Guaranteed seat on overbooked flights
Jul 15, 2013, 7:21 am
#16
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,574
If airline computer systems weren't so incredibly primitive as compared to the rest of the world, I'd say that some sort of formal IDB logic drove who didn't get seat assignments and those of us standing there in the gate area really were the 4-5 people with the lowest fare codes or some other rational factor. However, I am not convinced that's the case.
Besides, couldn't an airline simply say that check-in time is one of their preset factors? Makes the logic real simple at that point...
I've also been on flights where VDB's were not aggressively sought. Maybe the DOT requirement is that the airline makes a token offer to someone to volunteer, but on one of my IDB's there were a total of 12 bumped and *zero* gate announcements about VDB. Perhaps some passengers were offered at the kiosks, I don't know...
But I agree with you...a routine Southwest flight, IDB is a non-issue. But still check-in at T-24 hours... @:-)
Jul 15, 2013, 8:13 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Orlando, FL, US
Programs: DL-Dirt Medallion;US-Cast Iron Preferred; HH-Gold; Avis First
Posts: 3,617
Not having a seat assignment could be one of the preset reasons. The only time I ever came close to IDB, the criteria they were applying was 1) passengers without seat assignments, 2) order of check in. I did hear one half hearted announcement for volunteers, but there were no takers. Luckily I was the second to check in (out of 7 with no seats) and they had room for two.