Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump Experiences on UA [2019]
#346
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 131
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#347
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
A true oversold J cabin is a rarity and will cost UA thousands to "fix" at the gate (presuming it was the over the ocean leg) so this was for sure a low-ball approach. I have had this happen once in the last ~10 years on a LAX > LIH leg of an ORD > LAX > LIH trip. Even as a GS at the time an agent proactively called to tried to get me to swap to ORD > HNL > LIH. My wife hates the island hoppers so I declined but they offered me $3,000 ETC ($1,500 each) to swap because they were over by 2 on a 752. I asked how that even happened and the GS representative basically said they had irrops with some mega-VIP and that this was now dropped in their lap.
#349
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: TPA
Programs: United MP
Posts: 462
UA1115 downguaged from 739 to 738, taking 4 F seats with it. UA app offered me a $100 ETC which I did not take. After UA called me, got rebooked onto the direct TPA-SFO flight and a $400 ETC.
#350
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
Nonetheless, $400 for a proactive reroute onto a direct flight is a good deal any day. Nice catch.
BTW: Keep an eye on your new flight... betting that one will end up over by a few as well from those rerouting off the downgauge that are headed to the west coast.
#351
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: EWR-N.Haledon NJ
Programs: CO Platinum
Posts: 1,134
11/19/19 - EWR-ORD 7:30 am flight# 977. Sitting there minding my own business when GA comes over PA asking for two volunteers for $1000 voucher each. I jumped up and yelled, "I'll take it!!!". Both me any my colleague got put on a flight one hour later for $1000 each. Sweet! Funny thing is as I yelled, "I'll take it" some guy was trying to make his way out of BG1 line to accept offer. He looked at me and kind of sneered. Lesson...if you want the offer, don't wait to get to the agent, blurt it out!!
#352
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,524
11/19/19 - EWR-ORD 7:30 am flight# 977. Sitting there minding my own business when GA comes over PA asking for two volunteers for $1000 voucher each. I jumped up and yelled, "I'll take it!!!". Both me any my colleague got put on a flight one hour later for $1000 each. Sweet! Funny thing is as I yelled, "I'll take it" some guy was trying to make his way out of BG1 line to accept offer. He looked at me and kind of sneered. Lesson...if you want the offer, don't wait to get to the agent, blurt it out!!
#353
Join Date: May 2019
Location: PIT
Programs: Hertz PC, National Exec Elite
Posts: 55
Hey y'all,
I've got a flight in 2 days, 11/29 UA 1562 ORF-IAD. EF is currently showing zero availability across the board in all fare classes, and a buddy of mine who works for UA told me that my flight is currently oversold by one. In your opinion, will this flight be oversold/overbooked enough to warrant VDB, and if so, what's the best way in this scenario to make sure it goes to me?
Other info: booked in fare class XN, would probably be willing to accept significant delays/odd reroutings given that I have nothing urgent until Sunday
Thanks in advance!
I've got a flight in 2 days, 11/29 UA 1562 ORF-IAD. EF is currently showing zero availability across the board in all fare classes, and a buddy of mine who works for UA told me that my flight is currently oversold by one. In your opinion, will this flight be oversold/overbooked enough to warrant VDB, and if so, what's the best way in this scenario to make sure it goes to me?
Other info: booked in fare class XN, would probably be willing to accept significant delays/odd reroutings given that I have nothing urgent until Sunday
Thanks in advance!
#354
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,530
One more ticket than they want to, which you can think of as Y = -1, can happen with irrops, accommodating GS, deadheading crew, changing RM models, downgauging, etc. and means higher VDB likelihood.
In your opinion, will this flight be oversold/overbooked enough to warrant VDB,
This is a holiday weekend, but Friday is not the busiest travel day. If it was Wednesday/Sunday especially with the weather going on across the midwest I'd say higher than normal chance, but not sure about Friday.
and if so, what's the best way in this scenario to make sure it goes to me?
2. Be there when the gate agents arrive at the podium ~1 hour before flight, approach them before they get busy and say that you're willing to be bumped of they need it.
3. Stay near the podium where they can see you.
4. Have alternatives to suggest ("I see flight XXX has seats and is leaving in 3 hours...") and be flexible.
In general, make it easy for them to go with you. You said hello, you said you were willing, you're traveling alone with no luggage, you're right there and easy to call from the podium, you already have some alternatives in mind and they don't have to waste time looking up 6 alternatives that you will reject....
#355
Join Date: May 2019
Location: PIT
Programs: Hertz PC, National Exec Elite
Posts: 55
Don't have any checked luggage, thank goodness. And I'm extremely flexible -- if they offered ORF-IAH-PIT or something equally stupid I'd probably take it.
Fingers crossed..
#356
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,570
The best answer is VDB opportunity is possible but far from probable.
Holiday periods are the better opportunity for VDBs but bad weather and other issues can create misconnect that leave flights with empty seats.
Best strategy is if offered the opportunity at check-in to make a VDB bide, make it. When you get to the gate, tell the agent you are willing. Just remember the post-thanksgiving weekend, the number of free seats is minimal, so set limits with the GA on how long you are willing to defer.
Holiday periods are the better opportunity for VDBs but bad weather and other issues can create misconnect that leave flights with empty seats.
Best strategy is if offered the opportunity at check-in to make a VDB bide, make it. When you get to the gate, tell the agent you are willing. Just remember the post-thanksgiving weekend, the number of free seats is minimal, so set limits with the GA on how long you are willing to defer.
#357
Join Date: May 2019
Location: PIT
Programs: Hertz PC, National Exec Elite
Posts: 55
VDB opportunity is possible but far from probable
Last edited by EntropyTheory; Nov 27, 2019 at 4:22 pm
#358
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,530
Looking at past flight history for mainline flights between ORF and IAD shows that there may have been a downgauge - normally it's operated with an A320 or a 738, my flight is operated with an A319.
The flight is no longer available to be booked on ua.com as far as I can tell and, like I mentioned as well, EF is showing zero availability in all fare classes.
In all of these "over by 1" or "over by 2" situations it's just luck. If it's over by 30 then yes you can have a solid expectation.
Fingers crossed.
#359
Join Date: May 2019
Location: PIT
Programs: Hertz PC, National Exec Elite
Posts: 55
A very minor update at T-24: I was able to see the actual employee nonrev travel portal through my buddy and it is indeed at Y -5, however it seems like they freed up two more J seats as there are 6 held J seats. So VDB looks unlikely now. I did put some low-ball bids when I checked in but still.
#360
Join Date: May 2008
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, HH Diamond, MR Titanium, MR LTP, AA PlatPro, DL PM, UA Silver
Posts: 742
Thanksgiving Day, 28 Nov 2019, IAD/HSV over by 1 on a CRJ200.
GA offered me $700 for a reroute through IAD/ATL/HSV, IAD/ATL on UA and ATL/HSV on DL.
Was traveling with a companion and didn’t want to split due to the holiday, so they paid us each $700, rebooked us both through ATL and the flight went out with one seat OPEN!! There was no one else willing to give up a seat and our VDB was processed well before boarding started... I assume the GA took those extraordinary steps in an effort to not have an IDB on Thanksgiving Day.
The GA said “Happy Holidays from United” and sent us on our way. Original tickets were Basic Economy and we were on separate records; one Silver and one non-status traveler.
All that said, the IAD GA did NOT push the tickets to DL properly and we had some issues once arriving in ATL. Luckily, the DL Global Ticketing Desk sorted everything out and we made it to our destination in time for turkey.
GA offered me $700 for a reroute through IAD/ATL/HSV, IAD/ATL on UA and ATL/HSV on DL.
Was traveling with a companion and didn’t want to split due to the holiday, so they paid us each $700, rebooked us both through ATL and the flight went out with one seat OPEN!! There was no one else willing to give up a seat and our VDB was processed well before boarding started... I assume the GA took those extraordinary steps in an effort to not have an IDB on Thanksgiving Day.
The GA said “Happy Holidays from United” and sent us on our way. Original tickets were Basic Economy and we were on separate records; one Silver and one non-status traveler.
All that said, the IAD GA did NOT push the tickets to DL properly and we had some issues once arriving in ATL. Luckily, the DL Global Ticketing Desk sorted everything out and we made it to our destination in time for turkey.
Last edited by LedgeT; Nov 28, 2019 at 4:29 pm