Two people, 3 airline seats?????

[FlyerTalker]

Involuntary Denied Boarding.

 

If you're not in a hurry it can be a good thing. Our family of 4 has done this numerous times with Delta and received $1600.00 each time in vouchers for future tickets.

I think that in your case it was VDB - Voluntary Denied Boarding, aka volunteering for the bump. IDB is when you don't volunteer and they still say "Sorry, you're staying".

[frugaltravel]

Involuntary Denied Boarding.

 

If you're not in a hurry it can be a good thing. Our family of 4 has done this numerous times with Delta and received $1600.00 each time in vouchers for future tickets.

 

I think that in your case it was VDB - Voluntary Denied Boarding, aka volunteering for the bump. IDB is when you don't volunteer and they still say "Sorry, you're staying".

 

Exactly. Since with IDB the airlines are supposed to pay you in hard cold cash (or a check), not vouchers. However I have seen airlines offer $X in a check and $X + more in vouchers for IDB.

[celle]

Exactly. Since with IDB the airlines are supposed to pay you in hard cold cash (or a check), not vouchers. However I have seen airlines offer $X in a check and $X + more in vouchers for IDB.

 

I was offered a night in a flash hotel and a seat in Business Class (upgrade from Economy) the following day. I took that!:)

[Bowie MeMe]

Would the extra seat be more likely to be denied boarding than a seat with a body for the seat? Seems it would take down the argument of buying it for comfort and ease of mind? Would they deny boarding for all 3 tickets -- since I plan to link the 3 seats for the two passengers. I am a fluffy woman -- could they deny me a 2nd seat to accomodate my personal comfort (meaning I still fit in one seat belt and have never been asked to buy 2 seats because of my size)

Would buying a 2nd seat be recorded someplace and then be used to "make" me buy 2 seats for size? (Can see I don't want to set a precedent but for 14 hours I know I would be uncomfortable with 3 across).

[ducklite]

Would the extra seat be more likely to be denied boarding than a seat with a body for the seat? Seems it would take down the argument of buying it for comfort and ease of mind? Would they deny boarding for all 3 tickets -- since I plan to link the 3 seats for the two passengers. I am a fluffy woman -- could they deny me a 2nd seat to accomodate my personal comfort (meaning I still fit in one seat belt and have never been asked to buy 2 seats because of my size)

Would buying a 2nd seat be recorded someplace and then be used to "make" me buy 2 seats for size? (Can see I don't want to set a precedent but for 14 hours I know I would be uncomfortable with 3 across).

 

No. You own both seats, they aren't going to take one away. They will IDB based on their policies which vary by carrier but generally are solo travelers with the lowest fare bucket and no frequent flyer status. They will not IDB unescorted minors, people with certain medical conditions, military on orders, part of a party on the same record locator, people who paid full price for tickets, and elite frequent flyers. They will always ask for volunteers first.

[FlyerTalker]

One other thing you should also remember....an airline will only IDB if they cannot get enough people to volunteer for a voluntary bump. They would much rather have the volunteers than bumping someone who doesn't want to stay behind. So, you would have to have both an oversold situation, more checked in than there are seats AND not enough volunteers. It is rarer than you might think.

[ducklite]

One other thing you should also remember....an airline will only IDB if they cannot get enough people to volunteer for a voluntary bump. They would much rather have the volunteers than bumping someone who doesn't want to stay behind. So, you would have to have both an oversold situation, more checked in than there are seats AND not enough volunteers. It is rarer than you might think.

 

I see it most often on major holiday weekends where flights are overbooked and everyone wants to get where they are going. Oh, and flights into and out of DCA for some reason, I've seen two IDB's since the beginning of the year there. Maybe because so many of the flights I'm on to and from there are regionals? Or because it's a well known "business" hub where people are less likely to VDB?

Edited April 13, 2012 by ducklite

[Bowie MeMe]

DCA serves an area of VIP in fact and in reflection of who they work for and IN THEIR OWN EYES. It is great because the actual VIP's are needing flights to every state and place so therefore more flights that maybe the airport would have otherwise. I only travel for pleasure now but still all in the same I spend lots of time making my plans and usually don't want to change them for the price of a partial ticket and a hotel which I could get on points. Pickier now that I have snow on top.

[Geldhart]

Another way of getting 3 seats for 2 for free, but NOT guaranteed is this simple trick.

 

Only buy 2 tickets, but when choosing your seat online, pick the window and the aisle. That will eliminate all but single travelers, and they will likely choose the middle seat LAST.

 

If someone does claim the middle seat, the person on the aisle can just slide over. Didn't gain anything, but you don't lose anything either. If no one takes the middle seat, you win. I find the middle seat only sucks when you are solo, when you are with a companion, there's nothing wrong with it.

[FlyerTalker]

Another way of getting 3 seats for 2 for free, but NOT guaranteed is this simple trick.

 

Only buy 2 tickets, but when choosing your seat online, pick the window and the aisle. That will eliminate all but single travelers, and they will likely choose the middle seat LAST.

With USA airlines running at load factors of higher than 85%, that's far more likely to fail than succeed. And that's system-wide....popular runs are at almost full capacity for all flights.

 

One more thing....if an airline is filling middle seats, they will do it first in the areas not prioritized for elite status flyers. Thus, non-status folks will have their aisles fill up first. My own guesstimate is that a non-status couple that tries this will have a middle seat open less than one time in a dozen. And even less on "cruise day" flies in/out of a port city.

[DanJ]

Another way of getting 3 seats for 2 for free, but NOT guaranteed is this simple trick.

 

Only buy 2 tickets, but when choosing your seat online, pick the window and the aisle. That will eliminate all but single travelers, and they will likely choose the middle seat LAST.

 

If someone does claim the middle seat, the person on the aisle can just slide over. Didn't gain anything, but you don't lose anything either. If no one takes the middle seat, you win. I find the middle seat only sucks when you are solo, when you are with a companion, there's nothing wrong with it.

 

Slightly better odds, which also are affected by what Flyertalker said above, is to just go to the gate agent and ask if there are any empty rows that you can move to and keep the middle open. We've done that, and have been offered the last row if we didn't mind the no recline. 4 of us in 6 seats beat out not being able to recline.

 

My wife took our kids on a trip in February, and I wasn't able to select the seats for her when I did their online check-in, as no seats were showing. I told her to get to the airport early and talk to the gate agent to see about getting them together. He said "No problem, we always set aside a row for situations like this". Take that statement for what it's worth, but asking the gate agent is probably the best option, short of actually buying the extra seat.

[ClaireP]

Thinking BA from UK to US?

[grandma*knows*best]

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/gsanswer/public/en_us?faqid=3804&gsLink=keyMatch

[pris993]

I really like premium economy in the A380. I can actually sleep. Just as well as we are off to London in July. We flew on the A380 that blew its engine just a few days prior.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

We flew a 380 on Air France... in coach, would definitely book premium coach next trip... the 380 coach is worse than a greyhound bus... actually the old greyhound buses were more comfortable.

 

Just booked PE on an Air France flight on a 340, those 11 hours flights are killers today in coach.

 

Have found fellow passengers pay a lot of attention, we were on a flight with a friend who is a flight attendant -- she brought us some wine from first class, we were surprised to learn later another passenger complained. I could understand if we were bothering someone but we were quietly enjoying the wine. Can you imagine. Flying today on crowded aircrafts is a rough experience compared to years ago.

[FlyerTalker]

Have found fellow passengers pay a lot of attention, we were on a flight with a friend who is a flight attendant -- she brought us some wine from first class, we were surprised to learn later another passenger complained. I could understand if we were bothering someone but we were quietly enjoying the wine. Can you imagine. Flying today on crowded aircrafts is a rough experience compared to years ago.

Yes, I can imagine.

 

Unequal treatment of passengers like that is simply wrong. You received, due to your friendship, services that were not provided to others who also purchased your class of ticket. They didn't get to "quietly enjoy that wine" as you did.

 

Had I been in their position, I would have asked the FA for their name, then asked to speak with the purser, and then written a letter to the base supervisor. Actually, I was in that position a few years back. An FA decided that a pass-riding friend who was a former FA deserved to get business class catering in her coach seat. And drinks. And amenity kit. She was in the row ahead of me. Plus the working FA just parked at her friend and gabbed away for time on end. Her section got little attention.

 

Later, I ambled back to the galley and asked for her name. After talking with the purser, the FA came to me and begged for me not to write to the company. My response - "You should have thought of that before you did what you did. How long have you been working here?" "Twenty-two years". "Then for sure you should know better."

 

Mean? Not really when you think about it. As Brando said..."it's nothing personal...it's just business."

[sverigecruiser]

Yes, I can imagine.

 

Unequal treatment of passengers like that is simply wrong. You received, due to your friendship, services that were not provided to others who also purchased your class of ticket. They didn't get to "quietly enjoy that wine" as you did.

 

Had I been in their position, I would have asked the FA for their name, then asked to speak with the purser, and then written a letter to the base supervisor. Actually, I was in that position a few years back. An FA decided that a pass-riding friend who was a former FA deserved to get business class catering in her coach seat. And drinks. And amenity kit. She was in the row ahead of me. Plus the working FA just parked at her friend and gabbed away for time on end. Her section got little attention.

 

Later, I ambled back to the galley and asked for her name. After talking with the purser, the FA came to me and begged for me not to write to the company. My response - "You should have thought of that before you did what you did. How long have you been working here?" "Twenty-two years". "Then for sure you should know better."

 

Mean? Not really when you think about it. As Brando said..."it's nothing personal...it's just business."

 

:):):)

[Algebralovr]

We flew a 380 on Air France... in coach, would definitely book premium coach next trip... the 380 coach is worse than a greyhound bus... actually the old greyhound buses were more comfortable.

 

Just booked PE on an Air France flight on a 340, those 11 hours flights are killers today in coach.

 

Have found fellow passengers pay a lot of attention, we were on a flight with a friend who is a flight attendant -- she brought us some wine from first class, we were surprised to learn later another passenger complained. I could understand if we were bothering someone but we were quietly enjoying the wine. Can you imagine. Flying today on crowded aircrafts is a rough experience compared to years ago.

 

I've already decided the the next time we fly overseas (or on any flight longer than about 4 hours) I'm probably going to upgrade to something that will let me sleep and out up my feet. Any longer any my feet and ankles swell.

 

As for the quietly enjoying wine, I've seen that happen, where the person who got bumped into coach got F meals and beverages.

[FlyerTalker]

As for the quietly enjoying wine, I've seen that happen, where the person who got bumped into coach got F meals and beverages.

I would bet that most always an onboard downgrade to coach is someone flying NRSA. Unless there was an equipment change that would result in fewer premium seats, cabin bumps almost always are the other way around.

[skf]

cabin bumps almost always are the other way around. ___

Not relevant to the current issue, but a gent I used to work with was in the US Marines during Vietnam. Flying on military standby he got placed in First Class. His seat-neighbor was none too pleased that he had to pay a huge price & Jeff rode First Class free.

[grandma*knows*best]

Yes, I can imagine.

 

Unequal treatment of passengers like that is simply wrong. You received, due to your friendship, services that were not provided to others who also purchased your class of ticket. They didn't get to "quietly enjoy that wine" as you did.

 

Had I been in their position, I would have asked the FA for their name, then asked to speak with the purser, and then written a letter to the base supervisor. .....

 

Usually I agree with you, but in this case, you are totally off base. There is nothing wrong with the FA giving her friends in coach a glass of wine from first class. My husband and I are are both United 1Ks (he's also a million miler) and many times when we have been in economy, he has asked for wine from first and gotten it (for free too). I have personally seen FAs give better service to high level frequent flyers in coach, which usually involves wine from first class.

 

Once, on a flight CDG-IAD, they gave us a whole bottle of wine from first because the passenger sitting in front of me was an incredible lunatic (not going into details here). Taking care of your best customers is good business. I cannot believe another passenger complained; if he had been minding his own business, as he should have been, he wouldn't even have noticed.

[FlyerTalker]

Usually I agree with you, but in this case, you are totally off base. There is nothing wrong with the FA giving her friends in coach a glass of wine from first class.

Tell you what. Ask your FA friends if they would want a letter to go to their boss saying: "I'm writing to compliment the service that I received from one of your FAs. Jane Doe is a very good friend of ours and took excellent care of us. Even though we were flying in coach, she was kind enough to bring us both glasses of wine from the first class cabin. She did not even charge us for the drinks. This is the kind of service that makes us fly Acme Airlines, and she should be noted for her great attention to us."

 

If there is nothing wrong, then she should be happy to have her bosses know what she is doing. It is a letter complimenting her on-board service.

 

Oh...you mean it's OK if it gets done under the table without anyone knowing??

[SkystheLimit]

Tell you what. Ask your FA friends if they would want a letter to go to their boss saying: "I'm writing to compliment the service that I received from one of your FAs. Jane Doe is a very good friend of ours and took excellent care of us. Even though we were flying in coach, she was kind enough to bring us both glasses of wine from the first class cabin. She did not even charge us for the drinks. This is the kind of service that makes us fly Acme Airlines, and she should be noted for her great attention to us."

 

If there is nothing wrong, then she should be happy to have her bosses know what she is doing. It is a letter complimenting her on-board service.

 

Oh...you mean it's OK if it gets done under the table without anyone knowing??

 

Just guessing you have a little bit of a grudge with this subject and relish the power of writing a letter to a supervisor.

[FlyerTalker]

Just guessing you have a little bit of a grudge with this subject and relish the power of writing a letter to a supervisor.

Absolutely no "grudge" on the subject. However, I do have a long career in management, where I did NOT tolerate inappropriate behavior by an employee. Management needs to know when employees break the rules.

 

I would say that over my lifetime, I've probably written more positive letters than negative - spoken more often to supervisors to praise good employees than chide bad ones - and personally thanked many good employees as I encounter them in all businesses I patronize. I'm have no need for a "power trip", nor do I consider it as such. Management can take or leave my comments - with no skin off my nose either way.

 

Service industries need to know what kind of treatment their employees are giving. Managers in those industries crave to know the good and bad. Why do you think so many restaurants, hotels and the like literally beat you over the head to fill out a comment card??

[sverigecruiser]

Usually I agree with you, but in this case, you are totally off base. There is nothing wrong with the FA giving her friends in coach a glass of wine from first class. My husband and I are are both United 1Ks (he's also a million miler) and many times when we have been in economy, he has asked for wine from first and gotten it (for free too). I have personally seen FAs give better service to high level frequent flyers in coach, which usually involves wine from first class.

 

 

Giving a FRIEND a glass of wine from first class is not okay!!!

 

Giving better service to high level frequent flyers is something different and just a way to give good service to important customers. That's good for business!!!

[waterbug123]

Usually I agree with you, but in this case, you are totally off base. There is nothing wrong with the FA giving her friends in coach a glass of wine from first class.

 

I think you are the one who is off base. There absolutely IS something wrong with an FA showing preferential treatment to people who happen to be his/her friends. You pay for coach, you get coach service. If you want first class service/amenities, then you pay for first class. It's one thing if an FA comps a drink to someone who has been inconvenienced in some way (individual entertainment screen doesn't work, for example) But to just give things to friends because they are friends? Nope, not ok.

 

Would it be ok for a salesclerk in a store to give something away for free simply because the customer is a friend? Didn't think so. Giving away first class amenities to friends is really no different.