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]
Jan 19, 2018, 12:07 pm
#46
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
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Jan 19, 2018, 1:41 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
I have 3k In ecerts now plus a $200 united vacations credit now since December. This is the first time ever getting more then 500. I was expecting some pushback for the (originally 1k) when I suggested the nonstop, since it got me in earlier, but they wasted no time.
the flight also left an hour late due to maintenace. The upgrade list showed only one given - my seat - so I don’t think they got any other takers to give up their seat. I would have missed my connection to DTW.
i have a 3 month rotation in Mexico about to start so this will help get me home a couple weekends.
Last edited by BThumme; Jan 19, 2018 at 1:46 pm
Jan 20, 2018, 9:16 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
Suppressed Overbooking
They drastically suppressed overbookings right after Dao and I don't think they've lifted the throttle unfortunately.
I've got an upcoming flight that's full in F and Y (UA1593 EWR-SAN 26JAN). Only selling 1 seat. Fingers crossed but not getting my hopes up!
Jan 20, 2018, 1:00 pm
#49
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
I can't remember the last time I got a VDB!
They drastically suppressed overbookings right after Dao and I don't think they've lifted the throttle unfortunately.
I've got an upcoming flight that's full in F and Y (UA1593 EWR-SAN 26JAN). Only selling 1 seat. Fingers crossed but not getting my hopes up!
They drastically suppressed overbookings right after Dao and I don't think they've lifted the throttle unfortunately.
I've got an upcoming flight that's full in F and Y (UA1593 EWR-SAN 26JAN). Only selling 1 seat. Fingers crossed but not getting my hopes up!
Jan 20, 2018, 1:10 pm
#51
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
April 2016 was like a cliff. I would typically get 10 VDB's a year, and had already scored a couple in early 2016.... then after the "incident"...... nothing..... and I really mean nothing (not even an opportunity). I have seen more of the flights I'm on go with empty seats (even after being full/full at t=24hr)... then standbys clear and empty seats remain. It's a different world out there now in the VDB world..
Jan 20, 2018, 1:29 pm
#53
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
Jan 20, 2018, 2:05 pm
#54
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
April 2016 was like a cliff. I would typically get 10 VDB's a year, and had already scored a couple in early 2016.... then after the "incident"...... nothing..... and I really mean nothing (not even an opportunity). I have seen more of the flights I'm on go with empty seats (even after being full/full at t=24hr)... then standbys clear and empty seats remain. It's a different world out there now in the VDB world..
Jan 20, 2018, 5:35 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
Friday’s ewr to HKG had oversold business. They started with $2000 ecert and a seat in economy. Then they offered a $5k cert and fly the next day. Then $8k and economy.
offered 4K cash and business next day they said no. So I took my seat. 2 year ecert always ends up being more trouble than worth.
offered 4K cash and business next day they said no. So I took my seat. 2 year ecert always ends up being more trouble than worth.
Jan 20, 2018, 5:46 pm
#56
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
Friday’s ewr to HKG had oversold business. They started with $2000 ecert and a seat in economy. Then they offered a $5k cert and fly the next day. Then $8k and economy.
offered 4K cash and business next day they said no. So I took my seat. 2 year ecert always ends up being more trouble than worth.
offered 4K cash and business next day they said no. So I took my seat. 2 year ecert always ends up being more trouble than worth.
Jan 21, 2018, 12:49 am
#57
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,116
Just didnt seem worth it to me for the hassle of the ecerts. Not sure if someone eventually took the deal or if it IDB'ed
If e-certs were good for 2 year i woudl take them more.
Jan 21, 2018, 7:04 am
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,053
Friday’s ewr to HKG had oversold business. They started with $2000 ecert and a seat in economy. Then they offered a $5k cert and fly the next day. Then $8k and economy.
offered 4K cash and business next day they said no. So I took my seat. 2 year ecert always ends up being more trouble than worth.
offered 4K cash and business next day they said no. So I took my seat. 2 year ecert always ends up being more trouble than worth.
Jan 21, 2018, 9:16 am
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
They essentially are. You have one year to buy ticket(s), which can then be used for up to one year from their issue date. If you're not ready to commit to a specific route after one year, you can buy an unrestricted (flexible) ticket and then change it when your plans firm.
Also, they can be used for travel by anyone (on UA/UAX), so you could have had an entire year's worth of gift giving taken care of.
Also, they can be used for travel by anyone (on UA/UAX), so you could have had an entire year's worth of gift giving taken care of.