Bumping question
 

I am flying SEA-LAX-NRT-SIN next week. SEA-LAX looks like it's pretty overbooked right now as it's completely zeroed out in all classes. Right now, I am upgraded on SEA-LAX-NRT using SWU.

If they are looking for volunteers and I take a bump, it looks like I have couple of options.

The SEA-LAX flight that I am booked on leaves at 7:25a. There's a SEA-SFO leaving at 7:35a [F4C4..]connecting to UA 837 SFO-NRT [F2C7D1]. There's also the SEA-NRT direct flight leaving at 12:35p [F2C0].

Will the agent book me on the SEA-SFO-NRT flight and still let me keep my upgrade using SWU or are they just not going to take anyone with a connection or just rebook me and stuck me in Y and put me on the waitlist for the upgrade?

Never taken a bump before so just trying to find out how it works.

Thanks

Also, if I take the bump and take a different routing, will they credit my Aeroplan account [which is where I am putting the miles] with Q miles for my original routing or the routing that I flew?

Your upgrade will be treated as if you had just walked up and bought your new ticket, and asked for an upgrade -- if there's availability, you'll get it, and if not, you'll be waitlisted.

When there are many volunteers, some gate agents prefer to take those traveling without connections. Just depends on the gate agent, but I'd say this happens less than 25% of the time in my experience.

edited to answer your second question: Accepted wisdom on FT is that they're supposed to give you the higher mileage of the two routings. But I've talked with UA agents, and the reality is that a bump rerouting is considered "voluntary," and they are only required to give you what you actually flew -- but as a courtesy, they will often give you the miles for the original routing you bought if you ask nicely.

[This message has been edited by pynchonesque (edited 02-15-2002).]

I had a similiar situation in October. I was booked SEA-LAX-(NRT)-SIN (but in coach), not upgraded. My original SEA-LAX flight was scheduled for 9am. A couple days before my flight I noticed the SEA-LAX was zeroed out, so that they were likely looking for volunteers. I asked at check-in and they said they weren't looking for any, and that it appeared ok.

Went to the RCC and asked to be put on the VDB list just in case. Went up to the gate at 8:20, and it was a mad house - enormous line of folks waiting to talk to gate agents. Smiled, knowing that the inevitable announcement would be coming soon.

They announced that they were looking for volunteers, and I was the first there. Explained that I was willing to be bumped, and that they could re-route me on the SEA-NRT direct flight that was wide open, and then I could connect in NRT to my original NRT-SIN leg. They were very glad to get a volunteer, as few people were biting at the offer, and were glad to know that I had already checked out information on the re-route for them.

My wife and I got $600 in travel vouchers each for the bump.

Mileage Plus only credited me for the SEA-NRT-SIN. I called them up and had them change it to my original ticketed itinerary of SEA-LAX-(NRT)-SIN because it was more miles, and I had paid slightly more to be routed that way. You might have a harder problem getting Air Canada to correct this for you since they probably don't have as good of visibility in to United's ticketing and reservation systems to see what happened.

I don't think you would get bumped to the SEA-SFO flight, that leaves only 10 minutes later. I don't think they would have enough time after getting the SEA-LAX flight out of the way (which is usually there first priority) to get you rebooked in time to catch the SEA-SFO. In addition to the SEA-NRT direct flight, you might possibly try getting re-routed as:

UX 6862 SEA-PDX lv 8:15 ar 9:05
UA 746 PDX-SFO lv 10:00 ar 11:40
UA 853 SFO-NRT lv 12:40 ar 17:05
UA 897 NRT-SIN lv 17:40 ar 23:55

But that might set up an illegal connection in NRT, I'm not sure.

$600 would be very tempting... that's more than the cost of my whole SIN ticket. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif Do they usually start at a certain $ [such as $300] and gradually increase it?

If/when they offer that much, you'll see me fighting with myself whether I should take the original flights and stay in C or take the bump and get the $600 and fly in Y. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Hmmm....

The one hour connection time in SFO is also questionable to get over (and in) to International from Domestic. You must go outside securoty. Miss that one and you are looking at a 24-hour delay.

I was bumped from SK a couple of weeks ago and credit the miles into Aeroplan and I received miles for the routing that I actually flew.

I was booked ARN-ORD direct but flew ARN-EWR-ORD which is a few more miles and one extra segment.

Generally they'll start at $200 and go up in my experience. But given that this plane was extremely oversold, and anyone who was bumped was looking at a 6 hour delay and a re-route through Portland, they started out at $600 right away.

My ticket was also less than $600 and I was flying coach already, so it was really a no-brainer for me. One thing to be aware of is that there is no E+ on SEA-NRT, if you decide to take the bump, you'll probably be stuck in a tight seat (unless you can somehow score row 30 aisle or window).

Are you upgraded on the return? If not, I would definitely take the bump, and try using the SWU for the trip back instead (which will include a night flight). The SEA-NRT you would likely be bumped to is a day time flight, so most people don't usually try to sleep much on this flight, and it does have in-seat video in coach.

Good luck!

Looks like the SEA-NRT is my only alternative if they are looking for volunteers. However, the SEA-NRT looks to be overbooked too showing Y5 and the rest zeroed out.

Yup. Return is all upgraded except the SIN-NRT segment. Same for the outbound but I don't think it's going to happen for NRT-SIN since C class is already zeroed out. I couldn't even get a E+ seat so I am stuck in regular Y for now. It'll be a big change coming off C+ on LAX-NRT to regular Y on NRT-SIN. I'll see how it looks on the day of departure and go from there.

To increase my 'bump chances' I always carry on only, and put name on VDB list ASAP. I try at check-in, customer service, and at a quiet gate before the gate agent opens up the desk at the departure gate.

I have, with a phone call, had the miles instantly changed to the originally ticketed itinery. This is with UA MP. I can see a longer procedure, however it should be no problem with Aeroplan.

If you are going to miss the connection, volunteer for the through HNL routing http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif. It's an overnight, but an awesome stop and more miles too. The HNL-NRT gets in early and the airport is nice and quiet before the afternoon rush.

We have been bumped 3 seperate times between SEA-SFO. It's always been $200. Still worth it. 2 of those were consecutive bumps (so $400 really).

The RCC in SFO is awesome if you have the time.

I have heard that they prefer to VDB coach rather than F/C, but have nothing to confirm this.

Empress, I flew this seg a week ago (SEA-SFO in F) and there was no meal service in F. Shuttle plane...Shuttle service. So, if you have a chance to take perhaps an LAX connection, as a reroute, then it could be a good option.

(fixed bold)

[This message has been edited by seanthepilot (edited 02-17-2002).]

I am actually booked on SEA-LAX F already. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif So should I be expecting at least a full breakfast?

I was on that same SEA-LAX flight a few weeks ago. No meal service in Coach, but I think there was a small breakfast in first - nothing special, but at least it was food.

When I was bumped in October, I had checked bags. My bags went to LAX without me. But then they stayed there, and didn't go on to meet me in NRT or SIN. They showed up in SIN the day after I got there.

SEA-LAX will have food. It had a nice dinner on the way back (in F).

It's the old Shuttle flights that skip the grunb in F. SEA-LAX always had a regular flight.

(previous to my other post) I thought you were going to try the bump to SFO, where the Shuttle max was $200. The SEA-LAX could very well not have this maximum bump limit. Hoping the best for you!!!

FYI... Was going ORD-LHR recently, wife and kids(2) in tow. Flight was 8:45PM overnight and I had upgraded all four w/miles. Checked in at 5:30 as a result of the horror stories about O'Hare check in delays. Was told at the counter they were already looking for voluntiers and they tag our bags STANDBY. (VERY important in tthe days and age of bag matching to traveller). When at gate they asked for anyone without any check on bags and no one was moving. They offered $600 ea., a departure 15 min. earlier to Frankfurt with a LH trip back to LHR, 3 hrs. later. They were offering to put folks in Bus. as well on the ORD-LHR leg. We jumped on it, faired very well and to boot had the miles for the original ORD-LHR upgrade returned. Using those & bumps for a week in Maui in early April. THANKS UA!!