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]
Jun 26, 2018, 7:17 pm
#301
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UA4108 EWR-BWI 06/26/18
Offer is for $1000, overnight accommodations and meal vouchers- looking for 2 volunteers.
David
p.s. At boarding-5 mins, offer is now $2000 each
p.p.s. On board - GA needs 1 more - raised to $3000 - and gets a volunteer
Offer is for $1000, overnight accommodations and meal vouchers- looking for 2 volunteers.
David
p.s. At boarding-5 mins, offer is now $2000 each
p.p.s. On board - GA needs 1 more - raised to $3000 - and gets a volunteer
Last edited by DELee; Jun 26, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Jun 27, 2018, 1:36 am
#302
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Looks like everyone on that flight flies on other people's money or something. EWR-BWI can be driven in 3.5 hours, for Pete's sake, but they only got one volunteer at $2,000?
Jun 27, 2018, 8:00 am
#303
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Jun 27, 2018, 6:16 pm
#304
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Last edited by sexykitten7; Jun 27, 2018 at 6:16 pm Reason: fixed link
Jun 28, 2018, 1:06 am
#305
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Wow, I would have taken the $1000 and gotten on Amtrak.
Jun 28, 2018, 1:17 am
#306
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Jun 28, 2018, 10:33 am
#307
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Congrats! My understanding was that YB(M) instant-UPs inside 120h were banned in order to close this loophole. Is this no longer true? Did she actually select the "free upgrade" button or was she CPUed in the regular way?
Jun 28, 2018, 3:42 pm
#308
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Posts: 6,323
28 June
YYZ-ORD
5:40pm
1 x $1000, accom and/or re-route.
Didn't hear if anyone took it or whether it was raised.
YYZ-ORD
5:40pm
1 x $1000, accom and/or re-route.
Didn't hear if anyone took it or whether it was raised.
Jun 28, 2018, 9:10 pm
#309
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
the other direction I can envision hesitation if lots of connections, including international, to be made in EWR. But no one would be connecting at BWI. I’m shocked it got above $1000.
Jun 29, 2018, 9:06 pm
#310
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Odd one today...
Had an odd one today. Scheduled on IAD-MAD tomorrow (6/30), with R via a GPU (cleared at booking). Got the proactive re-routing call for a "limited time special offer."
I hadn't eyeballed this flight as a potential oversale, except to note that J was "Full," so I wasn't prepared with a set of alternatives. I called in anyway, and got a nice agent who was happy to look for something and to preserve the upgrade. (Of course, not all United business class is created equally...) Long story short, I didn't like the first alternative she came up with, but before I got too creative, I wanted to talk numbers. The agent said that the flight was even, so she couldn't offer compensation for a VDB. I assumed they got someone else to take the offer and let the matter drop.
When I checked a little later, J was showing 28 (+1 blocked) / 30 (and inventory was J1 Y1). It appears to be Y that's oversold, not J -- I was confused as to how J would have been oversold without an equipment swap anyway. So, (a) I wonder why they were calling J passengers to swap, and (b) I wonder if the agent just looked at J without noticing that Y was oversold.
Still, it looks like somebody called up and got a 2-person VDB (4A & 4B are now available), presumably while United's call was wending its way through my voicemail.
Moral of the story, as always: the early bird gets the worm.
PS: As I check, the flight is now J1 Y0. Maybe I've got a chance at the gate...
I hadn't eyeballed this flight as a potential oversale, except to note that J was "Full," so I wasn't prepared with a set of alternatives. I called in anyway, and got a nice agent who was happy to look for something and to preserve the upgrade. (Of course, not all United business class is created equally...) Long story short, I didn't like the first alternative she came up with, but before I got too creative, I wanted to talk numbers. The agent said that the flight was even, so she couldn't offer compensation for a VDB. I assumed they got someone else to take the offer and let the matter drop.
When I checked a little later, J was showing 28 (+1 blocked) / 30 (and inventory was J1 Y1). It appears to be Y that's oversold, not J -- I was confused as to how J would have been oversold without an equipment swap anyway. So, (a) I wonder why they were calling J passengers to swap, and (b) I wonder if the agent just looked at J without noticing that Y was oversold.
Still, it looks like somebody called up and got a 2-person VDB (4A & 4B are now available), presumably while United's call was wending its way through my voicemail.
Moral of the story, as always: the early bird gets the worm.PS: As I check, the flight is now J1 Y0. Maybe I've got a chance at the gate...
Jun 30, 2018, 12:21 am
#311
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Join Date: Mar 2013
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Had an odd one today. Scheduled on IAD-MAD tomorrow (6/30), with R via a GPU (cleared at booking). Got the proactive re-routing call for a "limited time special offer."
I hadn't eyeballed this flight as a potential oversale, except to note that J was "Full," so I wasn't prepared with a set of alternatives. I called in anyway, and got a nice agent who was happy to look for something and to preserve the upgrade. (Of course, not all United business class is created equally...) Long story short, I didn't like the first alternative she came up with, but before I got too creative, I wanted to talk numbers. The agent said that the flight was even, so she couldn't offer compensation for a VDB. I assumed they got someone else to take the offer and let the matter drop.
When I checked a little later, J was showing 28 (+1 blocked) / 30 (and inventory was J1 Y1). It appears to be Y that's oversold, not J -- I was confused as to how J would have been oversold without an equipment swap anyway. So, (a) I wonder why they were calling J passengers to swap, and (b) I wonder if the agent just looked at J without noticing that Y was oversold.
Still, it looks like somebody called up and got a 2-person VDB (4A & 4B are now available), presumably while United's call was wending its way through my voicemail. Moral of the story, as always: the early bird gets the worm.
PS: As I check, the flight is now J1 Y0. Maybe I've got a chance at the gate...
I hadn't eyeballed this flight as a potential oversale, except to note that J was "Full," so I wasn't prepared with a set of alternatives. I called in anyway, and got a nice agent who was happy to look for something and to preserve the upgrade. (Of course, not all United business class is created equally...) Long story short, I didn't like the first alternative she came up with, but before I got too creative, I wanted to talk numbers. The agent said that the flight was even, so she couldn't offer compensation for a VDB. I assumed they got someone else to take the offer and let the matter drop.
When I checked a little later, J was showing 28 (+1 blocked) / 30 (and inventory was J1 Y1). It appears to be Y that's oversold, not J -- I was confused as to how J would have been oversold without an equipment swap anyway. So, (a) I wonder why they were calling J passengers to swap, and (b) I wonder if the agent just looked at J without noticing that Y was oversold.
Still, it looks like somebody called up and got a 2-person VDB (4A & 4B are now available), presumably while United's call was wending its way through my voicemail.
Moral of the story, as always: the early bird gets the worm.PS: As I check, the flight is now J1 Y0. Maybe I've got a chance at the gate...
Jun 30, 2018, 8:03 pm
#312
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In a different time, yeah but I couldn't miss getting to my all day meeting.
Also, as an additional set of things I didn't want to have to fight with that evening: spending time with UAX and/or UA agents to then repair my PNR if I ended up not taking a flight the next day and/or getting UA to send me to IAD instead of BWI, getting Avis to cancel my rental at BWI and then getting a car in EWR - or getting on an Amtrak train and then getting no car at Union Station and having to schlep down to DCA for a rental, likely getting into my hotel way way way late (assuming they held on to the room for me - even as a MR Platinum Premier) and then not being in any shape for my meetings nor also having do deal with ironing and other mundane details to be ready...
David
Last edited by DELee; Jul 1, 2018 at 12:45 am
Jul 5, 2018, 4:04 pm
#313
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,203
VDB Notification Procedure
Curious.
UA4420 EWR BWI July 5.
Checked bag and advised of potential of VDB compensation at kiosk. Offered $200, $300, $400, or other. Choose $300. No Pre at Terminal A, Concourse 2, so did not get to UA Club until 20 minutes prior to boarding. Not being too familiar with the VDB process, I asked the Club agent (her name tag identified her as ‘Global Services', so I assume some higher level of experience) how early I should get to the gate prior to boarding time to check to see if volunteers were needed. She checked the computer, told me 5-7 minutes prior to boarding time was OK, and confirmed that I was on the VDB list. She also advised that the flight was oversold and that up to $1000 was being offered as compensation. I proceeded to grab a quick bite to eat.
I got to the gate at just 7 minutes prior to boarding. I asked the status of VDB persons. The GA told me that she asked for volunteers about 45 minutes ago (so about 52 minutes prior to boarding) and she had her volunteers, didn’t need anymore, and she added that she likely wouldn’t need any volunteers at all. And in the future, I should be at the gate about an hour in advance OF BOARDING if I was interested in VDB.
Turns out she was right about not needing volunteers. Left with 4 seats open
My question is when should I get to the gate – 60 minutes prior to boarding or 5-7 minutes prior to boarding?Thanks!
(As I am typing this, still on the ground, 105 minutes past scheduled departure.)
UA4420 EWR BWI July 5.
Checked bag and advised of potential of VDB compensation at kiosk. Offered $200, $300, $400, or other. Choose $300. No Pre at Terminal A, Concourse 2, so did not get to UA Club until 20 minutes prior to boarding. Not being too familiar with the VDB process, I asked the Club agent (her name tag identified her as ‘Global Services', so I assume some higher level of experience) how early I should get to the gate prior to boarding time to check to see if volunteers were needed. She checked the computer, told me 5-7 minutes prior to boarding time was OK, and confirmed that I was on the VDB list. She also advised that the flight was oversold and that up to $1000 was being offered as compensation. I proceeded to grab a quick bite to eat.
I got to the gate at just 7 minutes prior to boarding. I asked the status of VDB persons. The GA told me that she asked for volunteers about 45 minutes ago (so about 52 minutes prior to boarding) and she had her volunteers, didn’t need anymore, and she added that she likely wouldn’t need any volunteers at all. And in the future, I should be at the gate about an hour in advance OF BOARDING if I was interested in VDB.
Turns out she was right about not needing volunteers. Left with 4 seats open
My question is when should I get to the gate – 60 minutes prior to boarding or 5-7 minutes prior to boarding?Thanks!
(As I am typing this, still on the ground, 105 minutes past scheduled departure.)
Jul 5, 2018, 4:35 pm
#314
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If heavily overbook, the GA will be making decisions at 30 minutes or earlier (domestically) prior to departure but if only over a few it may be as late as 15 minutes to departure. And the GA will be building the list and checking for folk to be in the gate areas earlier.
If looking for VDB you need to be in the Gate area and not in the lounge. GA will only deal with those they can see in person.
Jul 5, 2018, 6:21 pm
#315
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,203
Depends on the gate agent and the degree of overbooking, could be either. 6o minutes is a bit on the unusually earlier side but if heavily overbooked, some will be more proactive.
If heavily overbook, the GA will be making decisions at 30 minutes or earlier (domestically) prior to departure but if only over a few it may be as late as 15 minutes to departure. And the GA will be building the list and checking for folk to be in the gate areas earlier.
If looking for VDB you need to be in the Gate area and not in the lounge. GA will only deal with those they can see in person.
If heavily overbook, the GA will be making decisions at 30 minutes or earlier (domestically) prior to departure but if only over a few it may be as late as 15 minutes to departure. And the GA will be building the list and checking for folk to be in the gate areas earlier.
If looking for VDB you need to be in the Gate area and not in the lounge. GA will only deal with those they can see in person.