BA, IDB and an upcoming YUL-CDG
 

Hi all,

My SO and I both have return tickets from YUL to CDG last week of November.

We are not planning on using them as circumstances have changed, we will stay longer in Canada.

I called to inquire regarding cancelling the tickets and I have been told that we would only get a very tiny amount (some of the taxes and fees) which I expected.

Now, I am thinking about checking in and going to the terminal to try and be INVOLS so we can get the full compensation while losing the tickets.

What are our odds? Is it worth even trying? Can anyone give pointers as to how overbooked these flights are?
We are both students so we have time to try that kind of experiments but no money to waste, for those who wonder ;)

Thanks for your help!

The actual chances that you will be IDB on a given flight at some future date are slim to none. Probably less than the investment in the cost of getting to/from the airport from wherever you are.

There is a slightly higher possibility that the flight will be oversold, that there will be a need for volunteers, that you volunteer and are among those needed. You would then get whatever it is that BA offers and you accept.

Check economy class availability for your flight and/or C inventory.
Those are often good indicators of oversold/not oversold depending on results.

I don't know about YUL, but at YVR this would be a fiddle. If you choose not to board its not easy to just leave the secure area - At YVR you need to find someone to open a door and escort you to Canada Customs & Immigration, then you need to talk to them to exit.

How do you check these? I checked on BA's website, they are still selling seats on that flight in economy. How do I check C inventory?

No, you call a TA. You ask them to list fare bucket inventory for you. (How many Y seats are there?) Then move on to another letter (B, W, and so on)

Same thing at YUL.
(I was doing hidden city and wanted breakfast so I went to the US just for that; client wouldn't pay for it so that's why I had to do that)

This seems to be frowned upon as no TA that I called was willing to do that for me.
Is that so suspicious to call a TA and ask how many Y, B and W seats are left?

No.
I have been able to do this before.
If that doesn't work you can always try going in.
It's a little bit more difficult for them to actually say to you in front of your face 'I'm not going to serve you as you're not making us any $$$'
I have GDS access anyways but OP didn't post dates.

BA94 on the 22-nov

I found the ita software matrix and tried some of these voodoo codes but I was unable to interpret the results...

I don't see why that would be a problem, we are not doing anything that violates any provincial/federal laws. It will take time, sure, we as I said we have little money and lots of time.

Because it's suspicious behavior and will result in pointed questions about why you did this. In truth, there's nothing illegal about your conduct, but this is more than simply getting someone to run around and open a door for you.

I understand. We don't mind the few hours it will take and we are more than happy to answer questions to clear any suspicion.

Beyond that I have been sent to secondary screening before.
Below is a real conversation.
(Why are you coming back to Canada after a few hours in the US?
I didn't want to travel to the US
Why did you book this flight if you didn't want to use it at all?
It's cheaper
Why did you even show up at the airport then?
VDB hunting and lounge access
WHat's a VDB?
Voluntary Denied Boarding
Do you do this often?
I've done it before but with success
What do you have on you?
(searches through my carry on)
Show me your phone
(searches through pics)
How many times have you been to the US?
I don't remember, at least 10 times in the last few months)

Flightstats shows availability (not sure how accurate it is though, and doesn't include AA)