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Home  >  United Airlines • vdb  >  Back in the USA + A Bump on United Airlines
United Airlinesvdb

Back in the USA + A Bump on United Airlines

Matthew Klint Posted onNovember 23, 2011 10 Comments

I am back in the U.S. this week for Thanksgiving and am just grinning tonight that my little ploy worked.

My company booked me on a non-stop Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Los Angeles tomorrow but I opted to change it to the evening United flight from Frankfurt to Washington tonight with a connection on the late flight to Los Angeles. While I likely would not have had a problem standing by for the business class upgrade on Lufthansa tomorrow, at least I knew I’d have business class on the Frankfurt-Washington flight.

But that was not my reason for the switch–the real reason was the connecting flight to Los Angeles. It was already looking full and this is one of the biggest travel days of the year. Bearing in mind United’s penchant to overbook flights, I thought the flight was a good candidate to score a bump on (an oversell situation where volunteers are needed to take a later flight).

Over the last couple days the flight filled up even more–to the point that I did not even have a seat assignment because there were no unassigned seats on the aircraft. At check-in in Frankfurt this afternoon, I did receive a seat on the flight–35A–but also added my name to the bump list. I was told the flight was “very full.”

At the gate tonight, I approached the agent working the flight and asked her if any volunteers would be needed. Possibly up to three, she said, noting she would not know for another 15 minutes.

Patiently I sat waiting at the gate and much to my delight, my name was soon paged and my seat was needed. With $400 in travel credit in my pocket, I am now off to the Marriott Hotel for a rest before my flights home tomorrow morning.

Rather than going non-stop to Los Angeles, I will travel to Burbank via San Francisco. Dulles to San Francisco is operated by a retrofitted three-cabin 777 and I am confirmed in business class and on the waitlist for first class.

I love it when a plan comes together! It is good to be home…almost.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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10 Comments

  1. BLR Reply
    November 23, 2011 at 6:43 am

    Congrats! That’s great

  2. Del Reply
    November 23, 2011 at 8:44 am

    Hey Matt

    Welcome back to the US, I actually live in Burbank! Will be in Frankfurt for 24hrs in Feb any chance you are up for a beer?

    Cheers

  3. SEABrad Reply
    November 23, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    “I love it when a plan comes together!”

    A-Team! Nice work. My GF had to pass on two bump chances this past weekend. I really, wish it would have been me 🙂

  4. Matthew Reply
    November 23, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    Great flight from IAD-SFO today.

    Good breakfast, good IFE, and a great seat.

    It’s nice to be home.

  5. Brad Reply
    November 24, 2011 at 12:10 am

    Welcome back! Nice work on the VDB.

    Enjoy your holiday.

  6. Del Reply
    November 24, 2011 at 1:10 am

    was serious about the Beer in FRA, shoot me an email!

    Happy Holidays!

  7. Matthew Reply
    November 24, 2011 at 4:50 am

    @Del,

    I’d love to take you up on the offer, but I’ll be back in the USA. My position concludes just before Christmas!

  8. Del Reply
    November 24, 2011 at 5:36 am

    Oh bugger! Such a shame! well just a thought, how long are you going to be in the LA area? If possible would be great to meet up and pick your brain on what to do for 20 hrs in FRA. Would you mind emailing me?

  9. Marc Reply
    November 24, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    Any word if United is going to go to Continental’s model of $150 vouchers vs. the $400? I have a bad feeling they will.

  10. Matthew Reply
    November 24, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    @Marc: I believe by law the compensation amount will rise to $600 soon for VDB, so I don’t think CO will get away with reduced compensation levels.

    @Del: I’ll send you a note.

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