I've seen some full-in-Y AA flights this year, but nothing oversold. A quick comparison of the five or so posts here in 2011 compared to the many, many pages in the UA forums thread on 2011 VDB compensation suggests that bumps are much more frequent over there (which coincides with my experiences between AA and UA).
Is that actually the case?
Is that actually the case?
Jul 31, 2011, 1:21 pm
#78
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Texas
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Plat, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,053
While I haven't been flying AA quite as much as UA, I've seen some full-in-Y AA flights this year, but nothing oversold. A quick comparison of the five or so posts here in 2011 compared to the many, many pages in the UA forums thread on 2011 VDB compensation suggests that bumps are much more frequent over there (which coincides with my experiences between AA and UA).
Is that actually the case?
Is that actually the case?
Aug 1, 2011, 9:56 am
#79
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, AA EXP
Posts: 2,704
A few days ago, I was about to take a flight out of LAX on Eagle.
Turns out the flight was oversold, and the GA needed volunteers. She offered $250 and a confirmed seat on the next fight. I went up to her and accepted, and she took my boarding pass, and of course mentioned how this is no guarantee.
She then called again for more volunteers and offered $300. One guy came up.
After boarding time, she said that neither of us get the voucher because there were two seats on the plane. So she sent us both onto the flight. I was ahead of the other passenger and when we got on, there was only 1 empty seat on the plane. The other passenger said, "You take the seat!" The FA made me sit there. She sent the other guy to the front of the plane. The GA came in and escorted him off the plane.
And I assume he got the voucher.
I feel that the voucher should have been mine because I volunteered first and I had higher status than him (he had none). But I realize I am not entitled to anything here because ultimately everything is up to the GA and I was able to depart on my originally scheduled flight. Perhaps I could have been more aggressive and saying that I volunteered to be bumped first.
Should I send CS an email still?
Thanks everyone!
Turns out the flight was oversold, and the GA needed volunteers. She offered $250 and a confirmed seat on the next fight. I went up to her and accepted, and she took my boarding pass, and of course mentioned how this is no guarantee.
She then called again for more volunteers and offered $300. One guy came up.
After boarding time, she said that neither of us get the voucher because there were two seats on the plane. So she sent us both onto the flight. I was ahead of the other passenger and when we got on, there was only 1 empty seat on the plane. The other passenger said, "You take the seat!" The FA made me sit there. She sent the other guy to the front of the plane. The GA came in and escorted him off the plane.
And I assume he got the voucher.
I feel that the voucher should have been mine because I volunteered first and I had higher status than him (he had none). But I realize I am not entitled to anything here because ultimately everything is up to the GA and I was able to depart on my originally scheduled flight. Perhaps I could have been more aggressive and saying that I volunteered to be bumped first.
Should I send CS an email still?
Thanks everyone!
Aug 1, 2011, 10:02 am
#80
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: AUS TUS
Programs: AA PLT, UA GLD
Posts: 993
recently I had chance on 3 occasions, each time they offered $300:
1, DFW-TUS, 3 hours later flight.
2, DFW-AUS, flight was about 11pm, hotel and next morning 8am flight.
3, AUS-DFW, 50 minutes later flight.
I ended up getting none of them
and each time they had no problem getting volunteers.
1, DFW-TUS, 3 hours later flight.
2, DFW-AUS, flight was about 11pm, hotel and next morning 8am flight.
3, AUS-DFW, 50 minutes later flight.
I ended up getting none of them
and each time they had no problem getting volunteers.
Aug 1, 2011, 7:41 pm
#81
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Greenville, SC
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Platinum, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 201
Aug 1, 2011, 8:56 pm
#82
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ORD/MDW
Posts: 99
I feel that the voucher should have been mine because I volunteered first and I had higher status than him (he had none). But I realize I am not entitled to anything here because ultimately everything is up to the GA and I was able to depart on my originally scheduled flight. Perhaps I could have been more aggressive and saying that I volunteered to be bumped first.
Should I send CS an email still?
Thanks everyone!
No, and I believe your instinct is correct--the GA and the airline assume they have done you a favor by not removing you from the flight despite the fact that you have volunteered. Their policy is also most likely to recognize your status as such, in removing the no-status person first. Being more proactive might have helped but in any case I doubt the airline will give you compensation for taking your originally scheduled flight.
UA appears to have higher overbooking, but with E+ they have less seats on the plane to begin with. They are also at or near the top in revenue results. AE also appears to have high oversell, at least in terms of IDB.
Nov 16, 2011, 8:00 am
#83
Join Date: May 2005
Location: BWI/DCA/IAD
Programs: IHG About to Be Demoted, AA Demoted to Nothingness
Posts: 252
I received $500 for a VDB on American Eagle this month JFK-DCA (rebooked in Y on US LGA-DCA arriving 2.5 hours later).
Got a cab voucher JFK-LGA, $7 breakfast voucher and $12 lunch voucher. I hadn't even asked about the food vouchers, but I guess it pays to be low-maintenance and nice to the GA.
Only downside was the loss of AA miles for that segment, but it wasn't a make-or-break for status.
Cross your fingers for me ... I have a three-segment award flight booked this month and am hoping to score again.
Got a cab voucher JFK-LGA, $7 breakfast voucher and $12 lunch voucher. I hadn't even asked about the food vouchers, but I guess it pays to be low-maintenance and nice to the GA.
Only downside was the loss of AA miles for that segment, but it wasn't a make-or-break for status.
Cross your fingers for me ... I have a three-segment award flight booked this month and am hoping to score again.
Nov 16, 2011, 8:24 am
#84
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: PHL
Programs: Marriott Lifetime PLT
Posts: 1,229
I appreciate them wanting to get me to the destination 99% of the time, but I guess they missed volunteer part of this arrangement.
Nov 16, 2011, 11:29 am
#85
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: Elite status everywhere, not enough time to enjoy
Posts: 255
My wife and I scored $500 each on Monday night volunteering our seats on the 5:20pm MSY - ORD. They offered a hotel, but my parents live near by and we had our newborn with us. We also got 3 seats for the Tuesday morning flight ( vs. 2 seats on Monday ).
Let's just hope AA is around long enough for me to use the $1000.00
Let's just hope AA is around long enough for me to use the $1000.00
Nov 16, 2011, 12:09 pm
#86
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Alexandria, Va. USA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, DL Silver, UA Gold, *A Gold, OW Emerald
Posts: 1,492
I was on an AA flight last week that I had thought might be oversold. They could not give a seat assignment to one man who held a confirmed reservation after boarding began. Ever hopeful, I hung around.
Then I boarded at the end of elite boarding. At the end of general boarding the gate agent with paperwork came onto the plane with a FA and called for a certain person to identify himself. No response. They went to his assigned seat (near me). No English! They then went to suspect number two seated about 20 rows further back. In five minutes they marched a uniformed FA up the aisle and off the plane.
They then seated the passenger who needed a seat.
They have lots of ways to settle an oversold situation.
Then I boarded at the end of elite boarding. At the end of general boarding the gate agent with paperwork came onto the plane with a FA and called for a certain person to identify himself. No response. They went to his assigned seat (near me). No English! They then went to suspect number two seated about 20 rows further back. In five minutes they marched a uniformed FA up the aisle and off the plane.
They then seated the passenger who needed a seat.
They have lots of ways to settle an oversold situation.
Nov 16, 2011, 12:12 pm
#87
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: BOS .. but soon SFO
Programs: UA PLAT, TK GLD, Hilton Diamond, IC PLAT, SPG GLD, Marriott GLD
Posts: 1,528
i got VDBed about 2 months ago on a LAS - DFW leg of my flight
they started at $200, needed 6 people, 4 of us had signed up, and eventually went up to $400
I asked for a meal voucher and got $15
I have been flying 4 segments a month since July and this was the second time I heard a need for volunteers. Sad, I know
the most I ever heard though was $1200 for volunteers for a UA flight leaving LAX on a sat night, but I wasn't on that flight!
they started at $200, needed 6 people, 4 of us had signed up, and eventually went up to $400
I asked for a meal voucher and got $15
I have been flying 4 segments a month since July and this was the second time I heard a need for volunteers. Sad, I know
the most I ever heard though was $1200 for volunteers for a UA flight leaving LAX on a sat night, but I wasn't on that flight!
Nov 16, 2011, 8:56 pm
#88
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 received $500 for a VDB on American Eagle this month JFK-DCA (rebooked in Y on US LGA-DCA arriving 2.5 hours later).
Got a cab voucher JFK-LGA, $7 breakfast voucher and $12 lunch voucher. I hadn't even asked about the food vouchers, but I guess it pays to be low-maintenance and nice to the GA.
Only downside was the loss of AA miles for that segment, but it wasn't a make-or-break for status.
Cross your fingers for me ... I have a three-segment award flight booked this month and am hoping to score again.
Got a cab voucher JFK-LGA, $7 breakfast voucher and $12 lunch voucher. I hadn't even asked about the food vouchers, but I guess it pays to be low-maintenance and nice to the GA.
Only downside was the loss of AA miles for that segment, but it wasn't a make-or-break for status.
Cross your fingers for me ... I have a three-segment award flight booked this month and am hoping to score again.
Nov 22, 2011, 6:58 am
#90
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
Hi. If you scroll back, you will see in certain instances where some people were put on other carriers that connected w/ AA flights. Kinda rare. Usually, AA would be on the hook for a hotel and meals if it is the last flight out, and you had negotiated accordingly.