UA Flex-Schedule Program,bidding for voluntary bumps & sometimes confirmed rebookings
Aug 10, 2019, 8:31 am
#197
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Palm Beach/FL (Aussie)
Programs: UA Gold, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 45
bidding on volunteer at online check in
Hello UA travellers!
If I place a bid to volunteer for myself and hubby to go onto the volunteer list during online check in, will we lose the seats on the current flights we have? I don't mind volunteering to get off a flight for a small amount, but do not want to lose our current seats if they do not require us to get off the flight, once we get to the airport!
If I place a bid to volunteer for myself and hubby to go onto the volunteer list during online check in, will we lose the seats on the current flights we have? I don't mind volunteering to get off a flight for a small amount, but do not want to lose our current seats if they do not require us to get off the flight, once we get to the airport!
Aug 10, 2019, 9:20 am
#198
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The volunteer at check-in is essentially meaningless from your perspective.
You won't be offloaded from your seat until you accept the VDB, including the reroute. When you deal with the GA if it all comes to pass, make certain that every aspect of your VDB is included in the "deal". Eg., compensation, meals, (hotel if overnight), and the specific reroute and seats. Anything you don't get at that point, you won't get.
You won't be offloaded from your seat until you accept the VDB, including the reroute. When you deal with the GA if it all comes to pass, make certain that every aspect of your VDB is included in the "deal". Eg., compensation, meals, (hotel if overnight), and the specific reroute and seats. Anything you don't get at that point, you won't get.
Aug 10, 2019, 11:52 am
#199
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,777
At the airport, if you get selected by the GA for VDB and then at the end UA does not need the VDB, that could lead to a new seat assignment. Be very clear in the VDB discussion with the GA, you do not want to lose your seat assignment if not needed.
BTW, this VDB bidding process rarely leads to being VDB. It seems this is more of a data collection process than a true VDB offer.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 10, 2019 at 11:58 am Reason: BTW
Aug 10, 2019, 1:12 pm
#200
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: OZ Diamond
Posts: 6,133
During the bidding process you will see a note explicitly saying you still confirm on your original flight / seat assignments.
At the airport, if you get selected by the GA for VDB and then at the end UA does not need the VDB, that could lead to a new seat assignment. Be very clear in the VDB discussion with the GA, you do not want to lose your seat assignment if not needed.
BTW, this VDB bidding process rarely leads to being VDB. It seems this is more of a data collection process than a true VDB offer.
At the airport, if you get selected by the GA for VDB and then at the end UA does not need the VDB, that could lead to a new seat assignment. Be very clear in the VDB discussion with the GA, you do not want to lose your seat assignment if not needed.
BTW, this VDB bidding process rarely leads to being VDB. It seems this is more of a data collection process than a true VDB offer.
LAX
Aug 10, 2019, 1:46 pm
#201
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,777
It is just a matter of the agent not using you seat until there are no other options.
You could consider SDC'ing to a later flight
While the GA will be in a rush to finish closing the flight, you can press for the return of seating or a new flight.
But if you have not prenegotiated his your options are limited
Jan 15, 2020, 9:16 pm
#202
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 58
Do global services customers receive the option to bid / get bumped to a different flight in the app when trying to check in? I ask because my colleague and I checked in on our app at the same time and he didn’t get an offer / option whereas I did. He also said that he has never received the option despite being on many oversold flights.
Jan 15, 2020, 10:49 pm
#203
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,451
Do global services customers receive the option to bid / get bumped to a different flight in the app when trying to check in? I ask because my colleague and I checked in on our app at the same time and he didn’t get an offer / option whereas I did. He also said that he has never received the option despite being on many oversold flights.
Jan 15, 2020, 11:37 pm
#204
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,369
Do global services customers receive the option to bid / get bumped to a different flight in the app when trying to check in? I ask because my colleague and I checked in on our app at the same time and he didn’t get an offer / option whereas I did. He also said that he has never received the option despite being on many oversold flights.
I wouldn’t sweat too much over it, though; any GS that wants to volunteer can check with the gate agent, and since the lists aren’t binding (and are rarely even used), I don’t think they’re really at any sort of disadvantage.
Also, the ratio of times I’m prompted to times that they are actually soliciting volunteers at the gate is at least 10:1.
Jan 16, 2020, 6:14 am
#205
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 58
There have definitely been reports in the past that Global Services members didn’t get prompted, presumably based on the notion that some would find it irritating. However, I thought they had changed that recently.
I wouldn’t sweat too much over it, though; any GS that wants to volunteer can check with the gate agent, and since the lists aren’t binding (and are rarely even used), I don’t think they’re really at any sort of disadvantage.
Also, the ratio of times I’m prompted to times that they are actually soliciting volunteers at the gate is at least 10:1.
I wouldn’t sweat too much over it, though; any GS that wants to volunteer can check with the gate agent, and since the lists aren’t binding (and are rarely even used), I don’t think they’re really at any sort of disadvantage.
Also, the ratio of times I’m prompted to times that they are actually soliciting volunteers at the gate is at least 10:1.
Jan 16, 2020, 9:10 am
#206
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,369
Jan 16, 2020, 10:09 am
#207
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
I suppose they could just call in and ask but that's even more tedious than viewing or taking an automated bump.
Jan 16, 2020, 12:46 pm
#208
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,108
FWIW, all the flights that have solicited offers my past several trips have ended up going out without needing any volunteers, and typically have confirmed a standby pax or two (or ten), so that's probably why I haven't gotten any of the confirmable offers.
Jan 21, 2020, 10:40 am
#209
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
There have definitely been reports in the past that Global Services members didn’t get prompted, presumably based on the notion that some would find it irritating. However, I thought they had changed that recently.
I wouldn’t sweat too much over it, though; any GS that wants to volunteer can check with the gate agent, and since the lists aren’t binding (and are rarely even used), I don’t think they’re really at any sort of disadvantage.
Also, the ratio of times I’m prompted to times that they are actually soliciting volunteers at the gate is at least 10:1.
I wouldn’t sweat too much over it, though; any GS that wants to volunteer can check with the gate agent, and since the lists aren’t binding (and are rarely even used), I don’t think they’re really at any sort of disadvantage.
Also, the ratio of times I’m prompted to times that they are actually soliciting volunteers at the gate is at least 10:1.
Back to 1K in 2 weeks... fully expecting that the app will light up again with the prompts like it did a couple years ago when I made this same transition from GS back to 1K.
Nov 16, 2021, 4:20 pm
#210
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: UA-1K, AA-Gold, H GP-LIfeTime Diamond
Posts: 815
Kiosk was showing flights options that are 6, 24 and even 30 hours later and I gave them ridiculous ETC bids based on the length of delay. I Immediately talked to a live Customer Service agent and the gate agent, both always confirmed that the flight is not over booked and they are still selling seats.
This really made me wonder if UA is testing our threshold to see how low we would go?