Nov 30, 2018, 8:49 am
Last edit by: ryandc99
Link to open 2020 and beyond version of this thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...20-beyond.html
My (LoganFlyer's) guide to maximizing your bump chances on Delta:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30484249-post1713.html
(The concise version:
1. Use the App to see if more people are looking for seats than there are seats available. As part of the Customer Commitment, gate agents, phone res agents, and tickets agents must tell you if a flight is overbooked if you ask. (They don't need to say by how many seats.)
2. Do everything you can to get on the volunteer list through OLCI or a kiosk at the airport, since some GAs use that list.
3. Talk to the GA as soon as the gate opens up--don't wait for them to make an announcement.
4. Don't be afraid to negotiate with the GA.)
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...20-beyond.html
My (LoganFlyer's) guide to maximizing your bump chances on Delta:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30484249-post1713.html
(The concise version:
1. Use the App to see if more people are looking for seats than there are seats available. As part of the Customer Commitment, gate agents, phone res agents, and tickets agents must tell you if a flight is overbooked if you ask. (They don't need to say by how many seats.)
2. Do everything you can to get on the volunteer list through OLCI or a kiosk at the airport, since some GAs use that list.
3. Talk to the GA as soon as the gate opens up--don't wait for them to make an announcement.
4. Don't be afraid to negotiate with the GA.)
Compensation: “Bumps” — Voluntary and Involuntary Denied Boarding [2000-2019]
Apr 14, 2018, 6:25 pm
#1576
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
LGA-DFW (E-175) was oversold by four on Friday night. Because of the bad storm front passing through Texas and most of the Ohio Valley, our flight plan had us going west towards Chicago, then looping over Wichita and Oklahoma City before coming back towards DFW. The offer was $800 plus a hotel and rebooking the next day. I was doing a mileage and mattress run and my upgrade had cleared, so I wasn't all in on taking a bump. The best offer they gave me at the gate was $800 and a taxi voucher home, plus trip in vain refund. I didn't bite and told them to find me onboard if they needed me, I guess they re-did the numbers a bit as they ended up allowing 14 standbys on the flight and not taking any VBDs.
Apr 15, 2018, 1:08 pm
#1577
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Generally you don't get ORC if you take a refund.
Apr 15, 2018, 1:15 pm
#1578
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
Generally you don't. You certainly don't automatically. But it's amazing what you can get if you ask politely under the right circumstances. (I've had a RUC returned to me, after I flew in F. That's not supposed to be possible.)
Apr 15, 2018, 1:16 pm
#1579
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
3/24 DL2262 LAX-JFK
7 Volounteers were searched at the gate. $500.- .
The gate agent was quite lazy and only offered the connection LAX-SLC-JFK (redeye)... I would have taken the offer, if he would had rebooked me LAX-SFO-JFK (2 seats available) but he did not want and I did not wanted to fly for $500 in F-cl recliners with no lounge access in SLC... BTW it was a good choice to stay in DL One on DL2262 as the crew and food was amazing!
7 Volounteers were searched at the gate. $500.- .
The gate agent was quite lazy and only offered the connection LAX-SLC-JFK (redeye)... I would have taken the offer, if he would had rebooked me LAX-SFO-JFK (2 seats available) but he did not want and I did not wanted to fly for $500 in F-cl recliners with no lounge access in SLC... BTW it was a good choice to stay in DL One on DL2262 as the crew and food was amazing!
Apr 15, 2018, 1:35 pm
#1580
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, MM, NR; HH Diamond, Bonvoy LT Gold, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Diamond, others
Posts: 12,159
3/24 DL2262 LAX-JFK
7 Volounteers were searched at the gate. $500.- .
The gate agent was quite lazy and only offered the connection LAX-SLC-JFK (redeye)... I would have taken the offer, if he would had rebooked me LAX-SFO-JFK (2 seats available) but he did not want and I did not wanted to fly for $500 in F-cl recliners with no lounge access in SLC... BTW it was a good choice to stay in DL One on DL2262 as the crew and food was amazing!
7 Volounteers were searched at the gate. $500.- .
The gate agent was quite lazy and only offered the connection LAX-SLC-JFK (redeye)... I would have taken the offer, if he would had rebooked me LAX-SFO-JFK (2 seats available) but he did not want and I did not wanted to fly for $500 in F-cl recliners with no lounge access in SLC... BTW it was a good choice to stay in DL One on DL2262 as the crew and food was amazing!
BUT: You say there were 2 seats available. Were they actually available, or just for sale? The new policy is apparently that they won't rebook VDB pax into salable seats on an overbooked flight.
Last edited by sethb; Apr 15, 2018 at 1:36 pm Reason: add info
Apr 15, 2018, 2:48 pm
#1581
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: ZRH/SFO
Programs: A3*G - AZ CFP- HH DIA
Posts: 3,666
How long before the flight they offered/the flight you wanted? You can let them rebook you the way they want, then have another agent (I use the Sky Club, but the rebooking desk works too) rebook you on the flights you want. (But I take it they didn't need the D1 seat, just 7 volunteers. Still surprising they got that many that cheap.)
BUT: You say there were 2 seats available. Were they actually available, or just for sale? The new policy is apparently that they won't rebook VDB pax into salable seats on an overbooked flight.
BUT: You say there were 2 seats available. Were they actually available, or just for sale? The new policy is apparently that they won't rebook VDB pax into salable seats on an overbooked flight.
I approached the gate T-60min as I already confirmed my willigness to VDB during online check-in... The (same) check-in agent told me then "no this flight is not overbooked"... Before the start of bording then the announcement from the same guy, that 7 VDB's were searched... Of course he could not remember our encounter an hour ago...
Can't say if the SFO-JFK flight was also overbooked... But my original RDB "Z" was still bookable as well of "F" from LAX to SFO... But I did not really care about the lazyness (and stupidness) of this agent, at the end it's his problem to solve this overbooking problem...
Apr 15, 2018, 3:38 pm
#1582
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: Delta Plat
Posts: 3,363
I didn't know this thread existed.
I got 800 delta dollars recently for skipping my flight, put onto a direct flight in 1st and got the double MQM. I originally paid 489 for the flight.
I got 800 delta dollars recently for skipping my flight, put onto a direct flight in 1st and got the double MQM. I originally paid 489 for the flight.
Apr 15, 2018, 4:31 pm
#1583
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: Delta diamond, SPG platinum, Hyatt diamond
Posts: 351
Apr 15, 2018, 7:20 pm
#1584
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: Delta Plat
Posts: 3,363
Apr 15, 2018, 7:33 pm
#1585
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,316
The last time I was VDB’d on a badly overbooked flight due to equipment downgrade from 767 to 757 and went from a connecting flight to a non-stop, the GA stated that I wouldn’t get any voucher because “DL is doing me a favor and I will be getting to my destination 2 hours earlier by going from a connecting flight to a non-stop.” (It really wasn’t a favor as I still had to wait for someone else who was actually on my original second flight and my bags went on my original flight) I decided that I would take there offer and fight it later as I needed to hurry to my new flight. My first call to DL goes nowhere and the agent accuses me of lying saying I was always booked on the non-stop. I quickly HUCA and speak to a lovely lady who told me she was sorry for my experience and was able to get me a $500 voucher and as an added bonus gave me a $100 Delta E-Gift Card for the other two bad agents I dealt with in this situation saying that if you VDB for any overbooked flight, you should always get some type of compensation for it.
Apr 15, 2018, 7:45 pm
#1586
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Somewhere
Programs: Delta Plat
Posts: 3,363
I had volunteered at check-in and requested 200 dollars and at the gate, they asked for volunteers and offered 800 i snagged it faster than they could say delta.
I also got to NY at 9PM was scheduled to arrive on original booking through ATL at 1 am.
I also got to NY at 9PM was scheduled to arrive on original booking through ATL at 1 am.
Apr 16, 2018, 12:20 pm
#1587
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
The last time I was VDB’d on a badly overbooked flight due to equipment downgrade from 767 to 757 and went from a connecting flight to a non-stop, the GA stated that I wouldn’t get any voucher because “DL is doing me a favor and I will be getting to my destination 2 hours earlier by going from a connecting flight to a non-stop.” (It really wasn’t a favor as I still had to wait for someone else who was actually on my original second flight and my bags went on my original flight) I decided that I would take there offer and fight it later as I needed to hurry to my new flight. My first call to DL goes nowhere and the agent accuses me of lying saying I was always booked on the non-stop. I quickly HUCA and speak to a lovely lady who told me she was sorry for my experience and was able to get me a $500 voucher and as an added bonus gave me a $100 Delta E-Gift Card for the other two bad agents I dealt with in this situation saying that if you VDB for any overbooked flight, you should always get some type of compensation for it.
Apr 16, 2018, 12:45 pm
#1588
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,316
UA tried to pull that stunt on me several years ago in a VDB situation where I would arrive at my destination earlier. I politely told them I didn't want to give up my seat for no compensation and walked away, which was promptly followed by them calling me back up and offering the voucher. Never agree to anything if you are not satisfied with the outcome. They cannot remove you against your will from your booked itinerary. If the airline's agents do this, it should be reported in to the airline, and you should be compensated what the other volunteers received at the very least.
Apr 16, 2018, 1:22 pm
#1589
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
I knew that DL would eventually give me some sort of voucher for VDB and didn't really want to take the original flight anymore as it wasn't on a 767 and both flights were now on a 757 and I was reseated in a middle Y- seat after the downgrade and ended up getting a C+ aisle on the new flight. Our flight needed more than 30 volunteers and was an HNL flight so not many wanted to volunteer so DL should have been begging me with compensation to get off. I actually sent a tweet to DL and they told me that I would receive a voucher upon arrival into OGG from the GA for VDB but there was NO DL GA in sight when I got off the plane in OGG and even waited until everyone got off to see if anyone showed up but no one showed up. (flight wasn't leaving OGG until 8pm) and the ticket counter was closed. I ended up calling DL and after one HUCA got one of the best DL agents I have spoken too and she took care of me and was very apologetic for my experience and said the LAX GA and Red Coat (who was at the gate) were wrong for not giving me a voucher. I even asked the GA boarding the OGG flight before leaving LAX and she just told me to call DL as there was nothing she could do at the time.
Apr 16, 2018, 1:45 pm
#1590
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,926
I actually sent a tweet to DL and they told me that I would receive a voucher upon arrival into OGG from the GA for VDB but there was NO DL GA in sight when I got off the plane in OGG and even waited until everyone got off to see if anyone showed up but no one showed up. (flight wasn't leaving OGG until 8pm) and the ticket counter was closed. I ended up calling DL and after one HUCA got one of the best DL agents I have spoken too and she took care of me and was very apologetic for my experience and said the LAX GA and Red Coat (who was at the gate) were wrong for not giving me a voucher. I even asked the GA boarding the OGG flight before leaving LAX and she just told me to call DL as there was nothing she could do at the time.