Hey I was third or fourth in line for a nonstop UAL flight yesterday from oakland, had an insanely cheap fare, volunteered to be bumped, wasn't on the plane, and yet others were bumped, I wasn't. Anyone have any idea why?

How do the airlines determine who get bumped?

maybe they were on "the list" before you... did you get up as soon as they announced that they were looking for volunteers?

also, with regard to your "who gets bumped" question I think that often times it has to do with:

1) who can they accomodate on their airline on a different routing. Happens more at a hub where they'll pawn you off on one of their connecting flights.

2) large blocks of people. If there is a family of (4) travelling together and they're eager to take a bump, that is much easier for the airline to deal w/ than (4) individuals. It also frees up the space faster.

3) people that they know can be reaccomodated on the same day. I know you were flying direct, but if you were flying some little podunk town w/ limited service then it would be difficult for them to get you another itinerary...

I'm sure others will other reasons...

That what was so odd about this. I seemed to have everything in place to be bumped.

1. I was third or fourth in line for the flight and immediately put my name in.
2. The flight was nonstop from oakland to washington d.c. and I wasn't changing planes when I got to Washington.
3. My ticket was $206 round trip

But other people were bumped. I wasn't

People with higher status will pass you on the "bump" list if they choose to get bumped.

Perhaps they were non-revs?

Did it look like they were offered compensation?

Cheers,

birdstrike

I fly out of OAK regularly. I recall volunteering once on an oversold Denver flight, and they didn't use me. In this case, they were worried about my making a connection, where the others they did bump were ending in Denver. This does not seem to the situation with you, though.

I'm convinced frequent flyer status does play a part in bumping with UA. I was bumped 8 times last year, and can't recall a flight that they did not use me when they needed someone. I'm at the 1K level though, and I think that moves me to the top of the list.

Do you have any frequent flyer status with UA? Maybe the others were higher tier frequent flyers?

Birdstrike -
What is a non-rev?

non-rev = non-revenue

Usually an employee who is flying free and is only able to fly if there is a seat that would otherwise go empty.

Also did you wait for them to call for volunteers? If you did then you were not the first on the list - especially if I was there.
When checking in I inquire if the flight is oversold. If the answer is yes than I ask to be put on the volunteer list and most times I am accommodated at that point.

space available non-rev PAX usually don't get "bumped" on a full flight. They simple don't get a seat since there is no space. Bumping usually applies to people with confirmed reservations. space available non-revers don't have this.

This isn't that complicated.

The airline tries to get more volunteers then they will need so that they won't have to try to find more at the last minute. Volunteers are placed on the standy list in an order dependant on the airline's specific policy. After the check in deadline the agents will release the seats of passengers who haven't checked in and will start at the top of the list and work down. As they reach the last few available seats they may have to pick some volunteers our of order in order to match the number of passengers traveling together to the number of remaining seats. If that's not possible then they'll ask a group of volunteers if they'll split up.

Well I was traveling alone. And I did volunteer before they asked for anyone to volunteer, although one person had volunteered before me.

I suppose it could be someone with status volunteered. I am a lowly UAL frequent flyer who won't get 25,000 miles til this fall.

A lame bump policy I've experienced was in BKK about 1.5 years ago. BKK-NRT on NW was oversold, but they were only allowed BKK-NRT pax bump, i.e. not anyone connecting in NRT. Keep in mind too that I was on a full-fare ticket, and in the previous year, I managed to bump flying the same routing.

- Pat

i am still confused, bothered and bewildered. and some of it is even about bumping

Did you have checked luggage? If so they would probably have to pull it from the plane if they bumpped you and they hate doing that, so they may have taken people without any luggage.