Holding boarding hostage for a VDB
Feb 9, 23, 4:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 56
Holding boarding hostage for a VDB
I'm sitting at one of the bus gates at SLC. They're potentially oversold by one into OAK and offering a much later flight there or an hour later to SFO. That part is whatever. But rather than using a mic like a normal GA, she made an announcement overhead that all Oakland passengers had to come forward then she shouted at us in the boarding area that boarding couldn't start until she had a volunteer for a potential over sold by one situation. Since when did policy preclude an IDB??? It's insulting enough to board early onto a bus and now we're getting yelled lies? Has anyone else seen this?
Feb 9, 23, 4:32 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Posts: 753
I'm sitting at one of the bus gates at SLC. They're potentially oversold by one into OAK and offering a much later flight there or an hour later to SFO. That part is whatever. But rather than using a mic like a normal GA, she made an announcement overhead that all Oakland passengers had to come forward then she shouted at us in the boarding area that boarding couldn't start until she had a volunteer for a potential over sold by one situation. Since when did policy preclude an IDB??? It's insulting enough to board early onto a bus and now we're getting yelled lies? Has anyone else seen this?
Feb 9, 23, 4:44 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,419
I'm sitting at one of the bus gates at SLC. They're potentially oversold by one into OAK and offering a much later flight there or an hour later to SFO. That part is whatever. But rather than using a mic like a normal GA, she made an announcement overhead that all Oakland passengers had to come forward then she shouted at us in the boarding area that boarding couldn't start until she had a volunteer for a potential over sold by one situation. Since when did policy preclude an IDB??? It's insulting enough to board early onto a bus and now we're getting yelled lies? Has anyone else seen this?
Feb 9, 23, 6:40 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,528
I think this is a policy/legal thing post Dao. They're not allowed to solicit volunteers onboard so with a smaller aircraft I can see the logic in not beginning boarding and reducing the pool of potential volunteers.
Feb 9, 23, 6:43 pm
#6
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3,323
I realize that it is important to complain on Fly Delta, but perhaps it would be more beneficial to file a complaint with Delta, give the flight and everything so they can work with the agent on perhaps improving his or her delivery
Last edited by Orange County Commuter; Feb 9, 23 at 6:49 pm
Feb 9, 23, 6:54 pm
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 4,651
Christmas eve I volunteered at the gate but they still needed one more volunteer so they went onboard to get someone else to volunteer as the price kept climbing until someone onboard accepted.
Feb 9, 23, 7:01 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Now in SLC
Programs: DL FO 1MM, MR LT Titanium
Posts: 4,000
By law, the GA has to ask for volunteers before IDB'ing anyone (and DL's gotten really good at IDB'ing 0 people these days). However, yelling at people rather than using the PA system is quite unprofessional and worthy of a complaint to DL.
Feb 9, 23, 7:13 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,792
One of the few bumps I have ever taken was in BOS while on board and they offered me $2,000.
Last edited by indufan; Feb 9, 23 at 8:09 pm
Feb 9, 23, 10:26 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,356
Also DL pays basically anything to prevent an IDB.
Feb 9, 23, 10:33 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2013
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Premier Gold
Posts: 2,755
I do not believe the bus gate agents are Delta employees. Everyone in that part of the airport works for SkyWest. Not an excuse but might explain some of it. Also Delta did not IDB a single passenger last year. They will delay and/or offer more money until they solve the problem.
Feb 9, 23, 10:51 pm
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 26,356
I do not believe the bus gate agents are Delta employees. Everyone in that part of the airport works for SkyWest. Not an excuse but might explain some of it. Also Delta did not IDB a single passenger last year. They will delay and/or offer more money until they solve the problem.
