Im sure they could have rerouted a person say EWR-FLL-IAH or EWR-CLE-IAH etc etc. Or FIMed them over to another Carrier

Yeah, I agree. I was looking to take the bump and they said all they could do was 10:00am the next day so unfortunately I had to pass.

OT but on the same topic
 

I'm booked on CO271 (MSP-EWR) on 9/3/07. Looking at the seat map, I wouldn't be suprised if the flight is oversold. What would be my best approach in getting a voucher, upgrade, and hotel voucher (CO271 is the last flight of the day to EWR from MSP) if they do look for volunteers?

Get to the gate a little early and make sure you're first in line to put your name on the list :)

The 1st thing to do, is NOT use the seat map as a means to tell you anything. Rubbing a magic ball is just as good.

Checking availability right now it shows 9s across the board for 1st, and 5 in Coach, so with a few Elites getting EUAed as the flight date approaches Id expect that coach will have seats and no Bumps will be needed.

Heres the link to chcek on Availability its the only free one I know that is still working properly, comes via the kindness(post) of another FTer; http://publicbackup.com/shared/flyertalk/availability/

Do I approach the GA's as soon as they get to the gate or do I wait for an announcements for volunteer bumps (like I have in the past when I did have flexability).

I figured since they show only 4 restricted seats open on the seat map (plus the exit rows) its going to be a rather full flight. Nevertheless, if there are so much availibility in 1st, whats the chance that I could get bumped up there (I'm non-elite)?

Thanks for the link. I was going to ask for it. :)

Is it safe to assume that A9 D9 Z9 are first class, R9 is refundable coach, and Y4 H4 K4 M4 are coach?

1) Best to wait around the Gate counter and when the GA comes appx 1hr or so B4 the flight, do as I do simply tell them I will wait a few minutes so that you set yourself up, believe that will go along way in helping you score anything.

2) Id say the chances for a non-Elite to get OP UPed to FC is as good as scoring with Anna Nicole Smith tonight. I take that back youd have a better chance scoring with ANS (remember shes dead).

In order to get OP-UPed you need to be w/o a seating assignment, no Elites from any ST carrier still in coach, and paying a Full Fare very expensive tkt. Otherwise they will most likely OP UP any of those others before they do You.But then if you dont have a seat confirmed and they dont need any Vols you are gonna be so SOL.

Bumps have nothing to do with being Elite but more so with where you are on the list and how many seats they need. I saw it where the 1st person on the list didnt get the bump since they needed 2 seats and the 2nd & 3rd persons were a couple and the 2 needing to get on the flight were a couple, but just the same they might take the 1st person on the list and then skip the next 2 since they were together and not willing to spilit up and the #4 becomes the 2nd person to get the Bump. Its a case of YMMV and getting theflight on time or with the least delay as they can.

"R" is a deep-discounted First Class fare.

R is a discounted first class bucket (as are D and Z). Y is the highest coach bucket.

I believe R on CO is also a 1st class seat, otherwise it would be R4 if it was coach, and it also appears before the 'Y' does so that means its not Coach. From the 'Y' down is Coach.

Remember EUA ( auto Upgrades) hasnt been processed yet, and the 9 in FC is the min # it could be 12 or 16 depending on how many seats there are on the plane. The Upgrading goes on till 3 hrs before flight time, so as people are Uped it will open up seats in Coach, so if they sell another 4 seats but Upgrade 6 people it will end up with 6 empties in Coach

I appreciate it, craz. I'm usually running to the gate when the boarding is already underway. Thus, I don't try to "rock the boat (or the plane in this case)" with trying to score a better seat. I know this time around I am going to have excess time at MSP.

Just to clarify, when I said w/o a seating assignment as of yet, I meant Generally as Elites and Non-Revs such as Employees would get 1st crack at FC. Then depending on how much time to flight time , how much pressure they are under to get the flight out and how many people are standing around the Gate with Confirmed tkts for the flight but w/o a Seat assignment, they might feel its best since all Elites and Employees are already spoken for that everyone else is equal that its quickest to go down the list of those who are waiting for a BP rather then start to look at if there are any people on board already that paid a Y or H fare and move them up. They might simply give it out to those w/o a seating assignment.

Then again if you didnt get FC but did get Coach you might learn that theres no longer any room for your Carry-on/s and that they will be gate checked and you will need to get it back at Baggae Claim, since you will be from the last ones that will be boarding.

Personally I do let the GA know that I dont want to wait to find out they wont need me as a Vol and then have no room for my carry-on. At times they will tell me to board and if they need me have me deboard, other times they will say once you get on we wont call you off.Alot has to do with the time pressure they are under, its alot easier and less time consuming to take as a Vol or Op Up someone at the gate then to get to the person who already boarded. That said , Ive had both happen to me, called off for a bump, Battlefield once already on board up to FC, and found out they did take Vols but since I was already on board they took whom ever was still at the Gate.

I believe for Vols they can do as they see it, for Upgrading they have to move the Elite Up out of Coach where they are already sitting, no Elites or Employees its again their call how to proceed and get the flight out ASAP.