Originally Posted by lexi (Post 30434623)

I was trying to fly out of DCA today. Lots of flight delays and cancellations due to the weather. I kept an eye on my flight (scheduled to depart in the evening), but it kept saying "on time." Early afternoon, I received a notice from Delta informing me my flight was cancelled. I immediately logged into Delta's website and picked flights where I could get non-middle seats (knowing the planes would fill up fast). Lucked out and got an aisle in the Main Cabin on the first leg and window Comfort + on the second leg (original flight was a direct flight and I'm a lowly Silver, so I'd count the new flights as a win).

When I checked in at the kiosk when I arrived at the airport, it indicated they were soliciting volunteers. I clicked "yes" to volunteer and selected $500, then printed my new boarding passes.

When I got to the gate I parked myself as close to the desk as possible. About 75 minutes prior to the flight I overheard the gate agents talking about my flight. The red coat asked the gate agent what she was doing and she said she was rebooking passengers on new flights (presumably standbys that weren't going to get seats). The red coat asked, "aren't you going to ask for volunteers first?" I stepped up and confirmed they were discussing my flight to ATL and the red coat said yes. I said I wanted to volunteer. She said, "great!" I said, "I'll stand right over here until you need me."

About twenty minutes later the gate agent called me up to the desk, confirmed my final destination, and started looking for new flights for me. No other flights would get me home tonight, so volunteering would require an overnight stay. I said I'd take the bump if they provided overnight lodging and as long as I received the same amount as the highest bid when they announced the need for volunteers. She agreed.

I felt like I was taking a gamble since we discussed no dollar amounts, but I decided to see how it played out.

Just after she finished protecting me on new flights, the flight changed to a new gate. I asked the gate agent if I should stay here with her to finish the voucher process or go to the new gate. She escorted me to the new gate where the red coat was now stationed. The red coat then proceeded to process my VDB.

She asked me how much we had agreed to. I said we didn't agree to any amount. She said how much did you bid at the kiosk. I avoided the question. She then said how much do you want? About that time, the new gate agent was starting to look up my bid in the system. I told the red coat, "How about a thousand bucks?" She said ok. The gate agent protested as she saw I had only bid $500. The red coat dismissed her and said, "it'll take a thousand to get all the volunteers we need anyway."

She started to process my voucher and I insisted that I wanted to be sure I got the same amount as the highest bid in case they didn't get enough volunteers. I said, I can wait until you close out the flight. She agreed. They then announced that they were offering $1,000 vouchers and they needed seven more volunteers. People couldn't run to the desk fast enough.

Needless to say they got all the volunteers they needed. I still got my $1,000 voucher, $45 in meal vouchers, and a hotel voucher.

Originally Posted by defrosted (Post 30441804)

They started off offering $300, then went up to $800, which caused a line. They were asking for 7 volunteers to take a later (same day) flight, I volunteered but they ended up not needing me and most of the other volunteers, but I think a couple lucky people did get the $800 vouchers.

Originally Posted by jjmoore (Post 30441977)

When there are lots and lots needed, like in this case, try to be the first one to volunteer. They always go with the first person in line (the online list doesn't matter). Even if the offer starts low, sign up. Worst thing that can happen is you decline if you're not happy with the offer and force them to either up it on the spot or go with someone else.

Originally Posted by pgh234 (Post 30442666)

There is no "always" when it comes to vouchers. I have never received a voucher in a consistent manor. As an example....one time each, even though I was first in line, I have been denied a voucher because they DID use the list, someone had higher status, I had an international itinerary, I did not speak spanish, etc etc. VDBs are like a box of chocolates...you never know what you are going to get.

Originally Posted by OHDL1 (Post 30443388)

Yep...selection of volunteers is up to the GA. They can pretty much choose who they VDB.

Originally Posted by dlflyer00 (Post 30445444)

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Originally Posted by dlflyer00 (Post 30446497)

Originally Posted by dlflyer00 (Post 30446497)

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