My thoughts exactly.


Regardless of your intention, it sounded very much like a racial insult. If for instance, she was a black woman, will you have used the same reference as an african tourist or a white woman as a european tourist?
Anyhow like you said, if it wasnt your intention to insult another race, fine, I believe you, but you need to know it SOUNDED very much like one and definitely conveyed to me as one.

heh?

i guess, but what does this have to do with getting bumped on a flight?

unnecessary "information," if you ask me. without the line, the post is just as informative.

I don't get it.

Why does the O.P. begin the thread with "So" ?
What prior event is he/her referring to?

This is interesting because as I was cleaning out a pile of crap in my office, I happened across a "customer service guide" that I must have picked up at some airport. The interesting part is that it very clearly states that NW gives $400 when delayed more than 2 hours.

I've heard that this never happens with them - but why then would they publish is in customer literature.

It's also posted here:
http://www.nwa.com/plan/guide05.html

This is only when the pax INVOLUNTARILY get denied boarding. in the case of the OP, he clearly voluntarily gave up his seat.

I was also kidding (about the POS part).

It seems like some people go out of their way to try and take offense at everything. That offends me.

Hi BigLar (the O.P.),

Quick question: when you volunteered, was it made clear that anyone getting bumped was going to get a $300 ECV? Or did they tell you the "prize" after you got off the plane?

The reason I ask is that some Gate Agents (or maybe it is another airline's policy) insist on giving those potentially-annoying "free domestic ticket" vouchers instead of the $$$-off ECV's. I'm just trying to figure out what is NWA's general policy these days.

It was part of the story. The story also would have been just as informative had the OP simply written "I was bumped and got a $250 voucher plus a $100 one."

They told me it was the $300 voucher when I was volunteering. I could have taken the free ticket, but both of us knew that the voucher was the better deal.

Incidentally, the GA was a caucasian women. With nice hooters.

Not quite.

What it "very clearly states" is that for a delay of >2 hours, the compensation is not to exceed $400 and, in fact, the total amount of compensation is "200% of coupon value to first stopover point". So, if you're flying on a el cheapo MSP-ORD flight where the ticket was ~$100 round-trip, the most they would give you is 200% of the one-way, which would be ~$100 in compensation. Of course, reading closely, you'll see that this guide is for involuntary denied boarding (IDB) and these figures are minimums set by the Department of Transportation. In all reality, the airline may be willing to give more. But this is just the minimum according to the law.

What we're talking about -- and people who try to get a "bump" are talking about -- is a voluntary denied boarding (VDB). The airlines typically give out much more compensation when you voluntarily decide to give up your seat. Less hassle and conflict for them, and they know there are people out there willing to do it (usually). These figures of $300 or $450 or $750 (for int'l trips) are usually the standard rates that they offer for VDBs. Interestingly, one should note whether the "standard" VDB offer is potentially lower than the minimum IDB offer required by law. In some cases, it could actually be, especially if you're on a high-priced ticket. Of course, if you choose to go down this route, a gate agent may simply choose to deal with the next person in line if they feel you are being too demanding...

Since some kids cant play nice... I'm closing this thread... be warned... more may be coming if you cant respect the TOS of FlyerTalk....

I have some editing and warnings to issue on this thread later...