sbm12

One potential reason is that both IDB and VDB stats must be reported to the DoT and they are often used to rate airlines, similar to lost baggage or on-time arrival stats.

If the customer taking that $400 VDB every time is doing so with house money - either from a previous VDB or from a much cheaper fare - then the company does stand to lose, even with the breakage levels of those VDB credits. If they are losing last-minute PDX-(SFO)-NRT customers because PDX-SFO is full on APEX purchases then the response should be to limit that inventory in advance, not oversell it every time to "fix" the problem.

hobo13

Please show me where VDB stats are reported. And then show me where they are cited by the media.

sbm12

The BTS tracks both VDB and IDB stats by carrier. Here's the consolidated data report: http://www.bts.gov/publications/nati...ble_01_58.html. There are other links on the site that allow you to drill down per carrier and to more specific time frames.

The Airline Quality Rating is just one of several sources that rates airlines using those stats and from which many other news pieces are produced.

Did you really think I was just making all this up?

hobo13

Who said that? I've just never heard of anyone getting excited about VDB stats. Honestly, why should anyone (DOT, media, consumers) care how many people are VDBed? It's a game the airline gets to play to maximize profit. If United thinks they can oversell a flight by 20 (high fare pax) and then buy-back 20 seats from pax, why should our government care? Just makes no sense to me, but then again, I'm a free-market capitalist.

Sure, if United gets wrong, and only gets 5 VDB's on that flight, they should have to report 15 IDB's. And maybe it's a risk that just isn't worth taking. But my point is to say that inventory management should get the highest grade for maximizing profit, NOT getting a flight to go out even. As we all know around here, full flights don't equate to maximum revenue!

entropy

is about maximizing profit, hopefully long term profit. If they IDB a lot of people, those people will tend to be pretty pissed off and may swear off that airline.

When they have oversold flights, people end up without seat assignments. That also impacts customer service.

Personally, I like VDBs what am I saying.. I LOVE VDBs! I had a string of 4 on one ticket a few months ago. I had several this year, but the last 2 months has been pretty dry...

hobo13

Yes, we agree on this. But the point is that if they oversell by 20, and get 20 VDB's, so be it. No harm, no foul. In fact, they end up making a lot of extra revenue and they make 20 people happy. (If they are not happy about VDBing, while, then they shouldn't VDB!)

If United doesn't think they can get 20 VDB's on the flight, then sure, they shouldn't oversell by 20.

CMK10

I've averaged 1 VDB a year on UA in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 so nothing out of the ordinary for me at least.

Nelumbo

I have seen flights oversold by five and ended up with no VDB needed quite for quite a few times in the past a few months. It is really amazing to see such a precise/conservative/? operation/reservation strategy this year.

FlyinHawaiian

Make that three.

emcampbe

My SO took a bump this afternoon on her DEN-SFO segment, flight 733. She called to ask if I thought she should do it for $400 in vouchers, and she would be put on 735, leaving two hours later. Her UDU on her 757 had already cleared, so I told her to make sure they confirmed her in F on the next flight.

They did - and that aircraft get upgauged at somepoint from a 757 to 767 (I was surprised to hear she had a "J" seat - then realized why). She's on her way now. For a 2 hour delay, I don't think $400 is too bad at all. It's her first VDB.

Orion

In the last two years or so I have noticed a lot more deplaning of non-revs. I heard this announcement at my gate at ORD on UA: "all non-revs must deplane. we know who you are. if you don't leave we will come get you". This was not the first time I have heard such harsh words in pulling non-revs off a flight.
Perhaps they have not used this tool so much in the past.