VDB compensation question
Mar 28, 2010 | 5:42 pm
#16
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Join Date: Nov 1999
Posts: 24,150
For my IAH-CLT (and onto CLE) flights last week, they were still selling seats on US.com about 2 hours before the flight when the GA told me it was oversold and put me on the volunteer list.
I had to go IAH-CLE-IAH with 2 days notice and took US because:
1. I could connect in CLT and get more miles
2. The CO flights were about 2x the cost
3. The CO flights were full up front so I wasn't gonna get upgraded anyway
4. My coworker was going, too (he chose the direct flights), and I really hate traveling with him
It turned out that for my $612 US flights, I got a $200 voucher on the outbound (and got pushed to the CO direct flight arriving within 20 mins of the original flight) and a $400 voucher on the return while in CLT (they then pushed me to the CO flight CLT-IAH where I could get the exit aisle on the RJ). I'd take that deal any day, esp when work buys my tickets!
I had to go IAH-CLE-IAH with 2 days notice and took US because:
1. I could connect in CLT and get more miles
2. The CO flights were about 2x the cost
3. The CO flights were full up front so I wasn't gonna get upgraded anyway
4. My coworker was going, too (he chose the direct flights), and I really hate traveling with him
It turned out that for my $612 US flights, I got a $200 voucher on the outbound (and got pushed to the CO direct flight arriving within 20 mins of the original flight) and a $400 voucher on the return while in CLT (they then pushed me to the CO flight CLT-IAH where I could get the exit aisle on the RJ). I'd take that deal any day, esp when work buys my tickets!
Mar 28, 2010 | 5:54 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: US CP, CO PE, Avis First, National EE
Posts: 232
US Bump Certificates ( Take Flight Certificates ) are good towards codeshares and the DO earn miles. I can speak from experience for both within the last few weeks actually. I'm not sure where Colpuck got his information - I'm thinking maybe that's the old pre June09 certificates that acted as free tickets / basically from the award travel bucket thus non earning. Since it's still been less than a year from the change I'm sure some of the old Certs are out there. If you have a new " Take Flight Certificate " It's a dollars off cert and earns miles.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...-vouchers.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/us-ai...-vouchers.html
It was already covered that US bump certs are valid toward codeshares, but I would be curious to know when this was and if the miles posted from that flight. Those of us who hang out in The Box learned recently via colpuck that US bump certs book into a super-special non-earning fare bucket.
Mar 28, 2010 | 6:12 pm
#19
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Mar 28, 2010 | 8:58 pm
#20
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It was already covered that US bump certs are valid toward codeshares, but I would be curious to know when this was and if the miles posted from that flight. Those of us who hang out in The Box learned recently via colpuck that US bump certs book into a super-special non-earning fare bucket.
Worth noting that the US bump certs are hybrid certs -- Free Ticket -OR- $200 off. If you use it like a Free Ticket, then yes, it is non-mileage earning and books into the award travel bucket. If you use it as a $200 off cert, then it's whatever the rules are of your fare -- if you normally earn miles, you will earn miles. You can even credit the miles towards a partner.
Mar 29, 2010 | 6:53 am
#21
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
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Mar 29, 2010 | 11:10 am
#22
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Join Date: Nov 2004
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Mar 29, 2010 | 11:31 am
#23
Moderator: Avis and Rental Cars
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,070
Did you try the hotel? I've never had an issue calling a hotel (past cancellation time) and stating that I was stuck somewhere. Granted, everytime I've done it (maybe 3-4x) I told them "I will be there tomorrow, though" so they had no issue deleting one day from the stay or pushing the reservation out a day further. As always, YMMV.
Mar 29, 2010 | 11:46 am
#25
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: US CP, CO PE, Avis First, National EE
Posts: 232
Actually Channa - The US Certificates ( Take Flight Certificates ) replaced the old "Hybrid" ones in 2009. They are now a dollars off certificate and amounts are computer generated based on the cost of the segment, length of flight, etc.
Miles did indeed post for the flights -- the itin was a mix of UA and US metal.
Worth noting that the US bump certs are hybrid certs -- Free Ticket -OR- $200 off. If you use it like a Free Ticket, then yes, it is non-mileage earning and books into the award travel bucket. If you use it as a $200 off cert, then it's whatever the rules are of your fare -- if you normally earn miles, you will earn miles. You can even credit the miles towards a partner.
Worth noting that the US bump certs are hybrid certs -- Free Ticket -OR- $200 off. If you use it like a Free Ticket, then yes, it is non-mileage earning and books into the award travel bucket. If you use it as a $200 off cert, then it's whatever the rules are of your fare -- if you normally earn miles, you will earn miles. You can even credit the miles towards a partner.
Mar 29, 2010 | 12:00 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SFO
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Posts: 848
Hello all,
I have a quick VDB question. Looks like I might get one on my flight out of DCA this evening. Will checking a bag prevent me from getting a VDB?
Thanks!
I have a quick VDB question. Looks like I might get one on my flight out of DCA this evening. Will checking a bag prevent me from getting a VDB?
Thanks!
Mar 29, 2010 | 12:12 pm
#27
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,787
I have received a VDB while having a checked bag. It was DTW to IAH on Continental. They needed 5 volunteers and we all ended up with a $400 VDB and a dinner meal voucher to wait 4 hours for a Delta flight. My bag got to the airport 4 hours ahead and I went and claimed it from the baggage office.
Mar 29, 2010 | 12:20 pm
#28
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Excellent -- thanks for the updated info!
Mar 29, 2010 | 12:45 pm
#29
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Posts: 24,150
Did you try the hotel? I've never had an issue calling a hotel (past cancellation time) and stating that I was stuck somewhere. Granted, everytime I've done it (maybe 3-4x) I told them "I will be there tomorrow, though" so they had no issue deleting one day from the stay or pushing the reservation out a day further. As always, YMMV.
also did it with a car rental really wanted the car the day after I was to get in but it was 4x the price. My flight was CXed and I was rebooked elsewhere, I called up teh company and told them I wouldnt be arriving that night (truth was I was now getting in right after midnight which was the next day) and wanted to get the car at 10am instead of 10am, they told me no prob and they would honor it at the same rate
Mar 29, 2010 | 12:55 pm
#30
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yep thats what Ive done,Ive called the Hotel and simply told them I was Bumped off my flight. They usually worked something out with me, also if the VDB was say $400 and the hotel was $149 it still might be worth ditching the Hotel. If its a 1 night stay in taht city then it might not work, other times I moved the res to the following night an dCXed where I was suppose to stay that night since the CX time didnt pass on that as of yet
Usually had no problem doing this as well. Only once was the hotel a stickler about it (called some 30 minutes after the cutoff due to a VDB, and they insisted that they wanted to charge me). It was DC of course (you know how people can be there with rules).
Anyhow, got to the hotel the next day at 8:30 a.m. on my rebooked flight, and they try to tell me it's too early to check in. I said absolutely not, I'm paying for last night, so either produce a room, or produce a refund.
They scrambled for a few minutes and were able to produce a room.