Never mind anyway, I was considering the "extension" angle and not "book for someone else" angle.

got $1000 on 8/11 for giving up my seat on the first direct morning flight from jfk-msy.

as a college student who doesn't make that in a week and had to take off in order to take a vacation...i must say i was pretty ecstatic!

(now i just have to plan all my trips around overbooked flights.)

I try that, sort of. I'd rather get the most overbooked or emptiest-in-F flights. And it's seldom worth paying up for the most overbooked, RM is pretty good (usually) at avoiding oversells.

flying LGA-ORD shuttle last Friday. GA announced due to the excessive heat (it was in the high 90s and very humid in NYC) they were looking for 6 VDB volunteers as they couldn't fly the plane full. They didn't know how many seats they needed until the Captain made the call.

GA solicits volunteers at $300 for a flight later tonight. I was #2 to volunteer. Then offer goes up to $400 and finally red coat offers up $600. That was the only way to get all the volunteers they needed.

Ended up needing only 3 volunteers and I was one of the lucky 3. $600 voucher or gift card and rebooked on a flight later same evening.

I overheard another GA for the flight after mine they needed 10-12 volunteers for VDB due to the same capacity issues. THe amount of offer wasn't announced over the intercom but they were offering hotel and flight the following morning.

Tuesday 8/16 all three GRU flights were oversold. Offered $600 VDB Voucher, OR a Business Class Upgrade, at checkin (!) for flying the next night. Said I'd think about it.
Ended up going away with $600 VDB voucher AND Business Class upgrade the next night. Nice to have the Olympics in Brazil! :D
Very nice GRU staff as well. Marriott GRU airport is a great hotel-- very good food and beverage, and also excellent gym to while away the hours!

Flying on DL 1601 next Friday BOS - ATL - currently only 1 seat remaining in F and Economy is at an extremely expensive M fare, can anyone see if it's likely to be an oversell? Considering showing up to BOS a little earlier to see if they put me on one of the earlier ATL flights.

This week was flying PSC-SLC-AUS in the evening. PSC-SLC oversold by two so took $400 VDB and went the PSC-SEA-JFK-AUS routing with SEA-JFK redeye. Bonus was meeting DaveTravels in SEA, both of us looking for VDB. They were oversold by 7, 8 no shows. Darn!!

I need picture or video proof that you met Davetravels or it didnt happen.:D

With M tickets now, they might oversell, might not. Only once in several years of VDB hunting have they put me on an earlier flight with a VDB. Expect them to wait to see if they have no shows and actually have to bump someone. If you want the earlier flights, try SDC or SDS, very unusual to get an earlier flight with a VDB.

But I did. We even sat next to each other in first on the SEA-JFK flight. He is a really nice guy too. First time I met a fellow FT'er on the road.

At best they'll let you SDC/SDS without a fee for an earlier flight. You're not going to get them to put you on the earlier flight and give you VDB.

To me it sounded like they wanted to leverage the possible oversell into a free SDC at Logan.

If so - good shot. They may or may not waive the fee unless you're eligible for a waiver. But I guess they may overlook the fare class restriction if your flight is over day of. All discretionary, so doesn't hurt (or if you have status just call).

Davetravels, like Dracula, doesn't show up on film or in mirrors.

I also met davetravels in SEA this week and also missed out on a VDB opportunity. Hmm...

He is usually looking for VDBs from what I could gather. Was it Monday night that you saw him?