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]
Aug 6, 2018, 5:50 pm
#361
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
I've had this happen before (only I got rebooked from XN to F) and I didn't earn any credit for the flight -- no RDMs and no PQMs.
Last edited by jsloan; Aug 7, 2018 at 8:09 am
Aug 7, 2018, 7:51 am
#362
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
You're unlikely to get any miles from UA, even though you're rebooked into Y. The process that credits the flights is going to go back to the underlying ticket, see the 0 fare, and skip credit. You might be able to get retroactive credit from another carrier, although that's hit or miss at best; you're relying on UA not doing its due diligence.
I've had this happen before (only I get rebooked from XN to F) and I didn't earn any credit for the flight -- no RDMs and no PQMs.
I've had this happen before (only I get rebooked from XN to F) and I didn't earn any credit for the flight -- no RDMs and no PQMs.
Revenue fare class adjustment is different, and far more difficult to explain because there are many variables in play.
Aug 7, 2018, 8:15 am
#363
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
I'm actually surprised by this, as anytime I have had UA comp me a hotel, I did not receive points for it (Hilton both times) because it was a deep discounted bulk rate that was ineligible for points accrual. I will say, though, that XN rebooked into Y is eligible for instant upgrade if PN is available (for Silver and higher status).... always check on that after a rebooking.
Mrs. Moore had a VDB exactly like this where she was on an XN award ticket and rebooked into Y... did not result in PQM/PQS. Years ago, I heard of cases where this did happen, but not now. The system always reverts back to the original award booking class.
Revenue fare class adjustment is different, and far more difficult to explain because there are many variables in play.
Mrs. Moore had a VDB exactly like this where she was on an XN award ticket and rebooked into Y... did not result in PQM/PQS. Years ago, I heard of cases where this did happen, but not now. The system always reverts back to the original award booking class.
Revenue fare class adjustment is different, and far more difficult to explain because there are many variables in play.
Aug 7, 2018, 1:54 pm
#364
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,414
Mrs. Moore had a VDB exactly like this where she was on an XN award ticket and rebooked into Y... did not result in PQM/PQS. Years ago, I heard of cases where this did happen, but not now. The system always reverts back to the original award booking class.
Revenue fare class adjustment is different, and far more difficult to explain because there are many variables in play.
Revenue fare class adjustment is different, and far more difficult to explain because there are many variables in play.
That being said, the credit system is still quite strange. I had a ticket with a segment that got manually reissued directly into PN and was credited as "ZP class" and earned 200% PQM (original coupon was in M).
Aug 7, 2018, 4:35 pm
#365
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 believe it just looks up the PQD associated with the segment and will refuse to credit if it is 0 (as distinct from ineligible) so that zero-fare won't earn regardless of rbd.
That being said, the credit system is still quite strange. I had a ticket with a segment that got manually reissued directly into PN and was credited as "ZP class" and earned 200% PQM (original coupon was in M).
That being said, the credit system is still quite strange. I had a ticket with a segment that got manually reissued directly into PN and was credited as "ZP class" and earned 200% PQM (original coupon was in M).
When flying in discount first (P, Z, C, D, A) and irrops / VDB occurs.... I am always rebooked into F class or J class if p.s. flight. If the new itinerary has the same number of segments as the original itinerary, I will receive credit for the original fare class booked. If the number of segments is different, I receive credit for F or J that I am rebooked into.
Lots of real weirdness that happens when VDB / irrops occurs on revenue fares..... and I think what I have described above is probably just scratching the surface...
Aug 8, 2018, 3:29 pm
#366
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Received $4,000 ETC today for VDB EWR-CLT.. thank you weather issues last night ex-EWR! Sounds like a combination of overbooking and a few crews needing to position in positive space to CLT to work outbound flights.
Aug 8, 2018, 3:43 pm
#367
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
This takes 2nd place for highest voucher posted in this forum... nice catch. How much later is your protection flight?
Aug 8, 2018, 9:03 pm
#369
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
the protection flight was 5 hours later (3:45p ET) but with 1K I was at the top of the list and cleared the 1:25, so all in-all about a 3.5 hour delay. If I had stuck with the 3:45 I would have ended up in F it looks like but that was the least of my worries with that amount of ETC.The best part is that my original 10:05 ended up leaving almost 2 hours late due to MX... so I cannot complain one bit! First time ever agreeing or even volunteering to a VDB, safe to safe I am very happy.
ETA: also received food vouchers so grabbed a decent lunch and got some work done after I missed the 11am standby (also massively oversold).
Thank you! Normally I don't have any flexibility in my plans but this was definitely a right place, right time (and definitely at a price I had to take)
Aug 8, 2018, 9:19 pm
#370
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
Aug 8, 2018, 9:23 pm
#371
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 2,781
Follow-up to the $6k story from the beginning of the thread: they just got back from their second international itinerary of the year, and are off to wine country soon.
The side effect of having seen this was that I recently turned down $1600 from DL to overnight in SLC (on my way to a vacation, no less) because I was holding out for a bunch more. Had I not seen the kinds of ETCs that UA has thrown around, I probably would've accepted that offer a year ago.
The side effect of having seen this was that I recently turned down $1600 from DL to overnight in SLC (on my way to a vacation, no less) because I was holding out for a bunch more. Had I not seen the kinds of ETCs that UA has thrown around, I probably would've accepted that offer a year ago.
Aug 9, 2018, 3:03 pm
#372
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Right now I'm booked on UA3555 IND-ORD tomorrow. FLight was booked and shows as operated by an ERJ-175. The seat map and plane type/status show though as a 170. I know that's 6 less seats in F, not sure about Y difference. Was asked at checkin to volunteer. I'm not sure if this is a false data point or what's going on. App says the plane scheduled to operate (as of time of posting) is N636RW, which is a 170.
Thoughts on what's going on? I'm trying to move up to an earlier flight so don't think I'm going to be able to actually find out.
Thoughts on what's going on? I'm trying to move up to an earlier flight so don't think I'm going to be able to actually find out.
Last edited by BThumme; Aug 9, 2018 at 3:11 pm
Aug 9, 2018, 3:19 pm
#373
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
They may well be oversold, but it's not a huge capacity drop, so it may work itself out.
Aug 9, 2018, 7:53 pm
#374
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
I'm actually surprised by this, as anytime I have had UA comp me a hotel, I did not receive points for it (Hilton both times) because it was a deep discounted bulk rate that was ineligible for points accrual. I will say, though, that XN rebooked into Y is eligible for instant upgrade if PN is available (for Silver and higher status).... always check on that after a rebooking.
Mrs. Moore had a VDB exactly like this where she was on an XN award ticket and rebooked into Y... did not result in PQM/PQS. Years ago, I heard of cases where this did happen, but not now. The system always reverts back to the original award booking class.
Revenue fare class adjustment is different, and far more difficult to explain because there are many variables in play.
Mrs. Moore had a VDB exactly like this where she was on an XN award ticket and rebooked into Y... did not result in PQM/PQS. Years ago, I heard of cases where this did happen, but not now. The system always reverts back to the original award booking class.
Revenue fare class adjustment is different, and far more difficult to explain because there are many variables in play.
Aug 10, 2018, 7:52 am
#375
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 have 1880 HH points pending right now. I haven't seen anything posted to UA, but I'm sure it will be another day or two. They don't really post quickly when compared with their peers. As for upgrades, there was no opportunity for me to upgrade because the flight was already completely full. They gave someone $600 to VDB, so I could begin my journey.
I have also seen in the past that my base fare gets screwed up in irrops / rebooking situations, and I have received way more PQD's than originally paid on reservations that get messed up.......
Let us know what happens.