Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump Experiences on UA [2019]
#16
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, IHG Diamond AMB, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National EE
Posts: 1,083
My flight MDT-IAD was overbooked by 1. When I checked in on the app I chose a $750 ETC as my desired compensation, never thinking they would actually give it to me. When I got to the gate they were still over by 1, and accepted my bid. They gave me an option on AA for a similar arrival time, or a flight on United in the morning. I chose the UA flight and they gave me a hotel and $120 in food vouchers. Good deal.
#17
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
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My flight MDT-IAD was overbooked by 1. When I checked in on the app I chose a $750 ETC as my desired compensation, never thinking they would actually give it to me. When I got to the gate they were still over by 1, and accepted my bid. They gave me an option on AA for a similar arrival time, or a flight on United in the morning. I chose the UA flight and they gave me a hotel and $120 in food vouchers. Good deal.
Last edited by goalie; Jan 24, 2019 at 8:19 pm Reason: Typo
#18
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: UA 1K, DL Gold, IHG Diamond AMB, MR Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, National EE
Posts: 1,083
They gave me $60 initially and then another $60 when I decided to stay the night. Unfortunately MDT doesnt have many food options and you can only eat so many cinnamon pretzel nuggets from Auntie Annes. So I stocked up on some snacks from Hudson News and declared a hotel Netflix night.
#19
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
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They gave me $60 initially and then another $60 when I decided to stay the night. Unfortunately MDT doesnt have many food options and you can only eat so many cinnamon pretzel nuggets from Auntie Annes. So I stocked up on some snacks from Hudson News and declared a hotel Netflix night.
#20
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
Can anyone help handicap VDB chances? I'm booked SFO-ORD on tonight's redeye (11:15pm), and am trying to decide whether to use the weather waiver to fly later. I got the VDB menu at OLCI - the flight just prior was canceled. Flight status shows J/Y full, but only one person on standby. EF shows 2 open E+ seats.
So if I get to the gate and don't get a VDB offer, can I still use the waiver to travel later? Or is there a T -x cutoff?
So if I get to the gate and don't get a VDB offer, can I still use the waiver to travel later? Or is there a T -x cutoff?
#21
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Chicago IL US
Programs: UA 1K; National Executive Elite; Hertz PC & Hotels Galore
Posts: 946
Can anyone help handicap VDB chances? I'm booked SFO-ORD on tonight's redeye (11:15pm), and am trying to decide whether to use the weather waiver to fly later. I got the VDB menu at OLCI - the flight just prior was canceled. Flight status shows J/Y full, but only one person on standby. EF shows 2 open E+ seats.
So if I get to the gate and don't get a VDB offer, can I still use the waiver to travel later? Or is there a T -x cutoff?
So if I get to the gate and don't get a VDB offer, can I still use the waiver to travel later? Or is there a T -x cutoff?
Your plan is to go to the gate and then voluntarily switch to a later flight if you don't get VDB? Am I missing something?
BTW that flight has 98 on the upgrade list with F showing full
#22
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: CLE
Programs: NEXUS, MileagePlus Silver, Frontier Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 263
Can anyone help handicap VDB chances? I'm booked SFO-ORD on tonight's redeye (11:15pm), and am trying to decide whether to use the weather waiver to fly later. I got the VDB menu at OLCI - the flight just prior was canceled. Flight status shows J/Y full, but only one person on standby. EF shows 2 open E+ seats.
So if I get to the gate and don't get a VDB offer, can I still use the waiver to travel later? Or is there a T -x cutoff?
So if I get to the gate and don't get a VDB offer, can I still use the waiver to travel later? Or is there a T -x cutoff?
#23
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
In my experience, VDBs often get confirmed at the very last moment before boarding ends...which might be too late for a waiver flight change. Hence my question.
btw there are now 10 people on the standby list, and both cabins are full. But there's also a 12:40 am SFO-ORD, so my guess is that most of the standbys are booked on that flight, angling for the earlier one.
#24
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: SFO/SJC/OAK
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#25
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
As data point, I called the premiere desk and was told waiver changes can be made up until the time of departure. So I guess the question is if I'm feeling lucky....
#26
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
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Posts: 66,580
So, a better phrasing would be as long as boarding is occurring, you are OK. Note the GA can cancel your reservation at T-15 (domestic) if you are not boarded. However, the GA may hold off VDB until after T-15, so you may have to make a decision before VDB is confirmed.
#27
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: SFO
Posts: 181
Depending on what you mean by departure, that is a bit of an oversimplification. Once the GA closes the flight, I believe you can not be removed from the flights -- but you should be boarded by that time.
So, a better phrasing would be as long as boarding is occurring, you are OK. Note the GA can cancel your reservation at T-15 (domestic) if you are not boarded. However, the GA may hold off VDB until after T-15, so you may have to make a decision before VDB is confirmed.
So, a better phrasing would be as long as boarding is occurring, you are OK. Note the GA can cancel your reservation at T-15 (domestic) if you are not boarded. However, the GA may hold off VDB until after T-15, so you may have to make a decision before VDB is confirmed.
#28
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
UA703 this morning. Equipment change. Got an email about the change. Agent initially suggested $350, I counteroffered $700 for a later EWR-LAX-SFO with everything in J. After a minute she responded with a phrase that ‘It went faster than expected.’ Do you think I lowballed too much and should have asked for $1k at the minimum? It was a 767-400 downgauged to 752. Tbh I actually suspected that last night coz I saw flight status showed 764 but reservation showed 752.
Last time I VDBed a ORD-YYZ for $800 and overnight at the hotel. 764 to 752 down gauge would mean at the minimum it’s oversold by 10
Last time I VDBed a ORD-YYZ for $800 and overnight at the hotel. 764 to 752 down gauge would mean at the minimum it’s oversold by 10
Last edited by PaulInTheSky; Feb 1, 2019 at 5:45 am
#29
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
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Posts: 3,524
UA703 this morning. Equipment change. Got an email about the change. Agent initially suggested $350, I counteroffered $700 for a later EWR-LAX-SFO with everything in J. After a minute she responded with a phrase that It went faster than expected. Do you think I lowballed too much and should have asked for $1k at the minimum? It was a 767-400 downgauged to 752. Tbh I actually suspected that last night coz I saw flight status showed 764 but reservation showed 752.
Last time I VDBed a ORD-YYZ for $800 and overnight at the hotel. 764 to 752 down gauge would mean at the minimum its oversold by 10
Last time I VDBed a ORD-YYZ for $800 and overnight at the hotel. 764 to 752 down gauge would mean at the minimum its oversold by 10
If you were in Y originally, then I think it's a great deal.
#30
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
I don't think you lowballed. In fact it just goes to show how low UA really wants to start. I've had bad luck - in December I was on SFO-IAH, they needed three volunteers and were offering $300. I asked for 1k and they said they would keep that in mind and pretty much put me aside. Then 400, then 500, and I'm not sure if they ever got past that. I don't think it's low, especially since you got J on EWR-LAX. Doing that in Y, $750 might have been on the lower end for me (although I still would have taken it).
If you were in Y originally, then I think it's a great deal.
If you were in Y originally, then I think it's a great deal.
I decided to bite that because I was five minutes away from check-in counter for the original flight. If I waited too long to do it at the gate, all other J options may be gone. I kinda felt the offers would probably be around $800-$1k USD, so I was trying to make it like a bit of discount as I got it done on the phone with the agent.