Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA 2014
Sep 29, 2014, 8:38 pm
#301
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,538
$600 and FC upgrade for a 3 hour delay ORD-MSP last week. A smile and knowledge of alternatives goes a long way. ^
Oct 10, 2014, 6:40 am
#302
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
UA1656 oversold by 4 this morning. I bumped and took $300 and they switched my revenue seat into the F seat that I reserved with miles (on the flight 55 min later). Gotta love having a backup plan... will make my original connection at IAH as well. not a bad morning.
Oct 10, 2014, 8:47 am
#303
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,072
I would have some concern about this approach. Since you are technically holding duplicate space, UA may take issue with it.
It's one thing if the counter or GA did it (e.g., saw it was over and protected you), but for you to do it on a separate PNR may be asking for trouble.
Oct 10, 2014, 9:34 am
#304
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
I would have some concern about this approach. Since you are technically holding duplicate space, UA may take issue with it.
It's one thing if the counter or GA did it (e.g., saw it was over and protected you), but for you to do it on a separate PNR may be asking for trouble.
It's one thing if the counter or GA did it (e.g., saw it was over and protected you), but for you to do it on a separate PNR may be asking for trouble.
Oct 10, 2014, 9:49 am
#305
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,072
I'm glad it's worked out for you, but I think it's a risk worth considering for those who may not be comfortable with it.
They can always force you on a full flight or rebook on OAL. I've taken a number of VDBs this year and have always found some sort of accommodation, whether on UA or OAL.
Oct 10, 2014, 10:43 am
#306
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Frozen in Carbonite
Programs: UA Aluminum 0.6MM, Bonvoy Life Sentence, Hyatt Eliteist, AA Super Plutonium
Posts: 2,878
SJU-EWR oversold by 3 yesterday. Offered a pittance $200 bump voucher and declined.
There is only one direct flight a day at this time of year, and all of the connecting flights through IAH/ORD leave prior to this departure.....so they'd have to do a LOT better than $200 to get me to bite.
There is only one direct flight a day at this time of year, and all of the connecting flights through IAH/ORD leave prior to this departure.....so they'd have to do a LOT better than $200 to get me to bite.
Oct 10, 2014, 10:57 am
#307
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,072
SJU-EWR oversold by 3 yesterday. Offered a pittance $200 bump voucher and declined.
There is only one direct flight a day at this time of year, and all of the connecting flights through IAH/ORD leave prior to this departure.....so they'd have to do a LOT better than $200 to get me to bite.
There is only one direct flight a day at this time of year, and all of the connecting flights through IAH/ORD leave prior to this departure.....so they'd have to do a LOT better than $200 to get me to bite.
There are later flights on DL to JFK and ATL, no?
And IIRC there's a late AA to MIA.
Oct 15, 2014, 12:06 pm
#308
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, AC 50K
Posts: 4
EWR-SEA oversold Monday, offered $200 travel voucher at check-in if they needed volunteers, i volunteered. At gate was offered $500 each ($1000 for two of us in total) to take a later flight that day via SFO or a hotel overnight and take a direct flight the next day.
Accepted the flight via SFO the same day with part of trip upgraded into First. Arrived 6 hours later than originally planned in Seattle, with our baggage already waiting for us.
No complaints!
Accepted the flight via SFO the same day with part of trip upgraded into First. Arrived 6 hours later than originally planned in Seattle, with our baggage already waiting for us.
No complaints!
Oct 15, 2014, 12:16 pm
#309
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,984
Last Sunday, IND-ORD.
All flights seemed oversold. Asked for three VDBs on my flight, offering $300 and going about 5 hours later. They later upped the offer to $400. They took only one - me - and she gave me the $400 and a $7 meal voucher.
Agent put me on the standby list for a flight an hour and one-half later. They were asking for vols there too. Ended up clearing that flight and they gave me a seat in F.
Not too bad.
All flights seemed oversold. Asked for three VDBs on my flight, offering $300 and going about 5 hours later. They later upped the offer to $400. They took only one - me - and she gave me the $400 and a $7 meal voucher.
Agent put me on the standby list for a flight an hour and one-half later. They were asking for vols there too. Ended up clearing that flight and they gave me a seat in F.
Not too bad.
Oct 15, 2014, 12:16 pm
#310
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
Well Done and Welcome
EWR-SEA oversold Monday, offered $200 travel voucher at check-in if they needed volunteers, i volunteered. At gate was offered $500 each ($1000 for two of us in total) to take a later flight that day via SFO or a hotel overnight and take a direct flight the next day.
Accepted the flight via SFO the same day with part of trip upgraded into First. Arrived 6 hours later than originally planned in Seattle, with our baggage already waiting for us.
Accepted the flight via SFO the same day with part of trip upgraded into First. Arrived 6 hours later than originally planned in Seattle, with our baggage already waiting for us.
Welcome to FT
Oct 29, 2014, 11:40 am
#311
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,079
On Monday I was at the SFO gate, awaiting UA5634 SFO-RNO (50 seat RJ). They asked for 2 volunteers to take a later flight and offered $150 then $200. But the only later flight to RNO is 6 hours later and the agent started talking about a hotel voucher, which would mean the next morning flight. I don't know if there were any takers, because I then boarded, but I was surprised by this low offer.
A few years ago I would accept offers and collect perhaps a thousand dollars a year in travel vouchers. In recent years, zero.
A few years ago I would accept offers and collect perhaps a thousand dollars a year in travel vouchers. In recent years, zero.
Oct 29, 2014, 11:46 am
#312
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
On Monday I was at the SFO gate, awaiting UA5634 SFO-RNO (50 seat RJ). They asked for 2 volunteers to take a later flight and offered $150 then $200. But the only later flight to RNO is 6 hours later and the agent started talking about a hotel voucher, which would mean the next morning flight. I don't know if there were any takers, because I then boarded, but I was surprised by this low offer.
A few years ago I would accept offers and collect perhaps a thousand dollars a year in travel vouchers. In recent years, zero.
A few years ago I would accept offers and collect perhaps a thousand dollars a year in travel vouchers. In recent years, zero.
Oct 29, 2014, 2:12 pm
#313
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K/MM, AA GLD
Posts: 1,709
Since UA adopted CO's system for VDB compensation, things have become quite stingy. Pre-merger UA gave $400 for VDB.... regardless of the flight length, length of delay.... it was usually a great deal, unless there was a long delay / overnight. Now... I am lucky to see $400... it's usually been $200-$300 in most cases. In some rare cases (I am assuming if an IDB is going to be very costly to the airline), I have seen the offers go up to $400-$600 for some basic domestic routes).
Oct 29, 2014, 2:17 pm
#314
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA 1k, US Airways Silver, SPG PLT, Marriot Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 536
DEN to IAH on a Friday morning, 6AM flight. Upgraded to first from inside the plane, then volunteered for a 6;50AM flight and $300 voucher.
Upon deplaning, found out there were no seats left. GA asked me about an 8AM flight, which I politely declined.
Ended up getting a FC seat on the 6:50AM flight. $300 for 50 minutes, and IAH was my final destination. Not bad!
Upon deplaning, found out there were no seats left. GA asked me about an 8AM flight, which I politely declined.
Ended up getting a FC seat on the 6:50AM flight. $300 for 50 minutes, and IAH was my final destination. Not bad!
Oct 29, 2014, 7:08 pm
#315
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Verona, NJ
Posts: 9
Sunday Morning - UA4087 EWR-IND (10:26 AM)
Overbooked by 2 - Original offer was $400 with no good options to get there before 4:30 PM departure
Ended up with $500 voucher, cab fare to JFK, and a seat in F on 2:55 PM direct on Delta.
Agent was great. I was the only VDB and I heard them send the IDB to the customer service desk for a check. I asked how much he got but they wouldn't tell me.
I was shocked how easy (and generous) it was.
Overbooked by 2 - Original offer was $400 with no good options to get there before 4:30 PM departure
Ended up with $500 voucher, cab fare to JFK, and a seat in F on 2:55 PM direct on Delta.
Agent was great. I was the only VDB and I heard them send the IDB to the customer service desk for a check. I asked how much he got but they wouldn't tell me.
I was shocked how easy (and generous) it was.