One way that air travelers with flexible schedules can save a lot of money on their next trip is by volunteering to give up their seat on an oversold flight. This year I’ve already collected $800 in vouchers from volunteering on United flights.
Airlines regularly overbook flights to maximize revenue because typically some people don’t show. By being at the right place, on the right flight, at the right time, you may be able to score some great freebies in exchange for agreeing to give up your seat and take a later flight. You may have heard of this before.
It is called volunteering your seat or voluntary denied boarding (VDB) and to do it on United the first step is to ask during check-in and/or at the gate to be added to the volunteer list. You will know if you are on the list because the United agent will give you a boarding pass-like card that says “Our United Commitment” and explains some of the VDB policy.
Getting on the list ahead of departure time increases your chances that you will be selected as the agent may not even publicly ask for volunteers if they already have someone on the list in the computer. Note that the list is believed to be sorted by frequent flyer status, so just because you got on the list early doesn’t mean you will be selected. Also not every flight needs volunteers. There is a huge element of luck.
Today’s Daily Travel Tip highlights a somewhat unknown option in United’s VDB policy that can benefit the frequent flyer and international traveler.
Most United agents who are trying to find someone to volunteer their seat will advertise over the microphone that the volunteer will get a free ticket voucher good for a free round trip travel within the 48 United States.
While this may seem attractive at first, there are some downsides to these free ticket vouchers for frequent flyers:
- You don’t earn miles when you are flying on the free ticket
- You can’t be upgraded with miles or upgrade certificates when flying on the free ticket
- They can’t be used for flights to Hawaii or international destinations
- The tickets must book into certain fare buckets (but availability on those buckets is usually good to great – certainly much better than award ticket availability)
- The ticket must be booked at least 14 days before travel
There is another option that most United agents will let you choose as compensation instead of the free ticket voucher. You can get travel credits of a varying dollar amount depending on the length it will take for United can get you to your destination on a different flight. The value of the travel credits range from $200 (for a short delay) to $600 (for an all-day or overnight delay).
About the only time the free voucher is the better choice is if you need/want to fly between two cities that have fares so expensive that it would still be too expensive to buy even after the reduction of price from use of the travel credits.
For frequent flyers and those who only fly internationally, the travel credits are usually the best choice for all the reasons the free tickets are a downside:
- You earn miles for your flight that uses the travel credits
- You can upgrade your flights using miles or upgrade certificates
- You can use the travel credits to book to any United destination, including international cities, as long as all of your flights are operated by United, Ted and/or United Express
- You can book in any available fare bucket
- You are not limited to any advance purchase – if you can buy the fare you can use the travel credits
There are some agents who refuse to offer travel credits and insist that your only option if you want to volunteer your seat is the free ticket. Those agents are wrong. But they have the power. I don't blame some of them.
The United VDB policy can be confusing. It says that the free ticket should be the "primary form of VDB compensation" in the states. Some agents interpret that to say the "exclusive" form, but that is not what it says.
If you get an agent who doesn't instantly say "sure, no problem" in response to you mentioning travel credits your best bet is to be friendly and easy going. Let them know that you would prefer travel credits and see what they say.
If they still say no, you might want to push a little harder (while still being friendly) – perhaps pointing out that the “Our United Commitment” card you were given mentions that travel credits are an option or maybe mentioning that you know that most people prefer the free tickets but as a frequent flyer who flies international they have little value for you and you would prefer the travel credits. If they still say no, you either need to decide to take the free ticket or just keep your seat.
Remember that when volunteering your seat you are in control until you sign the slip agreeing to the compensation provided. Until you sign everything is negotiations and if you aren’t happy with the offer you don’t have to take it. But once you sign, you have no right to complain. So make sure you understand and are okay with the flights you will be rebooked on and the type and amount of compensation you are going to get.
If you have any questions about the VDB process, please feel free to post in the comments or e-mail me.