Highest VDB comp
 

I was checking in for my PEK-EWR last week and noticed a sign on the counter offering $800 in comp for volunteering. Obviously, hotel, etc. as well. I've read in the 7-year-running VDB thread of comp almost that high, plus u/g to C, which may be more valuable, but I wanted to know what the highest VDB amount you've seen offered is.

Unfortunately, despite being 2nd in line, I wasn't needed. :(

Back in 2003 (if I remember right), I was flying MEM-AMS on KLM. It was the same time Bush was flying his troops to Iraq, and everyone had to go on European airlines. The 747 was overbooked, and they offered $750 + hotel + food to fly the next day instead. That was more than I had paid for my ticket, so I took the offer. The hotel was more like a motel, and the nearby restaurants were closed at 11 pm. I was able to use my $50 food voucher to order some Memphis BBQ-food delivered to my room. The food was good, but it was way too much! I used the $750 voucher for a trip to Argentina later that year. :)

After we gave up our seats, we had to wait until the plane had left the gate before we could do the paper work. While we were filling out the forms, 2 passengers (P) come up to the counter, and the conversation goes like this:

P: When are you going to start boarding?
GA: Boarding? The plane just left!
P: Why didn't you make any boarding announcements? We have been sitting in the waiting area for hours.
GA: Didn't you notice the other 400 passengers boarding?
P: No, we have been talking and waiting for the boarding announcement.

I think they had refundable tickets, and where going to use another airline to get to AMS.

$800, was booked in oversold BF IAH-AMS, so went out on IAH-CDG flight in BF which departed same time as the original flight. CGD-AMS was on KLM. Got in hour and half later than originally planned. ^

Out of curiosity, does COS effect VDB on int'l flights? Since Y was what was oversold, they would just op-up an elite to your seat and give his Y seat away, right?

That is a nice deal, tho.

2 of my friends got $1000 each on UA ORD-YYZ to go next morning.

It was the last flight to YYZ on the Sunday evening ending Ontario spring break.

my best give up seat was back in the 90s, coming out of dca with a 6 am departure time, over the course of the wed before thanksgiving my wife and i collected a total of $4600 of vouchers, rolled over to the next flight gave up our seats, went home in first on thanksgiving and the hilton crystal city gave us the presidental suite that nite, paid for by american, diamond at hilton at the time and pl exec. our paid tickets if i recall were in the area of $300.

we used the vouchers for a few trips to asia and europe and collected vdb a few more times as well. I think our total haul was around 300K in travel and spent around half in business.

Back in 2000 there was a big strike with AA mechanics and what not, so several flights had been cancelled ... I was booked on a MIA-EZE flight that was oversold.

Got $750 voucher and flight out two days later... out of JFK!!! AA very happily (after some sweet talking the GA) flew me to NYC early AM, and gave me car service vouchers into Manhattan. Visited friends and had a great time... then back on my way!

Highest domestic (lower 48 states) I've ever witnessed was $500 VDB offer.
IIRC this was in 2008.
Flight was CLE-STL and the RJ was over by 4.
Last flight on Friday with no direct service on Sat.
Offer was to route via MSP on NW.

They paid/needed 3 pax.

I was this same flight Tuesday and they posted a sign for same $800 (needing 8 volunteers). I asked if I could be put on PEK-IAD that had "C" space for same day (I was in "C" already). Was told had to be on CO next day and not UA. I opted out.

I checked pda.continental.com and there was one stand-bye that got on so I guess no-one was bumped.

It was actually BF that was oversold...

I was flying IAH-TUS on 11/11 and they were oversold by 4. I volunteered and was given a $500 travel voucher and $8 lunch voucher. I was actually continuing on to LAX from TUS, so they rebooked me IAH-LAX.

$500 meal voucher?!
IAD or IAH? If CO, that was a high offer, compared to what I've seen. How long did you have to wait around?

I received $600 for giving up a seat on CO about ten years ago. It was a domestic route they flew only once per day. They rebooked me in paid F on American connecting at DFW because no coach was available. Was asked at DFW if I wanted to volunteer for a VDB on the second AA flight but declined. Used that voucher for three tickets - back when fares were a lot lower.

Oops, that was a bump voucher. That would be a lot of Po'boys! :o

I ended up spending an extra two hours in IAH before flying to LAX.

My best was a DTW-IAH flight. $400 + meal voucher to wait four hours and they booked me on a Delta flight.

I always volunteer, but they rarely need me :(