Compensation question
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: YEG
Programs: Aeroplan, Starwood Gold
Posts: 35
Downsize
They're calling it a downsize due to mechanical problems. Apparently in this case both US and Canada laws say that no comp is required.
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: YEG
Programs: Aeroplan, Starwood Gold
Posts: 35
Update:
Since they consider it aircraft downgrade due to mechanical, no compensation is due, however ,We've been offered $400pp in "flight discount"
Fair?
This was my first time flying with Alaska... I normally stick with Staralliance due to status.
Not sure if this was an isolated incident but I'd rather not fly with AS ever again...
Since they consider it aircraft downgrade due to mechanical, no compensation is due, however ,We've been offered $400pp in "flight discount"
Fair?
This was my first time flying with Alaska... I normally stick with Staralliance due to status.
Not sure if this was an isolated incident but I'd rather not fly with AS ever again...
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
You might be able to use the $400 credit to purchase a (codeshare) flight on an AS partner.
Is that $400 per person or total?
You should look at your ticket price and calculate what the DOT mandated payment (in money) would be if it were officially an IDB.
Is that $400 per person or total?
You should look at your ticket price and calculate what the DOT mandated payment (in money) would be if it were officially an IDB.
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: YEG
Programs: Aeroplan, Starwood Gold
Posts: 35
$400 each.
Dot would be $1200 each for denied boarding and resulted in 19 hour delay. However I don't have a leg to stand on since they claim it was aircraft downgrade. And of course they will not compensate for lost hotel night or dinner meal.
Dot would be $1200 each for denied boarding and resulted in 19 hour delay. However I don't have a leg to stand on since they claim it was aircraft downgrade. And of course they will not compensate for lost hotel night or dinner meal.
#20
In memoriam
Join Date: Dec 2001
Programs: DL 2MM, AA MM, DL Sky Club Life, AA Admirals Club Life, Hilton Gold Life
Posts: 1,732
Compensation Stipulation Upon Check-in
I couldn't see the sense on starting a new thread and decided to tag onto this one under its Title.
More and more I am forced to make decisions while checking in on the Delta web site
e.g.
upgrades paid or requested ?
Paid Mileage bonuses ?
Trip intreruption insurance?
and now
Do I want to volunteer to give up my seat for $100, 200, 300, 400 500 ?
The last one got my attention. Why should I decide 24 hours early? At that point I'm just looking forward to getting to the airport and to the gate and then finally to my destination. I'm not interested in a bidding war based on my level of hurt a day later.
My body has been programmed to weigh all pros and cons after the facts are fully available and I don't care if somebody else has committed their decision before me.
So when i arrive at the gate and only then do I ask if they need volunteers and the answer i got this week was yes!!. After they reviewed my record and my companions, they made an offer way more then what was selectable during check-in 24 hours earlier.
I took the offer which was 8 times more than what I paid for my ticket
As I left the gate area to cash in the meal voucher they gave me I heard the PA ask for even more volunteers at 1/2 the price they offered me but still way more than was listed on the check-in site.
OK I'm happy but still curious
What factors does delta weigh in making ad-hoc offers at the gate?
In my case
I had MM status
Our two seats were in paid first class (domestic)
The flight was connecting at a gateway (international) to another full flight
Presumably some of the passengers on the flight we volunteered were high paying international passengers.
My guess is that we made 4 other people very happy (two that got upgrades and two that got on the plane at the last minute). What we paid for our tickets was not a factor as we got to our destination to our satisfaction. That the major factor were the benefits to the other passengers we saved and the lack of IROP problems flowing down wind in the Delta system.
If I'm right than I will continue to waivie my check-in decisions until I'm actually at the gate.
waiting to hear from others experience
More and more I am forced to make decisions while checking in on the Delta web site
e.g.
upgrades paid or requested ?
Paid Mileage bonuses ?
Trip intreruption insurance?
and now
Do I want to volunteer to give up my seat for $100, 200, 300, 400 500 ?
The last one got my attention. Why should I decide 24 hours early? At that point I'm just looking forward to getting to the airport and to the gate and then finally to my destination. I'm not interested in a bidding war based on my level of hurt a day later.
My body has been programmed to weigh all pros and cons after the facts are fully available and I don't care if somebody else has committed their decision before me.
So when i arrive at the gate and only then do I ask if they need volunteers and the answer i got this week was yes!!. After they reviewed my record and my companions, they made an offer way more then what was selectable during check-in 24 hours earlier.
I took the offer which was 8 times more than what I paid for my ticket
As I left the gate area to cash in the meal voucher they gave me I heard the PA ask for even more volunteers at 1/2 the price they offered me but still way more than was listed on the check-in site.
OK I'm happy but still curious
What factors does delta weigh in making ad-hoc offers at the gate?
In my case
I had MM status
Our two seats were in paid first class (domestic)
The flight was connecting at a gateway (international) to another full flight
Presumably some of the passengers on the flight we volunteered were high paying international passengers.
My guess is that we made 4 other people very happy (two that got upgrades and two that got on the plane at the last minute). What we paid for our tickets was not a factor as we got to our destination to our satisfaction. That the major factor were the benefits to the other passengers we saved and the lack of IROP problems flowing down wind in the Delta system.
If I'm right than I will continue to waivie my check-in decisions until I'm actually at the gate.
waiting to hear from others experience
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist


Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,943
Rarely have I experienced DL using the list and amounts that they solicit from the online or kiosk bidding. But I have my own strategy in that regard.
In any case, nothing is firm until you accept the deal at the gate (after they tell you how they will re-accommodate you).
In any case, nothing is firm until you accept the deal at the gate (after they tell you how they will re-accommodate you).
#22
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,407
Whew! Where to begin! 
1) If you don't want to decide at check-in - - DON'T! There's certainly nobody pressuring you to choose a $$$ amount at check-in. Simply choose not to volunteer! Done.
2) Even when you do choose an amount, they rarely seem to use those amounts. My last VDB - I bid $300 to get on the list. It doesn't mean that I had to accept it at the gate if I decided to change my mind!
When I got to the gate, I was told that she needed 6 vols, and everybody was getting $500. I told her that I had heard some offers as high as $800. She said, if I didn't want the $500 - she'd find someone else. THEN, she looked up my bid and saw that I bid $300! She asked me what I was complaining about, as I was getting $200 more than I bid! (I wasn't complaining - - Just discussing!
)
3) I'd say that, right now, because of holiday passenger loads, and this past week's IROPS due to weather nationally, flights are bursting at the seams right now, so the $$$ amounts they're paying out are higher than usual.
4) MEAL VOUCHERS?!?!? Supposedly, they stopped issuing those a long time ago! I asked at the gate, the service desk, AND, at the SkyClub! ZIP!!! NADA! And my VDB was overnight!
5) I will say one thing about bidding online. She already had my name on a sheet with #1 written next to it. So, it's possible that bidding online MAY put you higher up in the cue.

1) If you don't want to decide at check-in - - DON'T! There's certainly nobody pressuring you to choose a $$$ amount at check-in. Simply choose not to volunteer! Done.
2) Even when you do choose an amount, they rarely seem to use those amounts. My last VDB - I bid $300 to get on the list. It doesn't mean that I had to accept it at the gate if I decided to change my mind!
When I got to the gate, I was told that she needed 6 vols, and everybody was getting $500. I told her that I had heard some offers as high as $800. She said, if I didn't want the $500 - she'd find someone else. THEN, she looked up my bid and saw that I bid $300! She asked me what I was complaining about, as I was getting $200 more than I bid! (I wasn't complaining - - Just discussing!
)3) I'd say that, right now, because of holiday passenger loads, and this past week's IROPS due to weather nationally, flights are bursting at the seams right now, so the $$$ amounts they're paying out are higher than usual.
4) MEAL VOUCHERS?!?!? Supposedly, they stopped issuing those a long time ago! I asked at the gate, the service desk, AND, at the SkyClub! ZIP!!! NADA! And my VDB was overnight!
5) I will say one thing about bidding online. She already had my name on a sheet with #1 written next to it. So, it's possible that bidding online MAY put you higher up in the cue.

