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]
Nov 18, 2018, 8:11 am
#466
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
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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.
Nov 18, 2018, 9:29 am
#467
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Join Date: Sep 2012
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1212 SFO-PVR Nov 18.
Last offer I heard was $2500 credit. They're announcing it on board.
I think someone took it. I was tempted, but I'm heading to an all inclusive resort and am really looking forward to relaxing. And there are two of us.
Edited to add it would have been a 24 hour delay.
Last offer I heard was $2500 credit. They're announcing it on board.
I think someone took it. I was tempted, but I'm heading to an all inclusive resort and am really looking forward to relaxing. And there are two of us.
Edited to add it would have been a 24 hour delay.
Last edited by canadiancow; Nov 18, 2018 at 9:37 am
Nov 18, 2018, 9:43 am
#468
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,151
BOS-ORD on Thursday. The staff in the United Club told me it was slightly over, so I went to the gate early and although they said they didn't think they'd need me as they were only over by 1, they put me on the list anyway.
Ended up they did need me. Got $500, and a seat on an "earlier" delayed flight to ORD which left about an hour later and allowed me to catch the same connecting flight to SJC that I was originally booked on.
Ended up they did need me. Got $500, and a seat on an "earlier" delayed flight to ORD which left about an hour later and allowed me to catch the same connecting flight to SJC that I was originally booked on.
Nov 18, 2018, 2:28 pm
#469
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, MR Titanium
Posts: 458
Yes, you can absolutely request it. The gate agent would have had to manually put you in "M" when rebooking you which is very odd to me. Normally they all just put you in "Y" unless they are becoming more diligent about original fare class. Even then, if your original fare class is "Y" they should have rebooked you in that. Nonetheless, you can request the 50% PQM you would have earned and United will give them to you as long as you were originally booked in "Y".
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
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
Nov 18, 2018, 2:33 pm
#470
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, MR Titanium
Posts: 458
$500 seems pretty weak for a 24 hour delay on int'l. I have taken much more for just a 4 hour delay. 
$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?
$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?
Dec 5, 2018, 11:37 am
#471
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,458
Interesting report from WSJ about UA's and OALs' bump strategies:
( direct link ; no-paywall link )
It includes this table —
— which is a pretty good illustration of how difficult VDB has become.
edit add: it has the intriguing factoid that about once per month UA gives the 10k payout. Where is that person?!
( direct link ; no-paywall link )
It includes this table —
— which is a pretty good illustration of how difficult VDB has become.
edit add: it has the intriguing factoid that about once per month UA gives the 10k payout. Where is that person?!
Dec 5, 2018, 11:39 am
#472
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Miami, Florida
Programs: AA ExPlat, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Spire, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,009
Thanks for nothing, Dr. Dao.
Jokes aside, United's load management remains very impressive. I don't believe I've seen a single VDB on all of my United flights this year, which have included many that went out full. The app has asked for volunteers a bunch of times, but they've never been needed.
Jokes aside, United's load management remains very impressive. I don't believe I've seen a single VDB on all of my United flights this year, which have included many that went out full. The app has asked for volunteers a bunch of times, but they've never been needed.
Dec 6, 2018, 7:08 am
#473
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
I can't read the article but I do notice it excludes regionals where most bumping occurs (probably due to comingling).
Dec 6, 2018, 8:35 am
#474
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The initial panic appears to have worn off. I routinely heard AA offering $1,000 as the second step on micro-haul routes where there was an alternative incurring a 2-3 hour delay. That is now back in the $300-400 range and people are still running to the podium for it. One cal always bump up the VDB offer to the stratosphere further in the process. But, so long as someone is prepared to take a smaller amount and perhaps a lunch voucher, why offer more?
Dec 7, 2018, 5:24 am
#475
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
Interesting report from WSJ about UA's and OALs' bump strategies:
( direct link ; no-paywall link )
It includes this table —
— which is a pretty good illustration of how difficult VDB has become.
edit add: it has the intriguing factoid that about once per month UA gives the 10k payout. Where is that person?!
( direct link ; no-paywall link )
It includes this table —
— which is a pretty good illustration of how difficult VDB has become.
edit add: it has the intriguing factoid that about once per month UA gives the 10k payout. Where is that person?!
Thanks for nothing, Dr. Dao.
Jokes aside, United's load management remains very impressive. I don't believe I've seen a single VDB on all of my United flights this year, which have included many that went out full. The app has asked for volunteers a bunch of times, but they've never been needed.
Jokes aside, United's load management remains very impressive. I don't believe I've seen a single VDB on all of my United flights this year, which have included many that went out full. The app has asked for volunteers a bunch of times, but they've never been needed.
Dec 7, 2018, 6:09 am
#476
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,458
This is strictly IDB stats. With the ability to offer larger vouchers, they are likely finding the people to get off for compensation more than in the past.
I went for 12 months without a single VDB between April 2017 and April 2018 (approximately 120 flights). Since April 2018, it appears UA has loosened the straps and allowed the statistical models to overbook flights a bit more, as I have VDBed several times for a total of around $4000. After Dr. Dao, things really tightened up, but now things appear to be headed for a more normal state in the VDB world. Next year's stats will be a more fair comparison of before and after Dr. Dao, IMHO.
I went for 12 months without a single VDB between April 2017 and April 2018 (approximately 120 flights). Since April 2018, it appears UA has loosened the straps and allowed the statistical models to overbook flights a bit more, as I have VDBed several times for a total of around $4000. After Dr. Dao, things really tightened up, but now things appear to be headed for a more normal state in the VDB world. Next year's stats will be a more fair comparison of before and after Dr. Dao, IMHO.
Unfortunately my experience for VDB doesn't match yours. I don't see them overbooking by the same amounts they used to do — the most has been over by two — and I have failed three of three VDB attempts this year, and I only got one of three last year. I'm wondering how widespread their pro-active re-routing is. That seems like it could have a proportionately large effect.
Dec 7, 2018, 10:46 am
#477
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
I don't think that you can infer VDB numbers from IDB because some carriers will go to great lengths to avoid IDB, e.g. DL, AA, and UA, while others such as WN will not.
What is interesting is that B6, which has always claimed that it did not overbook, dropped IDB's by 98% to only 23. But, WN, which claims that it no longer overbooks, had the largest number of IDB's in the industry even though it dropped iDB's by 70%. Finally, the number of IDB's overall is tiny. People who worry about IDB when they have something important, need not.
What is interesting is that B6, which has always claimed that it did not overbook, dropped IDB's by 98% to only 23. But, WN, which claims that it no longer overbooks, had the largest number of IDB's in the industry even though it dropped iDB's by 70%. Finally, the number of IDB's overall is tiny. People who worry about IDB when they have something important, need not.
Dec 7, 2018, 11:17 am
#478
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
What is interesting is that B6, which has always claimed that it did not overbook, dropped IDB's by 98% to only 23. But, WN, which claims that it no longer overbooks, had the largest number of IDB's in the industry even though it dropped iDB's by 70%. Finally, the number of IDB's overall is tiny. People who worry about IDB when they have something important, need not.
Dec 7, 2018, 6:14 pm
#479
Moderator: United Airlines
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Location: SFO
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Dec 13, 2018, 6:48 pm
#480
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: London
Posts: 5
Suggestions to get bumped in UA flight LHR-IAD-LAX
Hello everyone. I recently found this website and became a member. As I am a newbie, please forgive me if I make any mistake about the rules.
I am not a frequent flyer. This is going to be my second overseas flight for the last three years. I bought my ticket thru Lufthansa website months ago. It's LHR-IAD-LAX on 16th of December, LAX-FRA-LHR on 30th of December. As I am a student and my schedule is flexible, I voluntarily would like to get bumped from any of these flights. Since they are all connected flights and I have not done things like this before, I want to consult you what to follow on Sunday. Some say to mail/call them and say the request in advance, some say to talk to Gate Assistant in front of the check-in desk. Can someone please help me?
Also, who is going to be the answerer? LA or UA?
PS: English is not my mother language, I apologise if there is an obvious mistake although I can't see.
I am not a frequent flyer. This is going to be my second overseas flight for the last three years. I bought my ticket thru Lufthansa website months ago. It's LHR-IAD-LAX on 16th of December, LAX-FRA-LHR on 30th of December. As I am a student and my schedule is flexible, I voluntarily would like to get bumped from any of these flights. Since they are all connected flights and I have not done things like this before, I want to consult you what to follow on Sunday. Some say to mail/call them and say the request in advance, some say to talk to Gate Assistant in front of the check-in desk. Can someone please help me?
Also, who is going to be the answerer? LA or UA?
PS: English is not my mother language, I apologise if there is an obvious mistake although I can't see.