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]
Mar 28, 2018, 4:39 pm
#166
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
For some reason I thought the Report was vaguer than it actually is. As I noted, I hadn't read it since it was published.
Mar 29, 2018, 2:56 pm
#167
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
I had the option to preemptively volunteer to VDB my flight tonight upon checkin. I put in $2500 as what I would take...will see how that plays out. 
Mar 29, 2018, 3:14 pm
#168
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
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God luck with the $2500.... what flight? I'm on UA5664 tomorrow morning... let's see what becomes...
Mar 29, 2018, 3:47 pm
#169
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
ETA: they weren’t soliciting volunteers at the gate, and I just boarded regularly...so much for that!
ETA x2: GA just came onto the plane and asked for one volunteer at $1k...somebody took that right away...some good-natured grumbling about people needing to collectively hold out. I would have taken it if they had gone higher. People should know by now that UA really doesn’t want to IDB when they oversell...should’ve held out!
Last edited by PsiFighter37; Mar 29, 2018 at 6:47 pm
Mar 29, 2018, 7:06 pm
#170
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
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Any FTers get VDB in GRR today? Looks like only 2 UA flights took standbys leaving GRR today... everything else was full with no SBY taken. Tomorrow looks to produce similar results.
Mar 30, 2018, 7:41 am
#171
Original Poster
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UA5664 GRR-DEN was over by 2 today.... 2 people failed to check in, and the flight went out even. I was ready to collect a $1000 voucher too. Boo 
Mar 30, 2018, 8:47 am
#172
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
ETA x2: GA just came onto the plane and asked for one volunteer at $1k...somebody took that right away...some good-natured grumbling about people needing to collectively hold out. I would have taken it if they had gone higher. People should know by now that UA really doesn’t want to IDB when they oversell...should’ve held out!
Soliciting on the plane is probably ideal from a game theory perspective since it pits everyone against each other, like a real auction. Especially with only one seat needed.
Mar 31, 2018, 7:15 pm
#173
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
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Posts: 4,009
I have to say, I'm impressed with UA's load management in the post-Dao world. Three of my last four fights were showing as full in both first and economy with multiple people on standby (in one case, 10 or more), and the first two went out full with zero volunteers even solicited, let alone needed. (The third flight ended up with a few empty seats after a 2-hour departure delay.)
I had more than two extra days to get to my Easter destination, but no luck with VDB.
I had more than two extra days to get to my Easter destination, but no luck with VDB.
Mar 31, 2018, 8:17 pm
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
I have to say, I'm impressed with UA's load management in the post-Dao world. Three of my last four fights were showing as full in both first and economy with multiple people on standby (in one case, 10 or more), and the first two went out full with zero volunteers even solicited, let alone needed. (The third flight ended up with a few empty seats after a 2-hour departure delay.)
I had more than two extra days to get to my Easter destination, but no luck with VDB.
I had more than two extra days to get to my Easter destination, but no luck with VDB.
Apr 2, 2018, 11:03 am
#175
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum, Avis President's Circle
Posts: 408
UA 624 -- SFO-ORD HD777 -- was looking for 4 volunteers on Easter Sunday. 2 bit at $400 and 2 bit at $500.
What's shocking is people bit despite the GA not offering seats on another flight until 5+ hours later at 4:30PM
What's shocking is people bit despite the GA not offering seats on another flight until 5+ hours later at 4:30PM
Apr 2, 2018, 12:16 pm
#176
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, BA, HHonors, Avis
Posts: 192
Why is that so shocking? You may be lucky enough to value your time at $100 ph, but I doubt many people do. $500 could get you to London and back from ORD.
Apr 2, 2018, 12:31 pm
#177
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
I got $700 and a $10 meal voucher on an oversold EWR-ORD flight this past Friday.
Apr 2, 2018, 12:50 pm
#178
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Apr 2, 2018, 4:14 pm
#179
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
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Posts: 17,976
Apr 2, 2018, 5:08 pm
#180
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Can phone agents tell you if your flight is oversold?
I'm set to fly LAX-ORD tomorrow in F. ExpertFlyer shows the flight as F0Y0. Is it likely to be oversold given it's a hub-hub flight? Can I call and ask a phone agent?
I'd be glad to take VDB but would like to know in advance if I should be ready to be flexible.
I'd be glad to take VDB but would like to know in advance if I should be ready to be flexible.