My flight from Los Angeles to Newark on Thursday night was so full I was unable to get a seat on it.
That, in and of itself, is not all that unusual during the busy holiday travel season. The flight was not only full, but oversold. What shocked me was how much trouble United agents had soliciting volunteers.
I’ve been buying more same-day tickets lately and found out Thursday afternoon I had to be in New York on Friday. I’m so close to 1K that I’m sticking to United only for domestic travel. Unfortunately, though, both United redeyes to Newark were not only sold out, but badly oversold.
I did the next best thing: I booked a ticket on the 6am Friday morning flight and then went standby for the nonstop the night prior. I thought with my status I would clear. Surely, I reasoned, there would be no-shows on a 777-200 high-density plane, with 364 seats.
There were not. The first flight went out full with no standbys cleared.
The next redeye looked more promising, according to the agent. It was was “only” oversold by five passengers. But when it came time to board, everyone had checked in except for one passenger. Four volunteers would be needed.
The agent began soliciting at $600 (voucher for future travel) and got one taker, a college-aged traveler who agreed to relinquish his seat when the agent promised hotel and meal vouchers as well.
But she could not get anyone else.
A Rapid Increase in $
Within five minutes, the bump amount offered had risen to $2,000. Within 30 seconds it had risen from $1,00o to $1,500 to $2,000.
At $2,000, she was able to secure two additional volunteers. The flight boarded and two passengers did not show up before the 15-minute boarding cutoff, so only one additional volunteer was finally needed.
Both volunteers received the $2,000 even though the first volunteer had agreed to accept $600.
Meanwhile, look at #1 on the standby list–
Yep, I wasn’t getting on this one.
CONCLUSION
This was the first time I’ve seen United’s new progressively rising VDB payout in play. It’s a far better system than in the pre-Dao era.
Later, though, I want to discuss why there were not more takers for the $2K bump.
Redeye payouts are going to be higher. In my opinion thats about right given that they are paying you in United money that expires in a year and you likely take a day delay and extra hassle.
I wish I was there. PAYDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Logically speaking, is it financially best to delay accepting the offer until it’s down to 1 slot? In other words, if there are 2, 3, or 4 slots open, should you allow others to accept the lower compensation until it reaches the level that you want?
My only worry would be a small group of people (e.g. husband and wife, or a family) all accepting a bump at whatever compensation level is offered.
Did they stop at $2000 and go no higher?
Everyone gets the highest offer so it is a race to be #1. No waitlist, agent’s discretion. Extensive thread(s) here if you’re interested in learning more: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1812217-voluntary-denied-boarding-vdb-bump-ua-2017-a.html
UA is also piloting semi-automated reverse-auction VDB 🙁 http://www.volantio.com/files/Volantio-Yana-VDB.pdf
GA (wisely) stopped at $2000 bc the flight was overbooked but not yet oversold. Although it would’ve been tough to get the last sucker off the plane!
@ Matthew — This is an example of why you should drop things like pursuing legal action against Aeroplan/Swiss. In this game, you win sometimes, you lose sometimes. This time you won. You do not always win in life.
Gene, only this time I was a standby passenger and didn’t get the bump. 🙁
Or perhaps he should go be a real lawyer. Since lawyers always win. Even when they lose.
Santastico, you can use your real/usual name next time.
I did a voluntary bump two weeks ago at SFO. I was given a $400.00 voucher and they also agreed to my first class upgrade on the next flight. With the number of people willing to bump that day, there would have been no way I could have held out for a higher payout. I almost double voluntary bumped but due to a last minute cancellation it did not happen.
I had an extra 4+ hours to kill in SFO but I was also given $20.00 in meal voucher and as a United Club member, I visited every domestic United Club that United had open. If I didn’t have Club membership, I probably would not have volunteered.
This is exactly why progressive VDB won’t solve problems. People said you just need to offer more, and you prove that’s not true.
It worked as it was supposed to work. As Matthew said no one was involuntarily bumped. Not getting on as a standby is not the same as involuntary bumping and United will not payout for standbys.
My point was they said with Dao that people would have accepted 1k. This is proof that people will hold on to their seats… At SOME point we need to have a line drawn when we IDB.
I disagree. Everyone has a breaking point. I was once on a B6 red-eye that had to bump someone on Dec 23 after we had boarded. They had to go up to $1000 IIRC but they got their guy.
UA can go up to $10,000. I have no doubt 1 out of 150 people would jump at or before that figure.
Is that $2000 really worth $2000? Or is it only for use with “full fare” travel in the future? Then, is it on top of them flying you to your destination on the next flight? I know it is a game for some, but I’ve never been bumped.
These vouchers are valid on all fares and dates.
UA is showing that people don’t value them at $2000…
Don’t feel bad. I let go a total of $4600 Delta credits on a recent trip to Disney World, Just to be on time to a vacation from hell. Oh for a time machine to go backwards.