Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump Experiences on UA [2019]
Apr 2, 2019, 11:18 am
#106
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
Yes, sorry I wasn't clear. I checked with the GA before boarding began. She said the flight was oversold so she would likely need my seat, after confirming my bid amount and that a flight a few hours later would work. There is always the caveat that the seat may not be needed. I waited in the boarding area, where I heard the calls for another volunteer at increasingly higher compensation. Finally someone came forward at $2K. When I went to pick up my voucher, the GA explained that I would now also get $2K. No complaints from moi.
Apr 2, 2019, 11:28 am
#107
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
Apr 2, 2019, 11:33 am
#108
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
So am I 
.
I've bid more often of late, when I fly SFO-EWR-SFO on weekends when my schedule is flexible. There are so many daily flights that the re-booking is typically just a few hours later. But there's also a lot of passenger churn on that route, so most times in the end volunteers aren't needed. This was my first time getting higher compensation specifically because an additional volunteer came forward at a higher price.
.I've bid more often of late, when I fly SFO-EWR-SFO on weekends when my schedule is flexible. There are so many daily flights that the re-booking is typically just a few hours later. But there's also a lot of passenger churn on that route, so most times in the end volunteers aren't needed. This was my first time getting higher compensation specifically because an additional volunteer came forward at a higher price.
Apr 4, 2019, 9:44 am
#111
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: UA gold; WN A; PC plat; Marriott Gold
Posts: 425
There is another flight an hour later, but that was full as well - it's spring break in the bay area so many flights were full. I was rebooked to next day.
Apr 9, 2019, 8:36 pm
#112
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
Hi! I have some use it or lose it voucher money, and I’m hoping to use it to get VDB travel voucher moolah. I’m thinking Easter weekend will give me my best chance at success. I’m starting at IAH but thinking IAH-DEN to a small regional airport such as Vail or Aspen may be a good choice. I’m brand new at this, so I figured I’d ask for advice from the pros here. Any suggestions to increase my chances? I’m open to other locations, too.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Apr 10, 2019, 8:12 am
#113
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
Hi! I have some use it or lose it voucher money, and I’m hoping to use it to get VDB travel voucher moolah. I’m thinking Easter weekend will give me my best chance at success. I’m starting at IAH but thinking IAH-DEN to a small regional airport such as Vail or Aspen may be a good choice. I’m brand new at this, so I figured I’d ask for advice from the pros here. Any suggestions to increase my chances? I’m open to other locations, too.
Thanks!
Thanks!
If I were you, I would make a booking for a trip you really want to take before the voucher expires. You can literally use that voucher on the last day it's valid to book a trip 10 months away. That's what i would do.
Apr 10, 2019, 9:23 am
#114
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
Hi! I have some use it or lose it voucher money, and I’m hoping to use it to get VDB travel voucher moolah. I’m thinking Easter weekend will give me my best chance at success. I’m starting at IAH but thinking IAH-DEN to a small regional airport such as Vail or Aspen may be a good choice. I’m brand new at this, so I figured I’d ask for advice from the pros here. Any suggestions to increase my chances? I’m open to other locations, too.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Often times, when you want to volunteer, UA does not need you. When UA needs you, you are not available.
Apr 10, 2019, 3:48 pm
#115
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 2
Thank you, jjmoore and 1KChinito, for the sage advice. Probably a lot of wishful thinking on my part, ha! And you’re right, VDB will likely happen at a very inconvenient time. 😜
Apr 10, 2019, 5:13 pm
#116
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
Good luck and have fun. These days UA offers much higher amount in monopoly money. Recent report has been $3K, 5K, 7K and 9K. When you receive 9K in monopoly money, then your next question will be how to spend it all and not wasting a penny before expiration date.
Apr 13, 2019, 8:40 am
#117
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 46
Hi everyone,
I am currently sitting at the Gate with my name and volunteered my seat. Next UA flight on this route with available seats is in 4hours. (I checked connections but they are even worse).
Obviously UA would prefer to put me on their own flight, but I was wondering if anyone has experience with Interline after a VDB? (DL and AA both have open seats much earlier, connection UA-DL at some regional airports also has a whole bunch of earlier seats, but that is probably too complicated...).
I am a 1K, which probably helps, but is there a policy against it or is it at GA discretion?
I am currently sitting at the Gate with my name and volunteered my seat. Next UA flight on this route with available seats is in 4hours. (I checked connections but they are even worse).
Obviously UA would prefer to put me on their own flight, but I was wondering if anyone has experience with Interline after a VDB? (DL and AA both have open seats much earlier, connection UA-DL at some regional airports also has a whole bunch of earlier seats, but that is probably too complicated...).
I am a 1K, which probably helps, but is there a policy against it or is it at GA discretion?
Apr 13, 2019, 8:57 am
#118
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
Hi everyone,
I am currently sitting at the Gate with my name and volunteered my seat. Next UA flight on this route with available seats is in 4hours. (I checked connections but they are even worse).
Obviously UA would prefer to put me on their own flight, but I was wondering if anyone has experience with Interline after a VDB? (DL and AA both have open seats much earlier, connection UA-DL at some regional airports also has a whole bunch of earlier seats, but that is probably too complicated...).
I am a 1K, which probably helps, but is there a policy against it or is it at GA discretion?
I am currently sitting at the Gate with my name and volunteered my seat. Next UA flight on this route with available seats is in 4hours. (I checked connections but they are even worse).
Obviously UA would prefer to put me on their own flight, but I was wondering if anyone has experience with Interline after a VDB? (DL and AA both have open seats much earlier, connection UA-DL at some regional airports also has a whole bunch of earlier seats, but that is probably too complicated...).
I am a 1K, which probably helps, but is there a policy against it or is it at GA discretion?
Apr 13, 2019, 9:22 am
#119
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,419
If you're OK with the UA flight but would prefer the interline flight, I'd just volunteer, and then, if you're needed, say "Hey, I was checking other airlines, and I found..."
Apr 13, 2019, 11:50 am
#120
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
I have been put on DL and AA after VDBing in the past....