VDB Chances and Tips
Jan 7, 2013 | 5:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: Enough
Posts: 961
VDB Chances and Tips
I will be flyıng AMS-YYZ on Jan 8, KL 0691. Right now, Expertflyer is showing all zeroes other than Y1. Does this look like an oversell, and if so, what can İ do to try and get VDB? Also, what is the expected VDB comp from this route? I am a E+ (DL GM). Thanks! 
Jan 7, 2013 | 11:11 am
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,396
IF they need volunteers (note the big 'if'), it will be announced at the gate. VDB is not common in Europe (at least on this board compared with US airlines) so I have no idea what kind of compensation. Bear in mind that a flight that shows zeroed out doesn't necessarily have to be overbooked. There could be pax who don't make it, especially transfer passengers.
Jan 7, 2013 | 11:13 am
#3
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,396
Jun 22, 2013 | 8:18 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2008
Location: BOS/SIN
Programs: SQ
Posts: 2,704
Flying AMS-LHR connecting from a USA flight and now need to be in AMS that afternoon. I was planning on just skipping the leg, but my flight is completely zeroed out
[KVS Availability Tool 7.2.1/Diamond - Availability/FS/US]
Now, if this flight is overbooked and I can VDB, I don't mind continuing on to LHR and then using Avios for a nice LHR-RTM on the 13:00 flight. Obviously I'd monitor this up until departure since it's still a few days out, but it sure looks overbooked to me. Plus, there's probably no chance my hotel in Holland would check me in at 6 AM anyways.
What exactly is KL's policy for VDBs - do they happen as often as on DL? What would they offer for compensation?
[KVS Availability Tool 7.2.1/Diamond - Availability/FS/US]
Code:
AMS Amsterdam Schiphol NL [EHAM] LHR London Heathrow UK [EGLL] Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Availability --------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- -------------------------------------------------------------- KL 1001 AMS 07:15 LHR 07:40 73H J0 C0 D0 I0 Z0 O0 Y0 B0 M0 U? K0 H0 L0 Q0 T0 E0 N0 R0 V0 G0 X0
What exactly is KL's policy for VDBs - do they happen as often as on DL? What would they offer for compensation?
Jun 23, 2013 | 3:40 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; LH Senator; A3 Silver
Posts: 30,617
Last year, on a flight from LHR to AMS, they asked for volunteers for payment of just €75 and were swamped with volunteers.
As reported in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/klm-f...oaded-klm.html
It certainly doesn't happen as often as on DL. And it probably won't happen on your flight. That was the first -and only- time I had experienced that on KLM.
PS - if you don't plan on flying to London anyway, are you not flying with checked luggage?
As reported in this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/klm-f...oaded-klm.html
It certainly doesn't happen as often as on DL. And it probably won't happen on your flight. That was the first -and only- time I had experienced that on KLM.
PS - if you don't plan on flying to London anyway, are you not flying with checked luggage?
Jun 23, 2013 | 5:29 am
#6
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 8,253
And if there is no availability, it can mean just that: All seats have been booked. It does not necessarily mean that more bookings have been accepted than the number of seats available.
Jun 23, 2013 | 12:10 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist and Ambassador: The British Airways Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Diam, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 33,220
My experience is that particularly on short/medium haul flights from AMS, it is really useless to try and double read overbooking (or lack of) from availability data. Think of it that way, one US flight arriving 30 minutes late and suddenly there might be lots of empty seats on your plane. By contrast, 10 or 15 delayed passengers might mean that the next flight which shows Y9...N9 R9 G9 might end up being overbooked!