Hi, guys:

New here. Howdy.

I am flying this Sunday. Asked for 500mile upgrade online. I am a premier so it won't show the upgrading status until tomorrow (Fri.)

Nevertheless, I checked availability and saw that the flight is packed. Called customer service and was told that the first class is full (so probably no upgrade ) and so is the economy class. Basically the flight was oversold.

I see an opportunity to volunteer to be bumped and rake in some of the free tix and stuff. Nevertheless, I want to know if there is anyway I could do it before I go to the airport . Are these goodies given out at the gate or I could call them and voluntarily give up my seat on the phone??? That way, I will know when I should go to the airport.

While I can't directly answer your question, what flight are you booked onto?

you know....there is probably someone out there who has done it. And while I am a lowly 1K, I can't imagine that happening.

Think about it......you will be bumped only if no seats are available. But, if there is a bus load of tourists trying to fly out on your flight.....bus breaks down, and 50 tourists are stuck on the side of the highway 50 miles away. chances are that there will be seats available to accommodate you.

So, nope.....I don;t think so.

Try using the search function. There are tons of threads on here about bumping already, and ones which have answered your questions.
BillJ

The only way to collect before yougot to the airport is if UA feels that they will need many volunteers due to a) computer error, b) major human error, or c) schedule changes that remove flights on full days.

In the event of any of these situations, UA would call you, or email you, or use whatever contact info you have in your reservation to call and offer alternate flights with a usually reduced VDB compensatin. (reduced because the desparation of UA, and the inconvienence to you of being able to pre-plan is lessened.)

Flights are oversold all summer long. If the upgrade window for 500 milers has already passed, they have opened up Y seats by upgrading those ahead of you into F.

Bumps happen, but planning on them is worse than playing roulette. The deck is stacked becuase the airline holds all of the data. There are days when the bump seeker wins, but more often then not, they get the service they paid for, and no bumps are required.

In any case, show up a bit early, check in at a counter, and ask to be added to the VDB list, even if they don't prompt you.

Don't insist on travel credits vs free ticket, as many posts have pointed out, the airlines may "de-select" you in favor of someone willing to take the free ticket if offered.

Good luck

Lowly 1K??? You have to be kidding me...

It seems like on the West Coast, especially SFO, you need to be a 1K just to get an upgrade. I think I'm on track for next year, so that should be an improvement. In Chicago or on the East Coast being 1P goes a lot further...

There is no way to volunteer before getting to the airport, unless UA calls YOU, which very rarely happens.

VDB vouchers are given at the gate, usually at the last possible minute (20 minutes before departure or less, typically).

Please be kind as I'm still pretty new, but how do you check if your flight is full or not? Thanks!

-Uck

You really can't predict these things, either. It could go both ways. An overbooked flight may fly with seats empty, or an empty flight may become overbooked by the time you get to the gate.

Doesn't the UA bump list go by status still? I remember getting bumped 8 times one year when I was a 1K. If you don't have status, and others volunteer with status, you might move to the bottom of the bump list, another factor that could work against you.

Search for VDB.

You cannot get on the this list until you are at the airport, since the flight is then under "airport control."

Go to ual.com and click 'update profile' under planning travel.

Within display preferences, change availability format to 'an expert.'

Log into ual.com if you're not logged in already, and click 'more search options' on the home page. Click 'multi city.' Enter the appropriate cities and dates, and select 'search by schedule' and 'sort by departure time.'

Flights should now have fare class availability displayed. For instance, F0 Y0 ... would indicate that United is selling no more first class or economy class seats; the flight's being oversold would be a good bet, too. Keep in mind that the maximum number displayed alongside fare class is 9, i.e. F9 Y9, even if United is offering more than 9 F class or Y class seats for sale.

Also, if the OP is flying a route heavily used by business flyers, there may be a lot of refundable fares involved; many of these folks may not show up for the flight since there is no downside to just missing it (correct me if I'm wrong here!).

To answer another poster's question: "How do you check to see if a flight is full?" You can call UA (most reliable) or you can use an availability tool. KVS is a free one that I use (click here .
There are other ways as well, both free and for a subscription.

Thanks for the replies, guys... ^ ^ ^
My departing flight is UA942 from SEA to ORD.

Don't you touch my VDB!!!!

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Uhh... I was just kidding...