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Hello,
Recently I was flying back from LAS-LHR in Club World. I got to bag drop having already checked, to be told they needed 12 volunteers to not fly as they were so overbooked. Normally I’d not be interested but as I was travelling on my own I asked what their offer was. Turns out they paid me $900 dollars to take a Delta flight in economy to LAX and catch a Virgin flight back to LHR, in Upper Class. Given the scheduled arrival was only 2 hours later, I gladly took the offer- as it was a Reward flight I got more cash back than I spent!
Is this a normal offer, or did I somehow get lucky?
Regards,
Paulo
Standard offer in USA. Amount gets higher and or lower depending on how desperate they are for volunteers. It was a good offer for a 2 hour delay. I wish UK airlines asked for volunteers instead of just offloading people
I wish UK airlines asked for volunteers instead of just offloading people
They do ask this post clearly demonstrated.
The OP said they were booked in Club World so was flying BA!
I wish UK airlines asked for volunteers instead of just offloading people
They do ask this post clearly demonstrated.
The OP said they were booked in Club World so was flying BA!
Virgin also offers this to pax in advance, often with very generous incentives (rebooking + free ticket to anywhere, plus costs) well above the compensation level that would otherwise be payable.
I’ve only seen these offers/announcements in USA. Not seen it in UK.
I’m surprised OP was offered Delta/Virgin rather than AA/BA, if they were on a BA CW flight to begin with.
Remarkable how easily BA can book someone onto another airline when they want to!!
Remarkable how easily BA can book someone onto another airline when they want to!!
They can – and do – when it’s an on the day issue.
I’m surprised OP was offered Delta/Virgin rather than AA/BA, if they were on a BA CW flight to begin with.
Both the check in staff and I were surprised by this too, but I think it was the only option available that stayed close to the original arrival time. I wasn’t fussed as the flight to LAX was short, I somehow got an emergency exit row seat, and I hadn’t tried out Virgin Upper Class for a decade or more.
They had mentioned a 24 hour delay to the following days flight, with hotel, food etc. also being covered, but that wasn’t an option. This trip was my longest time away since my child was born. A 2 hour delay returning home was fine, 24 hours would result in my child killing me, my wife resurrecting me only so she could kill me again 😉Remarkable how easily BA can book someone onto another airline when they want to!!
It is industry standard followed by BA and has been for at least forty years amongst IATA airlines for on the day disruption. BA will book you on essentially any IATA airline and they have revenue arrangements for this.
I’m surprised OP was offered Delta/Virgin rather than AA/BA, if they were on a BA CW flight to begin with.
Both the check in staff and I were surprised by this too, but I think it was the only option available that stayed close to the original arrival time. I wasn’t fussed as the flight to LAX was short, I somehow got an emergency exit row seat, and I hadn’t tried out Virgin Upper Class for a decade or more.
They had mentioned a 24 hour delay to the following days flight, with hotel, food etc. also being covered, but that wasn’t an option. This trip was my longest time away since my child was born. A 2 hour delay returning home was fine, 24 hours would result in my child killing me, my wife resurrecting me only so she could kill me again 😉Sounds like my wife! 😂 Although, I think she would be happy with $900 for essentially a 2 hour delay getting home (and some inconvenience).
As well as the 2 hour delay, it is the nuisance of having to change planes plus the worry over whether you will make the connection and whether your luggage will also accompany you.
As well as the 2 hour delay, it is the nuisance of having to change planes plus the worry over whether you will make the connection and whether your luggage will also accompany you.
I’ve found that when there is competition for the Gift Cards, they tend to choose the passenger without hold luggage. That way the baggage handlers aren’t having to rescue bags from the system.
My best was five voluntary bumps in one evening in NYC connecting to DC at a $500 Amex gift card per bump. We volunteered for the first two bumps, the check in actively sought us out for the next three. We were quite chuffed at $2500 each for our £360 HBO flight.
Another good one was a trip to Boston. Given the high cost of hotel rooms in the City, we had only planned a short visit. So when they were looking for volunteers at $800 each plus a hotel night to fly the following evening we jumped at the chance. Obviously the airline has a negotiated rate for the hotels, but Expedia was listing at $400 per night.
As well as the 2 hour delay, it is the nuisance of having to change planes plus the worry over whether you will make the connection and whether your luggage will also accompany you.
The luggage I wasn’t concerned about as it was the journey home, there was little in my luggage I couldn’t do without for a day or two at home. I AirTag my luggage so I knew it had made it as well.
The change of planes shouldnt have been a problem, however it ended up a close run thing as we were held up by problems at our assigned gate. The cabin crew were great at keeping everyone informed, all Delta flights with multiple passengers making connections were held, but they couldn’t guarantee the Virgin flight would. Thankfully there were 30 of us running through LAX so Virgin did the decent thing and waited for us.
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