1KChinito

When I am asked to volunteer at check-in, I always ask gate agent if they still need volunteers. If affirmative, I ask gate agent to double check if I am on volunteer list.

UA is doing a much better job now with over booking. Last weekend, I went on standby on an oversold flight. Initially I was #1 on the standby list, then I became #2 . Gate agent cleared a total of 4 standbys on this oversold flight.

jjmoore

Correct.... to add to this, the best thing to do when suspecting that a flight is oversold is the following:

1) Check in at the 24 hour mark.
2) If prompted to volunteer (on the app or website... same thing), sign up immediately, as the list priority is based on who gets on the list first... not status).
3) If not prompted to volunteer, this means that the flight is not oversold in the cabin where you are seated..... however... ALWAYS keep checking on the app (on the little folder dropdown menu on the top right of the app, click on the checked-in reservation, click on travel options, and then click on "continue to boarding passes")... if the flight goes into oversale after you check in, it will then prompt you if you want to volunteer. It is typically easy to keep track of this if you have time by checking inventory... and if inventory continues to decrease even when the flight status shows full/full, it is likely oversold, and you can then find the prompt to volunteer.
4) Show up at the gate 1hr15min prior to departure or 1h30m before departure for wide-body, and be the first person in line when the gate agent gets set up and ready to deal with you.

These simple steps will maximize your likelihood of being first in line to volunteer.

If you show up to the gate agent with flight alternatives, that saves them time, and especially if you know of options with connections that would prevent a long stay, that helps them out. They typically don't search those out unless you ask.... this makes life easier for all parties.

findark

I'm not quite sure where I saw the rest of this discussion, but does anyone know whether there has been a policy change on overbooking premium cabins? I just booked onto SFO-FRA and the flight is still J9 despite all but 8 seats showing "occupied".

jjmoore

There could be some blocked seats... this happens sometimes.

On a couple routes, I have seen J oversell intentionally.... UA1 is one of those... likely due to the missed connection rate on that flight and others that depart late at night.

Pretty rare to see premium cabins oversold otherwise.... except for the occasional FAM that gets placed up front at the last moment.

findark

I checked on EF - believe "assigned" always means a real pax in the seat. It's only potentially over by 1 at current inventory, so I buy they're willing to roll the dice on a full J fare to put the cabin 61/60.

BBSHOPSINGER

I received a phone call at about T-28 last Wednesday for a flight the next day MSP-DEN. I had a P fare first seat. They offered me $250 and connection through Chicago, maintaining my first-class seating. I may have been able to hold out for more, but I took it, and enjoyed the lie-flat seating on a 752 from ORD-DEN on Thursday. In addition to the voucher, I also got booked at an "F" fare on the new itinerary, so my PQM for the trip (300%) almost gets me back to Silver for the year.

This was a pro-active call from United. It was too early for me to have even had an opportunity to volunteer. Interestingly, the agent indicated that I was the first one that answered the phone. She had been trying to call a lot of passengers, but no one was answering their phones.

DELee

Was the call from UA late in the evening?

David

BBSHOPSINGER

No, the call was mid-afternoon. But the caller ID just showed an 800 number, rather than UNITED. I think this may be part of the difficulty they have with getting people to answer.

jjmoore

My call came from the generic UA phone line 800-864-8331 .... this has always been the number they call me from, regardless of the reason.

BBSHOPSINGER

This was probably the case, but at other times I have received calls from United where "UNITED" has shown up in my caller ID. This time it didn't.

david_oz

JNelson113

On Sunday I was trying to standby for a flight DEN-IAH at 11:35am. They asked for volunteers and ended up needing one person. He then made it on to the 12:35pm flight and I cleared standby and sat right next to him. He said that he was given a $500 voucher for taking the one hour later flight. Nice.

fumje

Good offer. My experience is that they start with $100 per hour delay. Did you hear if it started lower and went up to $500 before getting a volunteer?

jjmoore

I have seen many times when there are just 1 or 2 people needed from a larger plane... they will start at around $200 regardless of how optimal or disruptive the protection flights are. Many times they will get a couple grabbers at dirt cheap prices like this.

On regional jets or highly oversold flights (like aircraft swaps), they are known to start much higher, and I have witnessed this.

mehitabel

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.