New UA's IDB and downgrade comp?
 

Anyone know what the IDB and downgrade comps are? It'd be helpful to know what the official comps are in case of irrops.

Federal regulations guarantee certain amounts of IDB compensation. As much as $mi$ek likes these changes, there are certain things he cannot change.

IDB is fixed by law (see DOT rules) and is based on fare + delay. Has nothing to do with UA.

Involuntary downgrade is not IDB. UA's COC specify a refund of the difference between the fare in the ticketed cabin and the fare for the cabin flown. That's generally not much because with capacity controls and generally full flights, all that's available close to flight time is usually Y/B and the difference between F and Y is generally not much).

IDB compensation (federal law, not up to UA) is 400% of the fare for the segment[s] affected, up to a maximum of $1300. Exactly how that 400% is calculated is a bit obscure, IIRC.

I have a recent data point for this, though. :) On Sunday, high winds shut down ABQ from roughly 11am-6pm. The resulting backlog of pax wreaked havoc with UA's system for at least the next couple of days. I spent the day in DEN after my DEN-ABQ was cancelled, and watched the cluster---- while standing by for several later flights.

Basically, UA was IDBing people like crazy (the next open flights were Wednesday, so nobody volunteered). One CRJ-200 flight had 2 VDBs and 9 IDBs. And according to a UX agent I chatted with on Monday, every single IDB got $1300 on the spot. She didn't know why, but they weren't even bothering with the 400% calculation.

My last UA transpacific (maybe last ever on UA) has $700 fare and $400 tax/fee and is 6 segments

So an IDB would be $700/6 x 400% or about $460.

For such small penalty I too would heavily overbook and take the risk.

This is incorrect. The length of a delay is also a factor. Also, the IDB calculation differs for international flights. The compensation is based on your base fare for the segment plus U.S. transportation tax (but does not include TSA tax, PFC's, and US segment tax).

Domestic flights within the United States: No compensation is due if your airline finds alternate transportation that will get you to your next stopover point or final destination within one hour after the scheduled arrival time of your original flight. For flights getting you to your next point or destination more than one hour but less than two hours, cash compensation equivalent to 200% of the one-way fare on the flight you were bumped off to a maximum of $650. Flights getting you to your next point or destination more than two hours from the original time will net you cash compensation of 400% of the one-way fare to a maximum of $1,300.

U.S. originating flights to foreign points: No compensation is due if your airline finds alternate transportation that will get you to your next stopover point or final destination within one hour after the scheduled arrival time of your original flight. For flights getting you to your next point or destination more than one hour but less than four hours, cash compensation equivalent to 200% of the one-way fare on the flight you were bumped off to a maximum of $650. Flights getting you to your next point or destination more than four hours from the original time will net you cash compensation of 400% of the one-way fare to a maximum of $1,300.

Thank you LBJ for the through and informative response!

New DB Procedures?
 

On the old UA, if you missed a flight and they took volunteers the flyer guide wiki stated that you would be compensated as a VDB. If you missed a flight and it was IDB, you would be compensated as such. Is that still the case?
Also, when they take IDBs now, it was by status and then fare paid, is that still the case or is it Whoever is left confirmed awaiting seats at the end of boarding?

Current IDB method appears to be based on time checked in and not much else
(last in first out)

I don't know how they select IDB's but I might have an insight into max compensation offered. On checking in at JAX (To MAN via EWR and STR) earlier the screen gave the familar 'one or more of your flights may be overbooked etc'. It offered $150 or something equally derisory.

The GA was having to press the buttons for us (Passport check required) and I said not a chance when the message appeared. She then told us about the family of six at the next kiosk. Bumped off their flight. No more availability today or tomorrow on any carriers. They're each getting $988. Hire car to Orlando and a hotel overnight.

Strange amount I thought. As our flight is running late I checked FlightAware. Amongst the data it gives is the ticket range. The maximum for JAX to EWR is $988.

GA said they were already offering $500 comp to get volunteers for another flight but no-one was biting and they expected to have to pay $988 again.

Downgrade is not that much. I recall getting $200, involuntary downgrade from Business (Z) to Coach.

This was on an international flight.

Urban Myths
 

Not sure why people post information which is quite clearly spelled out in Federal law.

IDB is set forth in DOT Rules. It's based on fare & length of delay. It applies, as it says to being denied boarding.

Downgrading is not being denied boarding. That's covered by teh COC and for UA entitles to pax to a refund of the difference between fare paid & fare flown. That's generally not much.

There appears to be some confusion with VDB. VDB is what you agree to with the carrier. UA can offer you $10 and, if you accept it, that's your compensation.

How does downgrade compensation work?
 

Recently I was on an LGA-ORD UX flight in F when I witnessed someone get downgraded. I've never seen it happen in person and am curious about how it works / how common it is.

After everyone boarded, the gate agent came to a passenger in in 2A and said there was a mistake and his seat belongs to someone else. He told the agent he was upgraded two days ago. The passenger was very calm and grabbed his things to move back to the first row in economy. Another passenger in F said, "Make sure they give you downgrade compensation--they owe it to you." The gate agent asked him for his address and came back with some sort of voucher about 8 minutes later. I thought is was weird the GA just picked him and didn't ask for volunteers.

• Is it normal to receive compensation after being downgraded from a complimentary upgrade?
• How frequently does this happen on domestic flights?
• How much do you think he was compensated?
• What experiences have others had with downgrade compensation after 3/3?

Involuntarily bumped without asking for vonlunteers first on Jul 1 DEN-PIT
 

Backstory, flight from DEN to PIT was delayed a number of times on July 1. Eventually we were allowed to board the aircraft. We then proceeded to sit on the aircraft for some time while the explanation said it was due to the late arrival of the aircraft and needing a new flight plan. After about 30-45 minutes, a gate agent came on board the aircraft and said that 9 passengers would need to get off due to weight restrictions.

WITHOUT asking for volunteers, (against Rule 25, section 2 of the Contract of Carriage), the agent picked 9 people based on "check-in" time. That means those passengers that checked-in online got to depart and those that checked-in at the airport had to get off. We were escorted off the plane and waited on the runway for about 30 minutes in 100 degree heat. This was a regional aircraft where you walked outside to get on the plane.

Finally told to go to gate 58 for re-booking and there were other people in line for a similar situation to Austin. Waited 2 hrs to see someone, then the agent knew nothing about the PIT flight and was only working on compensation for an Austin flight.

The kicker, since this was a plane with fewer than 60 seats, they didn't have to provide cash. Instead a $400 voucher, less than the cost of the flight.

It's my opinion that UA violated it's own contract of carriage by not asking for volunteers. In all my years of traveling, never seen anything like it.

I thought that section only applied to overbooked flights. This doesn't seem to qualify. I do however sympathize with the plight.