mahasamatman

I didn't realize that. I thought all IDBs got cash. I wonder if this changes with the recent rule change.

channa

Then on top of it, it's a function of the base fare for that segment or direction. So WAS-MCO could have been as low as say $59 one way if they had a good fare. So 1x would have been $59 (1 to 2 hour delay), and 2x would have been $118 (2+ hour delay).

Many would likely prefer the UA $400 voucher over smaller cash amounts like that.

The new rules will double the amounts to 2x/4x depending on length of delay, with caps of $650 and $1,300 vs. $400 and $800. So there would be more cash at stake, though in cheap fare situations, it may still not be much.

These are the current rules: http://airconsumer.dot.gov/publications/flyrights.htm

* If you are bumped involuntarily and the airline arranges substitute transportation that is scheduled to get you to your final destination (including later connections) within one hour of your original scheduled arrival time, there is no compensation.

* If the airline arranges substitute transportation that is scheduled to arrive at your destination between one and two hours after your original arrival time (between one and four hours on international flights), the airline must pay you an amount equal to your one-way fare to your final destination that day, with a $400 maximum.

* If the substitute transportation is scheduled to get you to your destination more than two hours later (four hours internationally), or if the airline does not make any substitute travel arrangements for you, the compensation doubles (200% of your one-way fare, $800 maximum).

irquat

Some great information in this thread, thanks again.

Based on what I've read here, I'll attempt to re-summarize:

* United was probably under zero obligation to try to compensate us financially, because at the end of the day, we actually arrived earlier than initially scheduled (the flight that we got moved to was direct, whereas the initial route was connecting, through ORD).
* Nevertheless, the whole affair caused significant inconvenience and stress for all of us, so United offered VDB vouchers "as a courtesy"
* While we never signed any agreements upon receiving the vouchers, which may have represented a protocol lapse on their end... it was probably a moot point in the end, given the ultimate delay of <1 hour

If that's a fairly accurate state of affairs, then it sounds like they didn't do anything wildly inappropriate. Still, I wish I had known about all the hoops that need be jumped through to use these vouchers, or I would have asked them to try to put them all in my name at higher denominations.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

As for the trip to Vancouver, I will try to persuade some kind United agent to bend the rules and let me combine vouchers from more than one booklet. If if that fails, I will try (as suggested earlier in this thread) to split the trip up into two one-way segments to at least cover a bigger piece of the total cost.

CPMaverick

You obviously don't know what IDB is.

IDB is 'involuntary'. As soon as you sign the voucher, you are agreeing to volunteer your seat, in exchange for the voucher. At that point, you are a VDB, not IDB.

What you saw is agents converting IDBs into VDBs. This is something that seems unethical to me, but if the agents tell them to sign and they agree, they become volunteers (and they usually do, because they do not know their rights).

Now, if an agent says, 'we can offer you this in exchange for your seat' and they accept, it's fine. But I have seen them just thrust the VDB voucher in front of people and tell them they have to sign it. Not acceptable and honestly, I consider it illegal.

weirdlyndon

I'm quite aware of the difference between IDB and VDB. After speaking with the agent at LGA, any voucher issued through Apollo requires the customers signature (IDB voucher and VDB vouchers). Whether that in fact is true or not, I don't know, but I ended up sitting next to a lady on a later flight who was one of the few who were IDB and she had a lone voucher for $400 for the inconvenience.

CPMaverick

If they are signing something, it is not a 'release' as you stated in your first post.

garykung

Regardless the argument of IDB v. VDB, the limit of using the voucher applies per ticket only.

In other word, you can using $800 for 2 people (but not combined).

channa

This is not entirely accurate. Compensation and whether they are IDB or VDB do not need to align.

Many IDBs select the voucher compensation since it can be more generous. That doesn't change the fact that they are IDBs and they are still supposed to be marked as IDB since they did not request to volunteer or respond to a solicitation for volunteers.

This reference may be a bit dated, but you'll notice that even if VDB comp is issued, it is to be reported as IDB:

N1120A

Does the airport transfer come into this?

channa

I don't think that's mentioned. But since UA paid for it, it should be a non-issue. The issue is arrival time, and cab + IAD-MCO got them in earlier than DCA-ORD-MCO.

DFW-EXPLAT

Greetings to all!

My apologies if this has already been answered in a previous thread.

I am the owner of 4x$100 United Travel Credit Exchange Coupons (Type B Voucher), and attempting to use them for an upcoming flight pair. That airfare only comes out to be $260, leaving me with a residual $140. My questions:

a) Can the $140 remaining voucher amount be used to purchase flight options (Economy Plus upgrade, Traveller Plus, etc)? (I was told "no" by UA Reservations last night).

I'd prefer to use up this small amount, vs. trying to book another flight somewhere else.

b) If I cannot apply the $140 towards this flight, am I able to sell or transfer this residual to someone else (e.g. a family member). What is the procedure for doing so (perhaps we all have to come to the airport together in person?)

Here is the fine print from the front of the certificates:

* Not Redeemable until 72 Hours After Issuance
* Valid for Travel Only on United Airlines/United Express Only
* Non Combinable/Non Refundable/Non Extendible/Void if Mutilated
* No Cash Value/No Residual Balance on Partially Used Coupons

Thank you Fellow FTs!

DFW-Explat

FlyerChrisK

I was under the impression that you had to use vouchers whole, so your $260 airfare would cost you $300 in vouchers (unless you decided to pay $200 in vouchers and $60 in cash). Even if you did find "small" items to purchase, do you really want to spend a $100 voucher for a $5 buy-on-board snack?

channa

The reason they're in 4 x $100 increments is because that's an old-school way of creating residual.

For a $260 ticket, you may wish too use 2 x $100, paying $60 in cash, and saving $200 for your next ticket. Alternatively, you could use 3 x $100, paying nothing out of pocket, and keeping $100 for later use.

The agent was correct that this is only for air travel, not for Travel Options.

As for selling them, that's against the rules. But you can gift them to someone. Best, IMO, is to ticket the other person's itin in person at an airport. They will ask for your ID since you're the voucher holder and ticketing for someone else. The other person need not be there.

SAT Lawyer

A success story in using Type B vouchers on an itinerary featuring segments which were operated by CO, but carried UA codes.

weirdlyndon

On agent 3 right now who won't even proceed with putting a reservation on hold since I'm using VDB travel credits and my itinerary contains ONE Continental leg. Premier desk wouldn't do it either - something about a memo they got about how these are still restricted to UA/UAX. Any one have any recent success stories?