Feb 3, 2020, 10:24 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump Experiences on UA [2019]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump Experiences on UA [2018]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2017]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2016]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2015]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA 2014
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA 2013
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 or even $1,000s in future travel vouchers ($10,000 has been reported), 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.
There are no DoT requirements 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 Experiences on UA [2018]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2017]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2016]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA [2015]
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA 2014
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump on UA 2013
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 or even $1,000s in future travel vouchers ($10,000 has been reported), 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.
There are no DoT requirements 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 2019 8,856 17 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 2019 20,564 24 2018 16,973 51
Voluntary Denied Boarding - VDB/Bump Experiences on UA [2020-2021]
Jan 28, 2020, 1:47 am
#16
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Me and the Mrs and my two adults kids on our way from EWR to RDU this past Saturday morning, prior to noon weather moving into EWR. Apparently, a last minute aircraft swap created an oversell situation (overbooked by 6 in first, and maybe more in Y). We were in economy. I’m getting food, but my kids call and say gate agent offering $1000 to VDB. By the time I get to the gate, offer is up to $5000 and not much crowd interest due to pending weather and possible overnight stay. Agent quickly jumps to $7,000 and I walk over. By the time I talk to the agent they go to the $10k max. Long line forms after me! Wife and I snare 2 VDBs and we meet my kids in Durham 4 hours later after clearing the standby list on next RDU flight. Weather not much of a factor when we left early afternoon.
Another father and son take $10k each and decide to drive. Solo female grabs an afternoon flight to GSO which is where she wanted to go. $50k in comp to the 5 of us, plus more to some downgraded first passengers. I’m surprised and happy UA didn’t just cancel the flight.
i could fly UA every day for the next 100 years and never see so much $$ for so little effort.
Another father and son take $10k each and decide to drive. Solo female grabs an afternoon flight to GSO which is where she wanted to go. $50k in comp to the 5 of us, plus more to some downgraded first passengers. I’m surprised and happy UA didn’t just cancel the flight.
i could fly UA every day for the next 100 years and never see so much $$ for so little effort.
Incredible...
Feb 3, 2020, 2:04 am
#17
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I made a bid on the app. How early do I have to get to the gate?
Feb 3, 2020, 4:57 am
#18
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Feb 3, 2020, 7:14 pm
#19
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So it worked out, kind of.
Feb 3, 2020, 9:16 pm
#20
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Today at JAC, JAC-SFO, I was at the next gate over, and they were offering 2500 for 8 volunteers due to weight and balance issues. They eventually got to 3500$ before they got the right number of folks they needed.
Mar 2, 2020, 1:14 pm
#21
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I flew AKL-SFO last week on a saver Y award. At OLCI, it prompted me to place a bid for VDB and the suggested amounts were $500, $600 or $700 and 25, 30 and 35K RDMs. Out of curiosity, I discovered the max $$ bid it would take was $2,000 and put it down. At AKL the following day, they were over by two due to inop seats in the Y cabin and said they would take me me for the $2,000. Unfortunately, all of the flights they proposed would not work with already scheduled plans at SFO (and the flights I found were somehow full when in reality they weren't).. Nice to see the willingness to go up without question, vs. trying to bargain down to $500.
Jun 17, 2020, 3:47 pm
#22
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Does anyone know if they will VDB to keep middle seats open? I haven't run across anything of the sort, but have noticed that some flights are zeroed out at some sort of capacity that reflects all middle seats having ability to be open. Thoughts?
Not expecting this thread to have any activity this year... my flying in the last couple months has been on mostly empty flight, but some more recently have been nearing the 50% capacity level on my LAX-EWR trips.
Not expecting this thread to have any activity this year... my flying in the last couple months has been on mostly empty flight, but some more recently have been nearing the 50% capacity level on my LAX-EWR trips.
Jun 17, 2020, 4:07 pm
#23
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Aug 8, 2020, 12:20 pm
#24
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Amazing that we are beyond mid-year, and this forum is only 2 pages long. Hopefully everyone is staying well during this rather interesting time.
My LAX-DEN-DFW itinerary just got interesting for Monday, as the LAX-DEN leg on UA1136 downgauged from a 753 to a 752, It was almost full to begin wish, and now it is zeroed out with most seats blocked up front, and no seats showing for sale. Wondering if I will get the phone call tomorrow for UA's proactive change, or if they will let it go to the gate. I could see either way since there is such a huge flux of passengers changing schedules, especially on full flights where people are concerned about having an open seat beside them. We will see, but it would make my day to get the phone call tomorrow for a voluntary schedule change!!
Maybe they will give me a direct flight on AA since there aren't too many options with connections that are ideal... and then I can double dip the miles / credit.
Stay safe and well folks!
My LAX-DEN-DFW itinerary just got interesting for Monday, as the LAX-DEN leg on UA1136 downgauged from a 753 to a 752, It was almost full to begin wish, and now it is zeroed out with most seats blocked up front, and no seats showing for sale. Wondering if I will get the phone call tomorrow for UA's proactive change, or if they will let it go to the gate. I could see either way since there is such a huge flux of passengers changing schedules, especially on full flights where people are concerned about having an open seat beside them. We will see, but it would make my day to get the phone call tomorrow for a voluntary schedule change!!
Maybe they will give me a direct flight on AA since there aren't too many options with connections that are ideal... and then I can double dip the miles / credit.
Stay safe and well folks!
Dec 30, 2020, 11:40 am
#25
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Dec 30, 2020, 11:51 am
#26
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Empty flights and on time departure/arrival
I can think of three reasons. Most of flights are not 80-100% full; that is, everybody will be accommodated. If a flight is very full, United allows passengers to change to an emptier flight ahead of time.
During the pandemic, United's operation has been excellent, on-time departure/arrival, due to fewer operating flights.
Third, there are few FTers on UA flights than before, as seen from less posting on this forum, compared to previous years.
Hopefully, this thread remains quiet for other reasons.
Safe travels..
During the pandemic, United's operation has been excellent, on-time departure/arrival, due to fewer operating flights.
Third, there are few FTers on UA flights than before, as seen from less posting on this forum, compared to previous years.
Hopefully, this thread remains quiet for other reasons.
Safe travels..
Amazing that we are beyond mid-year, and this forum is only 2 pages long. Hopefully everyone is staying well during this rather interesting time.
My LAX-DEN-DFW itinerary just got interesting for Monday, as the LAX-DEN leg on UA1136 downgauged from a 753 to a 752, It was almost full to begin wish, and now it is zeroed out with most seats blocked up front, and no seats showing for sale. Wondering if I will get the phone call tomorrow for UA's proactive change, or if they will let it go to the gate. I could see either way since there is such a huge flux of passengers changing schedules, especially on full flights where people are concerned about having an open seat beside them. We will see, but it would make my day to get the phone call tomorrow for a voluntary schedule change!!
Maybe they will give me a direct flight on AA since there aren't too many options with connections that are ideal... and then I can double dip the miles / credit.
Stay safe and well folks!
My LAX-DEN-DFW itinerary just got interesting for Monday, as the LAX-DEN leg on UA1136 downgauged from a 753 to a 752, It was almost full to begin wish, and now it is zeroed out with most seats blocked up front, and no seats showing for sale. Wondering if I will get the phone call tomorrow for UA's proactive change, or if they will let it go to the gate. I could see either way since there is such a huge flux of passengers changing schedules, especially on full flights where people are concerned about having an open seat beside them. We will see, but it would make my day to get the phone call tomorrow for a voluntary schedule change!!
Maybe they will give me a direct flight on AA since there aren't too many options with connections that are ideal... and then I can double dip the miles / credit.
Stay safe and well folks!
Jan 26, 2021, 7:44 am
#27
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No need to create a new thread for 2021 with only 2 pages from 2020. Thanks to whichever mod already beat me to renaming this thread to reflect.
Will probably be a very quiet year in 2021 on this thread as well. Safe travels!
Will probably be a very quiet year in 2021 on this thread as well. Safe travels!
Mar 19, 2021, 1:07 pm
#28
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Well... my parents both took a VDB yesterday on UA4511 STL-EWR yesterday 3/18/2021. 2 seats needed, and they rerouted to BDL since they were ultimately headed to western Massachusetts (had to avoid all MA and NY airports to avoid virus testing and quarantine requirements). They were rebooked on DL through DTW and arrived 2 hours late for $1000 each in TCVA certificates.
Anyone else seeing any oversold flights out there these days?
Anyone else seeing any oversold flights out there these days?
Mar 19, 2021, 1:38 pm
#29
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Well... my parents both took a VDB yesterday on UA4511 STL-EWR yesterday 3/18/2021. 2 seats needed, and they rerouted to BDL since they were ultimately headed to western Massachusetts (had to avoid all MA and NY airports to avoid virus testing and quarantine requirements). They were rebooked on DL through DTW and arrived 2 hours late for $1000 each in TCVA certificates.
Anyone else seeing any oversold flights out there these days?
Anyone else seeing any oversold flights out there these days?
David
Mar 20, 2021, 8:30 am
#30
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Well... my parents both took a VDB yesterday on UA4511 STL-EWR yesterday 3/18/2021. 2 seats needed, and they rerouted to BDL since they were ultimately headed to western Massachusetts (had to avoid all MA and NY airports to avoid virus testing and quarantine requirements). They were rebooked on DL through DTW and arrived 2 hours late for $1000 each in TCVA certificates.
Anyone else seeing any oversold flights out there these days?
Anyone else seeing any oversold flights out there these days?
Nice score for your parents!!
-RM