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]
Oct 16, 2018, 4:32 pm
#451
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 228
In July I volunteered off STL-IAD-PIT I got a $1000 voucher and my new flight on DL via ATL got in before my original flight
Oct 17, 2018, 4:17 am
#452
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
Nice catch though! I would take $1000 any day at those airports... even without a solid backup plan.
Oct 17, 2018, 4:03 pm
#453
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 228
I got the bump in STL on a Monday afternoon. Was a bit scary though as after I volunteered they put me on Delta via DTW but between the gate and getting to the Delta checkin desk the DTW flight was delayed which meant I couldn't make my connection to PIT and I would be stranded. Luckily the United agent somehow found me a seat via ATL. Best bit was my original connection via IAD was delayed massively so end result was I was tucked up in my hotel with $1000 voucher before my original flight even landed.
Oct 21, 2018, 7:38 am
#454
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Next door to me, UA is offering $2k for ORD-SBN. It’s the 855am flight but they are saying they can’t confirm space until tomorrow morning or a reroute to Detroit this afternoon.
It’s only like a 2 hr drive! And not sure how Detroit is a better reroute when ORD is closer. Wish that was my flight.
It’s only like a 2 hr drive! And not sure how Detroit is a better reroute when ORD is closer. Wish that was my flight.
Oct 21, 2018, 8:28 am
#455
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SLC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 493
Wow, new VDB (kind of) high for me, though I was too slow and a couple other pax picked this one up. Crew rest berth was inop on last night’s UA20 (pmCO 777). We boarded and C cabin was 48/50. They then announced that they were “contractually obligated” to have 4 X C seats available for crew rest, and they needed 2 volunteers to accept a E+ seat w protected empty seat adjacent plus a $10,000 cert. I think everyone in the cabin sat around for a minute wondering whether that’s really what they meant. In the end they had ~ 6 volunteers, a couple of ladies from the forward cabin were escorted to the back w all their bedding and amenities in tow. In retrospect I have no idea why I hesitated. 8 hour flight, don’t even think there are many lawyers that are able to bill $1,200/hr.
Oct 21, 2018, 10:09 am
#456
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RNO, NV, USA.
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 5,062
Wow, new VDB (kind of) high for me, though I was too slow and a couple other pax picked this one up. Crew rest berth was inop on last night’s UA20 (pmCO 777). We boarded and C cabin was 48/50. They then announced that they were “contractually obligated” to have 4 X C seats available for crew rest, and they needed 2 volunteers to accept a E+ seat w protected empty seat adjacent plus a $10,000 cert. I think everyone in the cabin sat around for a minute wondering whether that’s really what they meant. In the end they had ~ 6 volunteers, a couple of ladies from the forward cabin were escorted to the back w all their bedding and amenities in tow. In retrospect I have no idea why I hesitated. 8 hour flight, don’t even think there are many lawyers that are able to bill $1,200/hr.
BTW UA20 is IAH - AMS.
Oct 30, 2018, 11:53 am
#458
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MKE, formerly the closest FT-er to LAX
Programs: Marriott Gold. Usually WN or DL if in the air.
Posts: 704
8am ORD-SFO flight last week was downgauged from 753 to 739. Got the kiosk prompt and gave them my price of $900. Gate agent first called for volunteers at $500 but then called me up and gave me the $900, $20 in airport f&b vouchers, and a seat on the 1045am flight.
Oct 30, 2018, 12:32 pm
#459
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Did they at least confirm that with you before making the change? Did they process you before departure?
Oct 30, 2018, 4:05 pm
#460
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: MKE, formerly the closest FT-er to LAX
Programs: Marriott Gold. Usually WN or DL if in the air.
Posts: 704
Nov 17, 2018, 10:37 pm
#461
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, MR Titanium
Posts: 458
BRU-IAD UA951 on 11/17 was oversold by 4, so I got a $500 voucher plus hotel to fly the next day, when I snagged a premium economy seat. So it worked out well, except that my Y fare class on the return was switched to M, giving me fewer PQMs. Can I ask UA for the extra PQMs for the original Y fare class? Thanks for any advice on that.
in addition, one C passenger got a $1,500 voucher for agreeing to a downgrade to Y on the same flight (11/17) due to an inoperable business seat.
in addition, one C passenger got a $1,500 voucher for agreeing to a downgrade to Y on the same flight (11/17) due to an inoperable business seat.
Nov 18, 2018, 3:45 am
#462
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
BRU-IAD UA951 on 11/17 was oversold by 4, so I got a $500 voucher plus hotel to fly the next day, when I snagged a premium economy seat. So it worked out well, except that my Y fare class on the return was switched to M, giving me fewer PQMs. Can I ask UA for the extra PQMs for the original Y fare class? Thanks for any advice on that.
in addition, one C passenger got a $1,500 voucher for agreeing to a downgrade to Y on the same flight (11/17) due to an inoperable business seat.
in addition, one C passenger got a $1,500 voucher for agreeing to a downgrade to Y on the same flight (11/17) due to an inoperable business seat.
Good deal for the C passenger on a daytime flight.
Nov 18, 2018, 7:24 am
#463
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,400
Technically, perhaps not allowed because it was 'voluntary' (although agent may have marked INVOL); however, I would guess that they would give you an adjustment if you write to request. ('The flight was oversold, I gave up my seat, and I was rebooked in a different fare class. I would like credit according to my original ticketed Y fare class.')
Good deal for the C passenger on a daytime flight.
Good deal for the C passenger on a daytime flight.
While it may seem like a voluntary change, since OP volunteered to be bumped, it’s actually not, since UA is in full control of whether or not to re-issue the ticket. A few misconnects or no-shows — no voucher, no re-route.
Nov 18, 2018, 7:49 am
#464
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
BRU-IAD UA951 on 11/17 was oversold by 4, so I got a $500 voucher plus hotel to fly the next day, when I snagged a premium economy seat. So it worked out well, except that my Y fare class on the return was switched to M, giving me fewer PQMs. Can I ask UA for the extra PQMs for the original Y fare class? Thanks for any advice on that.
in addition, one C passenger got a $1,500 voucher for agreeing to a downgrade to Y on the same flight (11/17) due to an inoperable business seat.
in addition, one C passenger got a $1,500 voucher for agreeing to a downgrade to Y on the same flight (11/17) due to an inoperable business seat.
$1500 for a downgrade from J to Y seems a bit more on par for the length of flight, though I'm surprised since I have heard other instances where much more was offered for downgrades on TATL routes.
Thoughts?
Nov 18, 2018, 7:55 am
#465
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Floating around
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), DL Gold (1MM), Marriott LTT
Posts: 10,344
BRU-IAD UA951 on 11/17 was oversold by 4, so I got a $500 voucher plus hotel to fly the next day, when I snagged a premium economy seat. So it worked out well, except that my Y fare class on the return was switched to M, giving me fewer PQMs. Can I ask UA for the extra PQMs for the original Y fare class? Thanks for any advice on that.
in addition, one C passenger got a $1,500 voucher for agreeing to a downgrade to Y on the same flight (11/17) due to an inoperable business seat.
in addition, one C passenger got a $1,500 voucher for agreeing to a downgrade to Y on the same flight (11/17) due to an inoperable business seat.
Note: I wouldn't push very hard on this unless the extra PQM are needed for next status level or for additional GPU/RPU earnings. Otherwise, the 50% PQM (1,841 BRU-EWR) may not be worth arguing over.
-RM