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]
Sep 10, 2019, 1:17 pm
#1891
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: STL
Programs: DL - PM
Posts: 226
I bid on the low side hoping it would go higher at the gate. No dice, mine ended up being the highest bid. But it was only a 24 hour delay because I requested it. They offered me the first flight Monday morning but I had a conference call I didn't want to miss so I asked for something later in the day. But you're still right; typically I get at least $800 for anything overnight.
Sep 10, 2019, 7:42 pm
#1893
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: PIT, BWI, or IPT
Programs: Dividend Miles, WorldPerks
Posts: 1,302
I bid on the low side hoping it would go higher at the gate. No dice, mine ended up being the highest bid. But it was only a 24 hour delay because I requested it. They offered me the first flight Monday morning but I had a conference call I didn't want to miss so I asked for something later in the day. But you're still right; typically I get at least $800 for anything overnight.
BTW, just scored $1000 x 3 for my wife, daughter, and myself on SLC-PIT a few weeks ago.
Sep 10, 2019, 8:03 pm
#1894
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: DL PM, MM; Marriott Plat
Posts: 458
9/9/19 - PSC-SEA - Asked for 2 but needed 1 for $500, Got in 6 hours late, Kept F upgrade for the whole route to BUF.
9/9/19 - PSC-MSP Needed 1 for $600, someone else.
I usually ask for $500 and most GA know and like me and make me first choice regardless, I know the drill and understand options so they prefer me.
Some are saying they bid low to get the bump and count on the price going up with later volunteers. Good strategy if you know that others will bid up the price but if they are only looking for one you are stuck with your low bid.
9/9/19 - PSC-MSP Needed 1 for $600, someone else.
I usually ask for $500 and most GA know and like me and make me first choice regardless, I know the drill and understand options so they prefer me.
Some are saying they bid low to get the bump and count on the price going up with later volunteers. Good strategy if you know that others will bid up the price but if they are only looking for one you are stuck with your low bid.
Last edited by Paplover; Sep 10, 2019 at 8:12 pm
Sep 11, 2019, 9:35 am
#1895
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
You are never stuck with your low bid. It is never final until they tell you the options to get you to your destination and you accept then.
Sep 11, 2019, 10:45 am
#1896
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: Delta Platinum & 2MM, Marriott Lifetime TIT, Hertz Pres Club, IHG Gold, *A Gold
Posts: 1,253
Sep 12, 2019, 12:15 pm
#1897
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 12
Generally I bid high get there first on the list, and make friends with GA. The other day a girl and I had a bump together, we were chatting and she informed me she bid $200 while I bid $500. Unfortunately They did not need her and she was asked to go on the plane. I still left with my $500 bid as I was first on list. This is where bidding high comes in handy. If I had bid lower I would not have the extra money in my pocket
Sep 16, 2019, 11:11 am
#1898
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
I always bid $200 and the lowest I've gotten so far is $500
Sep 16, 2019, 1:56 pm
#1899
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,427
Generally I bid high get there first on the list, and make friends with GA. The other day a girl and I had a bump together, we were chatting and she informed me she bid $200 while I bid $500. Unfortunately They did not need her and she was asked to go on the plane. I still left with my $500 bid as I was first on list. This is where bidding high comes in handy. If I had bid lower I would not have the extra money in my pocket
Since the GA had two amounts and only needed one volunteer, was the GA being fair to Delta by giving you more than the lowest bid?
Sep 16, 2019, 5:54 pm
#1900
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
Sep 16, 2019, 5:55 pm
#1901
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
But it turns out they won't rebook me on a sold-out flight even if they're still selling tickets on it.
Sep 17, 2019, 3:34 pm
#1902
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah USA
Programs: DL 2MM/PM, HH LT <>, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,283
Amex gift card data point
Amex gift card data point
Took a bump JFK-SLC for $700.
Selected Amex gift card on 12 Sept and received today the 17th.
Note the $700 credit arrived as two $100 and one $500 gift card. The funds expire after six months.
So unless I dump the total balance into an Amazon account I'm juggling three gift cards and the balances.
I know, first world problems.
As a conscientious flyertalker, I won't use the balance on Delta airfare because Amex plat gives 5 MR points per dollar
and won't use it on Hilton charges because of my Amex Surpass card.
Jim
Took a bump JFK-SLC for $700.
Selected Amex gift card on 12 Sept and received today the 17th.
Note the $700 credit arrived as two $100 and one $500 gift card. The funds expire after six months.
So unless I dump the total balance into an Amazon account I'm juggling three gift cards and the balances.
I know, first world problems.
As a conscientious flyertalker, I won't use the balance on Delta airfare because Amex plat gives 5 MR points per dollar
and won't use it on Hilton charges because of my Amex Surpass card.
Jim
Sep 17, 2019, 3:46 pm
#1903
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,885
Generally true, but not always. If I have data showing that a flight that is sold out/oversold, I do not propose it as an alternative, but I have had GAs/redcoats suggest them. Lot of factors including how desperate they are for volunteers, how much the GA likes you, how fed up the GA is with their employer, frequency of flights and likelihood of no-shows come into play.
Sep 20, 2019, 9:56 am
#1904
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,538
Today seems lucrative at MSP. I have taken two and heard neighbor gates soliciting too.
MSP-CVG, took 3 at $300 for a 90 minute delay, one needed - me
MSP-CVG, took 3 at $500 for 3.5 hour delay, two needed
I took a third for a total of $1100 for 6.5 delay. A fourth was available but that would have been too disruptive.
MSP-CVG, took 3 at $300 for a 90 minute delay, one needed - me
MSP-CVG, took 3 at $500 for 3.5 hour delay, two needed
I took a third for a total of $1100 for 6.5 delay. A fourth was available but that would have been too disruptive.
Last edited by Exiled in Express; Sep 20, 2019 at 4:26 pm
Oct 9, 2019, 11:38 am
#1905
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: CVG
Programs: DL
Posts: 16
Last night for BOS-CVG, they needed 3 volunteers and ended up offering $2,000. I went up to the GA when it was at $1,100 but they gave me the highest bid. They kept raising the bid until they had two more volunteers. It quickly went from $1,100 to $2,000 when no one went to the GA.
Got home at 10 am this morning instead of 10 pm last night, well worth $2,000 in Amex gift cards.
Got home at 10 am this morning instead of 10 pm last night, well worth $2,000 in Amex gift cards.