The nice part of working for CO is that I am allowed to make my own decisions. I offer low amounts because I have been successful in getting volunteers for that price of $150, for a two hour later flight. I have also been turned down, at that price, and have upper the VDB to $300. There are times when no one will take the VDB and we are "forced" to IDB.

If you don't like the amount don't volunteer. I don't understand the hostility about VDB voucher amounts.

If they IDB rate is too high, CO will just cancel the entire flight and call it a weather delay so they don't have to pay. their gate agents are already well trained to say everything is a weather delay.

$150 is laughable for a VDB.

As for being "forced" to IDB, that's likely because the compensation and/or alternate arrangements were not suitable. Everybody has their price.

I've seen CO IDB people when they were unwilling to go beyond $300 in voucher compensation for a significant delay. Which is funny, because IDB compensation was $400 cash in that circumstance, and others had inquired about volunteering and would have done so for $400 or $500 in voucher.

I happen to agree with You. It doesnt make sense from COs side to offer say $300-400 or 500, if there are people willing to accept $150. The only way to know is by starting at $150.

The hostility comes from those who are willing to take the VDB but want much more then $150. Sort of like eBay where people up the bid to crazy prices where to Me it doesnt pay to keep bidding but if it remained alot lower I would go in, so all the Power to the Seller if they are able to get some one (OK idiot, I said it) to over pay for an item. Yet maybe its a Shrill or that buyer feels its a good price to them.

If someone paid $158 for a tkt and can get back $150 they see it as the tkt costing them $8, on the other hand someone willing to take the VDB might have paid say $450 for their tkt and doesnt want to jump in at $150 hoping the price goes up, or might feel that they would rather fly on their flight then wait another 2 or 3 hrs for only $150. I know they will get the final amount but could be if the final amount is $150 they wont want to take it.

You are very Right, Ive yet to see any CO employee with a gun or knife to anyone forcing them to take a VDB. I guess yrs ago $300 was the starting price and people got use to it.


I would usaully simply put myself on the list and let it run its course. Even at $150 for 2 hrs of my time isnt a bad deal. The tough part is making sure the GA doesnt give away my seat assignment (usually Exit Row or Bulkhead) till they are 100% sure they are gonna use Me. 2nd problem is even with my seat intact, boarding late can mean my carry-on is gonna be gate Checked and I'll to claim it at baggage claim if Im not needed. Thusly I get nothin for my troubles except for having to waste 30-45 mins till my carry-on comes out at baggage claim. To prevent this Ill simply tell the GA Im gonna board so that I can stow my carry-on but Im willing to deboard if you neeed my seat.

there have been times where they sent word for me to get off and other times that they simply took those who didnt board and were also on the list below me. Thats OK I got tired of not boarding and not being needed and yep, having my rollerboard being gate checked. Could be for a larger amount I would roll the dice and not board, but for a small VDB Im getting on.

Indeed, this not only damages the credibility of the GA offering such a ridiculous amount, it also harms the VDB process.

Many, many flyers are not willing to even consider the VDB process, and think it's a hassle. I point out to coworkers all the time, that damage can often be minimal (a couple of hours, you still make your meeting, that sort of thing), but they can't be bothered.

Offering a trivial amount for a VDB like this reinforces that opinion. Further, people may not pay attention to announcements if they sound frivolous. If the GA needs to go higher to get their vols, some may already be on the plane due to the earlier low offer, making them more difficult to remove.

Sure, a low amount works at times, but the net cost long-term may actually be much higher.

There are tons of people re; college kids who Jump at the $150 as its their next tkt home.

To You or someone who is working and gets good $$, OK its a waste.

I do agree with you, and cant understand why CO wont go up in value to where they can get some Vols when they will have to IDB others. By IDBing folks they not only have to pay out Ca$h in lieu of CO Money, but lose Customers who might miss an appointment be it work or social related.

Im not saying to start at $500 but I dont understand why CO would rather pay say $400 cash then $500 or 600 in vouchers which doesnt take anything out of its pockets and at the same time wont lose it a potential customer or 2 those IDBed

Yea but be fair, the GAs dont start the VDB process 1/2 way the Boarding process, they start it way ahead of even the FC being boarded and know as soon as they get to the Gate and get the flight up etc what the situation is like.

Most auctions start out low OK with a reserve built in.If its done properly a GA should have enough time to raise the Amount till they get the # of Vols they need, w/o causing any problems to the boarding process.

FWIW, I dont usually wait for the GA to ask, Im up there if I know the flight is full or over-sold and offering my seat and asking to be put onto the list.

Perhaps, but also look at where this is. CO out of SFO. The shortest flight on CO out of SFO is SFO-IAH, which can be had nowhere near $150 RT.

Had this been AUS or SAT, where you can blow a $150 voucher and definitely get a ticket, maybe the GA would have reason to start at that number.

Even starting at $200 out of SFO is not likely to cover a single RT ticket on CO in L class under normal circumstances, hence making the $150 offer laughable.

Most on this board would agree, but it exists and continues to exist because of its success on certain routes.

Why do I start at $150....because that's HALF of the cheap roundtrip fare, for IAH flights. For flights to EWR I start at $250, once again based on the cheapest round trip fare. I hold onto volunteer's boarding passes and do not release their seats until I am positive I'm oversold. If I don't get anyone for the lower amount I increase the amount by $50 until I do. So far I have been very successful but then again I do the red-eye flights and those that volunteer are offered the next day's flight, hotel for the night and the VDB...not such a bad deal.

But its not only SFO, CO or any other Carrier has a standard policy. There are plenty of places where a $150 will cover all if not most of the cost of a tkt, and except for those who bill a large hourly rate, own their own biz or are in a rush to get somewhere, Im sure CO most of the time wont have a problem getting any Vols. Its just most of us here on FT would want alot more for a VDB most likely as they will be giving up an Exit Row or Bulkhead and wont beable to recieve the same in kind on the new flight. So not only is $150 not much in their eyes but they will be taking a downgrade in the type of Coach seating they will have. No problem , dont Vol.

CO can start @ $50 if they want to, if they get Vols all the Power to them, if they dont and then IDB people cause they didnt go beyond say $300, its plain Stupid to Me but maybe for some unknown reason it makes sense to CO, not to increase the amount and to actually IDB people, I cant think of a single good reason but who knows in this Biz 1 can never tell.

Have you had to IDB many people?

For a one or two hour delay I'd probably take it, assuming I could get a comparably comfortable seat (and that's a relative measure). It is a bit of game theory in that I want to get in early to make sure I get the VDB (assuming I can afford the time) but also want others to hold out so that the price goes up, as everyone gets the max price. I've taken a $100 voucher before on ATL-EWR with a rebook on the DL flight into JFK leaving at about the same time. I flew on the 777 in a bulkhead instead of a 735 in the back (exit row, maybe) and would do it again every time. I've also taken $250 for SEA-EWR from F into a DL F seat.

A lot of factors go in to it, but if I've got nothing else going on then any credit is better than none, and I can usually continue working or drinking in the P Club so the wait isn't completely wasted.

I agree with sfogate, if you don't like the VDB offer, don't volunteer to give up your seat. Nodoby is forcing you to do it. Why would anyone care if CO has to IDB, unless one has a financial interest in the company?

No, I have only IDB maybe 5 people, except for Christmas 2002. Revenue management made a horrible error (they forgot about Y-2K and 9-11) and grossly overbooked all flights out of SFO for 2 days, 5 days before Christmas. I ended up IDB over 50 people on one night, each getting $400 cash, hotel, meals and some flight home and everyone was happy, nice and totally understanding. I knew I had no hopes in getting volunteers, didn't even bother with the exception of one annoucement asking for some (just to say that I tried) and told everyone that didn't have a seat that they were now IDB's and to have a seat or come back after the flight departed. Most of these customers were the younger college types going home for the holidays and loved getting the bump. I even got thank you notes from some of them.