What happens when only Econ Plus seats are left?
Nov 22, 2011, 3:48 pm
#16
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
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I'm surprised that so many of you think IDB is not possible. It happens, not often, but to compare it to a crash is irresponsible.
I'd do what others suggest and look at the seat map whenever you think about it especially during the upgrade clearance windows.
If there is no E- seat when you check in then you'll go on the Departure Management list as needing a seat. You may get an E+ seat, but if the flight is oversold and they can't get volunteers then it goes by status and fare paid to get a seat.
I'd do what others suggest and look at the seat map whenever you think about it especially during the upgrade clearance windows.
If there is no E- seat when you check in then you'll go on the Departure Management list as needing a seat. You may get an E+ seat, but if the flight is oversold and they can't get volunteers then it goes by status and fare paid to get a seat.
Nov 22, 2011, 6:34 pm
#17
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I don't believe a single person said an IDB was not possible. I think many people said it was unlikely, which it is. Since there are still empty seats on the plane, as is the case here, the chance of being forced to take an involuntary denied boarding is very close to zero. United will not fly out with empty seats and pay people not to be on the plane.
The offer to buy up to E+ is a sucker sale to get people to think it's the only way they will fly that day. When you checkin, if economy is full, they will seat you in an empty E+ seat (or at the gate). They won't deny anybody boarding because they did not fall for their offer to buy up to get a seat assignment.
The offer to buy up to E+ is a sucker sale to get people to think it's the only way they will fly that day. When you checkin, if economy is full, they will seat you in an empty E+ seat (or at the gate). They won't deny anybody boarding because they did not fall for their offer to buy up to get a seat assignment.
Nov 22, 2011, 6:47 pm
#18
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
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I don't believe a single person said an IDB was not possible. I think many people said it was unlikely, which it is. Since there are still empty seats on the plane, as is the case here, the chance of being forced to take an involuntary denied boarding is very close to zero. United will not fly out with empty seats and pay people not to be on the plane.
The offer to buy up to E+ is a sucker sale to get people to think it's the only way they will fly that day. When you checkin, if economy is full, they will seat you in an empty E+ seat (or at the gate). They won't deny anybody boarding because they did not fall for their offer to buy up to get a seat assignment.
The offer to buy up to E+ is a sucker sale to get people to think it's the only way they will fly that day. When you checkin, if economy is full, they will seat you in an empty E+ seat (or at the gate). They won't deny anybody boarding because they did not fall for their offer to buy up to get a seat assignment.
Nov 22, 2011, 7:13 pm
#19
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Better chances to get an E+ upgrade checking in as a single..
although my family has its fair shares of upgrades.
although my family has its fair shares of upgrades.
Nov 22, 2011, 7:29 pm
#20
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When you check in, one of three things may occur if you were unable to select an E- seat beforehand:
1. An E- seat will have opened up for some reason, and you will be put in it.
2. All of the E- seats are full, but an E+ seat is open, and you will be put in it, even if you do not pay for the buy-up-to-E+ offer (if you do pay, you will get to select which open E+ seat you get).
3. All of the seats are full (overbooked), and you will be on standby with the possibility of IDB.
1. An E- seat will have opened up for some reason, and you will be put in it.
2. All of the E- seats are full, but an E+ seat is open, and you will be put in it, even if you do not pay for the buy-up-to-E+ offer (if you do pay, you will get to select which open E+ seat you get).
3. All of the seats are full (overbooked), and you will be on standby with the possibility of IDB.
IDB priority to my understanding is 1) status 2) fare paid 3) time of check-in.
Nov 22, 2011, 7:56 pm
#21
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There have been many posts by GA's that status is not an official qualifier/dis-qualifier for iDB or even VDB. It is what is best and cheapest for the airline. Now that doesn't mean GA's don't take status into consideration.
Nov 22, 2011, 7:59 pm
#22
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I can say for sure esp on VDB that status determines the order of the list. GA's don't have to follow the list. But I've been put on the list second but told I was #1 because of status. You can see them reading the screen so I know for sure they aren't making it up. And it has happened multiple times. So some algorithm is sorting a list.
Nov 22, 2011, 8:08 pm
#23
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I can say for sure esp on VDB that status determines the order of the list. GA's don't have to follow the list. But I've been put on the list second but told I was #1 because of status. You can see them reading the screen so I know for sure they aren't making it up. And it has happened multiple times. So some algorithm is sorting a list.
Nov 23, 2011, 3:52 am
#24
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I can say for sure esp on VDB that status determines the order of the list. GA's don't have to follow the list. But I've been put on the list second but told I was #1 because of status. You can see them reading the screen so I know for sure they aren't making it up. And it has happened multiple times. So some algorithm is sorting a list.
For sure the VDB list is sorted by status. But as OP stated, they do not have to go by that order.
Nov 24, 2011, 9:02 am
#25
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....
Nov 24, 2011, 9:02 pm
#26
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Nov 25, 2011, 8:25 am
#27
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Nov 25, 2011, 1:21 pm
#28
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Yes, it is a rare species these days - the airplane with empty seats. Had a shocker during the summer on an ORD-BRU flight, where even the FAs were shocked at how light we were that day.
Nov 25, 2011, 8:17 pm
#29
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Nov 25, 2011, 8:42 pm
#30
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I remember flying to Paris one very cold and rainy February. Imagine my excitement when the door closed and I discovered that I had the whole center section of an economy row almost all the way in the rear of a 777 to myself. I was stretched out across the whole row asleep 20 minutes after takeoff and didn't wake up unil the breakfast cart was coming around.