Jan 3, 2018, 12:29 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Previous thread -
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2017]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2016]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2015]
Related thread - Is this IDB? Am I entitled to IDB compensation? [Consolidated]
VDB -- Voluntary Denied Boarding -- is when the flight is overbooked and the airline is looking for volunteers to change their travel plans. It is voluntary and you do not need to participate. The compensation is 100% negotiable. It could be $100's in future travel vouchers, it might be food vouchers, a different routing (perhaps more direct or for MR's more indirect
), perhaps lodging if overnight and sometimes a bump in cabin. It all depends on how desperate the airline is and how flexible you are.
The standard UA policy is after you have agreed to a voucher amount and additional VDBs are still needed, if those passengers get a higher amount, you will also get the higher amount.
The are no DoT requirement for VDB compensation, it is whatever you and the airline agree to. The DoT does require the airline to try VDB before moving to IDB.
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2017]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2016]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2015]
Related thread - Is this IDB? Am I entitled to IDB compensation? [Consolidated]
VDB -- Voluntary Denied Boarding -- is when the flight is overbooked and the airline is looking for volunteers to change their travel plans. It is voluntary and you do not need to participate. The compensation is 100% negotiable. It could be $100's in future travel vouchers, it might be food vouchers, a different routing (perhaps more direct or for MR's more indirect
), perhaps lodging if overnight and sometimes a bump in cabin. It all depends on how desperate the airline is and how flexible you are.The standard UA policy is after you have agreed to a voucher amount and additional VDBs are still needed, if those passengers get a higher amount, you will also get the higher amount.
The are no DoT requirement for VDB compensation, it is whatever you and the airline agree to. The DoT does require the airline to try VDB before moving to IDB.
The changing story of IDB on UA since the merge and post-Dao
source: BTS Data
source: BTS Data
Code:
IDB/VDB data for UA (w/o UX) 1st Qtr Year VDB IDB 2018 8,214 27 2017 15,917 900 2016 14,380 929 2015 17,373 1,817 2014 21,469 4,395 2013 14,095 2,592 IDB/VDB data for UA (w/ UX) 1st Qtr Year VDB IDB 2018 16,973 51
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump Experiences on UA [2018]
Jul 28, 2018, 5:35 am
#346
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 8,989
My wife’s EWR-MSY flight this morning was oversold by 2 people. UA just handed out $2500 each to 2 lucky people (she’s coming with me to a wedding, so no flexibility unfortunately).
Jul 28, 2018, 7:52 am
#348
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,334
Yesterday, flying EWR-MSP-SFO--originally booked on nonstop early morning flight, but had SDC'd to afternoon and only non-directs were available in my fare class. EWR-MSP overbooked - unsure by how many, but about 10 on standby list for ERJ-175. Forgot I'd signed up for VDB at OLCI until gate agent called my name. Ended up on direct EWR-SFO, dep one hour later but arriving SFO one hour earlier than original itinerary, with $500 voucher. E+ middle seat. Due to short time to shuttle from EWR A28 to C terminal, didn't wait around for meal voucher that was part of the package -- as SFO was my final stop, didn't need one anyway.
Jul 28, 2018, 11:00 am
#349
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
When I got to new gate the GA found the E+ middle--an otherwise full flight, so pure luck. As data point, I'm UA Gold (now Plat after the last flight). All in all painless, and from my perspective, generous.
Last edited by mehitabel; Jul 28, 2018 at 11:54 am
Jul 31, 2018, 12:28 pm
#350
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 599
Checked in for 341 ewr iah today (7/31). Got the volunteer prompt and amount. Given it was hub to hub I only put down 350, maybe lowballing myself, but I'm not holding my breath to even be selected.
However afterward the app said there was a delay in my flight and I could change for free ( I'm silver). But the flight status shows no such delay.
Is this normal behavior for United? Seems like they've trying to get some people to change for minimal cost.
However afterward the app said there was a delay in my flight and I could change for free ( I'm silver). But the flight status shows no such delay.
Is this normal behavior for United? Seems like they've trying to get some people to change for minimal cost.
Jul 31, 2018, 12:49 pm
#351
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Morris Plains, NJ
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Gold
Posts: 138
Hopefully my flight to MSY is in the same boat. That would pay for my trip to Madrid.
Jul 31, 2018, 5:14 pm
#352
Join Date: May 1999
Location: JFK, LGA, EWR
Programs: AA Platinum (Lifetime), United GS, HHonors Diamond, Shangri-la Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 549
9:15 AM departure, EWR to LAX, last friday. needed two. offer started at $1000. i boarded and did not stick around to see what happened.
Aug 3, 2018, 11:11 pm
#353
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: MFR & BKK
Programs: Ex-UA Silver | Global Entry | Ex-HH Gold
Posts: 42
Flight likely for overbooking?
Booked UA421 and UA1885 on the 21st and 22nd this month between SFO and EWR the equipment is a 752 and its the version 1. First is about half full and coming back to SFO its about the same. Overbooking chances? Have important meetings early in the morning in NYC. But coming home I am flexible.
Aug 3, 2018, 11:14 pm
#354
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
Way too early to say.
Aug 4, 2018, 12:01 am
#355
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: 66,731
Inventory management has got such that predicting overbooking flights is mostly pure luck. Overbooking still happens but it is at least an order of magnitude less than a couple years ago. And with last minute change of plans, irrops, ... overbooked can quickly change to clearing the standby list
With 13-14 daily flights each direction. UA will use fare pricing to spread the demand
With 13-14 daily flights each direction. UA will use fare pricing to spread the demand
Aug 4, 2018, 3:37 am
#356
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,334
4AUG18 PWM-EWR and PWM-IAD first flights. Both over with opening offer of $1000. Didn’t see how many volunteered / took because I was lazy and sitting next to cute boy.
$1000 really is the new $250 LOL
Update: Based on app they took standbys so no one was needed.
$1000 really is the new $250 LOL
Update: Based on app they took standbys so no one was needed.
Last edited by sexykitten7; Aug 6, 2018 at 8:47 am Reason: Added update
Aug 5, 2018, 11:00 am
#357
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Houston/DC
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 564
4AUG18 UA1614 LAX-IAH. 1:10 am departure.
Waiting in the BG1 line and happened to be right next to the 2 GA's working the desk so I could hear them talking in hushed voices. Turned out they were in an oversold situation and needed 4-5 volunteers for the flight. The initial offer started @ $500 and only 1 person came up to the podium. I heard them decide to bump the offer to $1000 and quickly ducked under the rope and got in line before they even announced it over the PA. GA laughed and said "you heard me, didn't you"
They ended up VDB'ing a total of 4 pax and the offer did not get higher than $1000. All 4 of us cleared standby on the next flight out @ 5:45 am.
P.S. I love SDC'ing into a VDB
Waiting in the BG1 line and happened to be right next to the 2 GA's working the desk so I could hear them talking in hushed voices. Turned out they were in an oversold situation and needed 4-5 volunteers for the flight. The initial offer started @ $500 and only 1 person came up to the podium. I heard them decide to bump the offer to $1000 and quickly ducked under the rope and got in line before they even announced it over the PA. GA laughed and said "you heard me, didn't you"
They ended up VDB'ing a total of 4 pax and the offer did not get higher than $1000. All 4 of us cleared standby on the next flight out @ 5:45 am.
P.S. I love SDC'ing into a VDB
Aug 5, 2018, 11:27 am
#358
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
Aug 5, 2018, 10:22 pm
#359
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
Aug 6, 2018, 5:45 pm
#360
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: JFK, DCA, BUR, YVR
Programs: AC, AS, BA, DL, HH (D), MR (T/LTP), UA (*S), UScAAre (PLT/1,87MM), WN
Posts: 5,207
Had my first VDB on United. I was flying EWR > LAX on a last minute ticket I got in XN. The flight had an equipment change and a diverted flight parked at its gate, which was the perfect storm for a VDB. Starting offer was $2000 ETC ++. As soon as they began rattling off their speech, I was the second volunteer. Suffice it to say I was generously rewarded. $2000 ETC, hotel, transportation, and meals. I had been re-routed to DEN, and they had to bump someone off that flight to accommodate me. That person got $600. I made it to LAX this morning, which is when I needed to be there by. I was also able to get out of one night pre-paid accommodation, so I'm really killing this. I decided to buy a lotto ticket.
P.S. I'm also getting points for the VDB hotel (a Doubletree) and miles for the DEN > LAX ticket because they re-booked me in Y (Yes, Y).
P.S. I'm also getting points for the VDB hotel (a Doubletree) and miles for the DEN > LAX ticket because they re-booked me in Y (Yes, Y).
