I haven't heard the best reviews. I would look at changing it to return from one of the other cities in the region. Remember, Italy is a short hop away.

I was the first to volunter. Agent never asked if I would like to not go later, in fact, the agent had already booked me on later FC flights in the day on CO. The agent or someone else had protected me already. At least two other volunters, all that were taken were not only given $350 vouchers but one had a ticket bought on AA for her later in the day due to connection and the other volunteer was overnighting at CO expense. I would have been on all CO and would have made my connection at IAH. I volunteered at 6:30 am and the others volunteered later on.

Part of the reason that I wanted this bump was not only for the $$$ but also because it would have allowed me to have dinner potentially at IAH with my parents. the agent never taked about the FC issue. I just think that volunteers should go in the order received unless their is some costly reason why someone shouldn't be bumped. Next time I will hopefully be luckier.

SFOGATE - Have you ever had someone get angry about not getting a VDB?

You can run but you can't hide. :)

Seriously tho, in writing about this industry, most of the reporters for general interest publications have their own agendas and make it a practice to fit whatever is told them into the story in order to bolster their point.

You will also find that almost all of them come from the vantage of their desk and armchair and have very little real experience in dealing with the road and concomitantly little understanding of the real problems which are encountered.

Very true. But the prospect of spending a night in Prague was very intriguing to me. Another option they offered was via LHR, but it would require spending the night in London. But, with the times, it wouldn't really make sense to go into the City. :o

Although, with the frequency I'm in Germany, I suppose I could just train it over to Prague for a weekend.

What kind of aerogeek would pass up a ride on a 310 before they cease flying? ;)

CZ's international J is not much to write home about, from what I understand. Their intra-European J, however, is much better than most with respect to hard product. Why not fly PRG-LHR-JFK on CZ/VS?

Interesting. Would that bump up the mileage depletion?

(regarding the interview - the reporter absolutely had an agenda, that I wasn't able to speak to. I'm actually surprised that it looks like they'll be using a quote or two of mine.)

Prague is excellent, but I think it would be a waste of miles to take CZ J.

No, I haven't had anyone get mad at me for not getting a VDB, just those that were the overbooked ones.

Every GA works their overbooked flights differently. I just like to talk to those that are volunteering to see what they understand about the process and what they want out of it, if we use their seat. Some people want on the next flight and others, like yourself, want much later flights. I am to please as long as it all works within the guidelines that I have to follow.

It shouldnt, though it will be tough on the agent to ticket. Bottom line, have some fun and check all of your options. www.skyteam.com will help, as will we.

Taking VS across the pond, and the VS Clubhouse at LHR, make it all worthwhile! Or, for the geek in ya, try grabbing a 74M or MD11 out of AMS.

No.

There are myriad other Skyteam options to/within Europe. European reward options are an underappreciated jewel of Skyteam. Hell, you could go PRG-IST(CZ)-JFK(DL) if you wanted to.

Thanks for the insight!

It's happened to me once, in 2006, on IAH-TYR. I was the first volunteer, and five were needed. Unfortunately the only other volunteers they could get were a family a five, with two adults and three young children. So I was put back on the flight and they were given the bump. Compensation was $250 + meal voucher and a flight about two hours later. That was the last time I volunteered, as I refuse to volunteer if it disrupts my work schedule, or if I'm confirmed in F on my original flight and will be in Y on the new flight.

No. And why should CO, or any airline, give the VDB voucher to anyone who gets on the original flight? You volunteered, but there's no guarantee they'll actually need you. If they don't, why should you be rewarded? It creates the impression that you're just trying to take advantage of the airline. To me asking for the voucher is just greedy.

It might. They may assume that you'd rather have the F seat on the original flight than a bad Y seat on a later flight. And if they bump you, then they have to upgrade an elite who has already boarded, then give that Y seat to someone else. That's extra work that the agent just might not have been willing to do.

I'm sure that the ease of rebooking also comes into play here, especially if you have a connection. Other issues, such as checked baggage, may also be factored in.

It won't be tough on the agent - it may take them a bit longer to ticket it if they aren't used to doing complex partner rewards, but they will be able to do it without issue. Recently, I had itineraries like IAD-LHR(VS)-CDG-IST(AF)-PRG(stopover)-AMS-LHR(overnight)-IAD(VS) ticketed and changed without issue.

That does seem to be improving, at least in new construction properties. I've stayed in two aLofts and three Hampton Inn and Suites opened in the last 12 months that not only have HD TVs, but actual HDTV service.

When I mention this I mean in the since should one press the be the person VDBing, not get the voucher if one makes the flight.