UA Flex-Schedule Program,bidding for voluntary bumps & sometimes confirmed rebookings
Dec 29, 2018, 4:32 am
#166
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
My fiancé got a potential VDB offer through the app today when checking in for SFO-SYD, similar to the screenshots above (ie. not a confirmed VDB, just a potential). She went to the gate to chat to them and they told her the flight wasn’t overbooked, and that there were actually 4 spare seats on the flight. Any idea why this would happen?
i also picked up $1,000 the other day by volunteering to go DEN-IAH-SYD (same day) instead of DEN-LAX-SYD. Great result!
i also picked up $1,000 the other day by volunteering to go DEN-IAH-SYD (same day) instead of DEN-LAX-SYD. Great result!
Dec 29, 2018, 11:06 am
#168
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
My fiancé got a potential VDB offer through the app today when checking in for SFO-SYD, similar to the screenshots above (ie. not a confirmed VDB, just a potential). She went to the gate to chat to them and they told her the flight wasn’t overbooked, and that there were actually 4 spare seats on the flight. Any idea why this would happen?
Dec 29, 2018, 4:24 pm
#169
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
My fiancé got a potential VDB offer through the app today when checking in for SFO-SYD, similar to the screenshots above (ie. not a confirmed VDB, just a potential). She went to the gate to chat to them and they told her the flight wasn’t overbooked, and that there were actually 4 spare seats on the flight. Any idea why this would happen?
Dec 29, 2018, 11:56 pm
#170
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,008
As mentioned recently upthread, I've seen the old or new in-app VDB screen about 10 times in the past 6 months but none of the flights had a single at-gate VDB. It seems either United is calling people in advance, the algorithm that requests volunteers is a little too loose, or United is using it for purposes of data collection.
I've had the same experience... screen is shown, but nobody needed. My last flight, SFO-LAS, cleared eight standbys after having the screen come up earlier in the day.
Dec 30, 2018, 5:51 am
#171
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
At the gate, they called out a few people to the desk and said it’s a merry Christmas for you, so I assume they got upgrades (there were 10 Polaris seats blocked for at least the last day). During boarding, on the aircraft they came on asking for a single volunteer for $1500. I only heard that announcement once, and don’t know what happened, but since I didn’t hear of it again, I assume somebody bit. No non-revs showed as clearing.
Apr 17, 2019, 10:04 am
#172
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: United MileagePlus
Posts: 59
VDB Bids in Award Miles
My partner was checking in on the mobile app when he was offered the opportunity to bid for a VDB. But once he clicked in, he had the option to either put a bid in for $ or award miles. The tiering was (roughly) $750, $850, $950 and the award miles were 14k, 16k, 18k.
Seems like a pretty interesting switch, I imagine they'd prioritize award mile bids > cash... and less savvy travelers might think the award miles have more value. Not sure if this is a test or a dedicated switch in strategy.
Anyone else seen it?
Seems like a pretty interesting switch, I imagine they'd prioritize award mile bids > cash... and less savvy travelers might think the award miles have more value. Not sure if this is a test or a dedicated switch in strategy.
Anyone else seen it?
Apr 17, 2019, 10:07 am
#173
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: SHD
Programs: United, Amtrak, BonVoy, Global Entry
Posts: 28
I saw it last week on my flight BOS to IAD. I don't remember the miles option as far as the amounts, but I did take the dollar bid. It was looking like they were going to use it until right at the last minute when someone did not check in for the flight at the last minute and they no longer needed my seat. They had me holding at the gate until the very last moment.
Apr 17, 2019, 10:10 am
#174
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: KEWR
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat, National Exec, GE/Nexus
Posts: 501
I got the same sort of offer DCA-EWR the other day. $200 $400 $600 or relatively chump change of miles. Just for grins I put $1000. Ended up not needing a VDB - but if I got the $1000 I would just rent a car one-way and drive a couple of hours.
Apr 17, 2019, 1:06 pm
#175
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
$750 or 14k miles? That's insane.
Even someone who flies a couple times a year but has a UA account must know that you can't even get a free domestic ticket for 14k, but you could buy a couple round trips with $750. I would think they would make the offer at least a little closer in value. Both should be liabilities on UA's balance sheet, but it seems like it would be in UA's interests to get someone to choose miles at a slightly lower value.
Even someone who flies a couple times a year but has a UA account must know that you can't even get a free domestic ticket for 14k, but you could buy a couple round trips with $750. I would think they would make the offer at least a little closer in value. Both should be liabilities on UA's balance sheet, but it seems like it would be in UA's interests to get someone to choose miles at a slightly lower value.
Apr 17, 2019, 1:29 pm
#176
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
On the contrary,. I bet that UA's ,marketing research indicates that people do grab the miles.
Given that the breakage on miles is far higher than for vouchers and given that the miles just mean more people competing for the same number of seats, they are largely free money to UA.
Given that the breakage on miles is far higher than for vouchers and given that the miles just mean more people competing for the same number of seats, they are largely free money to UA.
Apr 17, 2019, 1:38 pm
#177
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K (MM), DL, AA, AS, HHonors, SPG, Kimpton, Hyatt, IC PC, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), Hertz PC
Posts: 7,231
The only upside that I could see to the miles would be that they don't expire. But beyond that I agree that the ratios are a bit out to lunch.
Maybe next for 1K and up it would be $750 or 1 GPU
?
Maybe next for 1K and up it would be $750 or 1 GPU
?
May 18, 2019, 6:58 pm
#178
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Baltimore, MD (BWI/IAD)
Programs: United Mileage Plus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 347
United offered me volunteer bids after I checked in for my flight home ORD-BWI tomorrow. I could be persuaded to take the flight in the 6AM hour, considering I don’t need to get to work until 11. Were I to bid and were they to pull me, would they also comp a room for me on top of the vouchers or whatever I asked for in the bid? Or are the bids more aimed at people with somewhere to go home to?
May 18, 2019, 7:23 pm
#179
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
United offered me volunteer bids after I checked in for my flight home ORD-BWI tomorrow. I could be persuaded to take the flight in the 6AM hour, considering I don’t need to get to work until 11. Were I to bid and were they to pull me, would they also comp a room for me on top of the vouchers or whatever I asked for in the bid? Or are the bids more aimed at people with somewhere to go home to?
Rare for a VDB to be done prior to the gate and near departure. And many times the bids never come to fruition.The only time you are going to get a hotel offer is at the gate, not in advance.
May 18, 2019, 7:38 pm
#180
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Baltimore, MD (BWI/IAD)
Programs: United Mileage Plus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, Amtrak Guest Rewards
Posts: 347
Yeah, that was what my gut told me. I just wanted to know for sure before I bid and, apparently, end up sleeping in the terminal.