Delta Airlines - Bidding For Bumps

[kapper]

Anyone taken the opportunity at a Delta check-in?

"If a flight is overbooked, travelers checking in at an airport kiosk or online see a screen asking them if they'd like to submit a bid for the value of a travel voucher they would take to be bumped. Customers enter a dollar amount. Delta makes clear that it accepts lower bids first."

kyshel might have some ideas on this one!

[kyshel]

we got the news a few wks ago--and I think it's brilliant!!

[kyshel]

I have to say bidding might have saved this young lady's wedding:
4 wks ago, JFK/FRA Friday--some weather issues in the US not the BIG ones--she was getting married on Sat in Germany...
NOT ONE person volunteered their seat in exchange for $800 voucher PLUS confirmed Business Class seat NEXT day PLUS hotel and meal vouchers for 24 hours.
The flight crew even asked ON BOARD--one more time, and still she was left at the gate desk in tears...

[shygirl724]

I probably would have given her my seat for just the plane change, hotel and meals. Guess its the romantic in me.


So Kyshel, any insider tips on bidding strategies? Is there a thumbnail percentage we could use as a guide?

Shy ~

[omegaet]

Anyone taken the opportunity at a Delta check-in?

"If a flight is overbooked, travelers checking in at an airport kiosk or online see a screen asking them if they'd like to submit a bid for the value of a travel voucher they would take to be bumped. Customers enter a dollar amount. Delta makes clear that it accepts lower bids first."

kyshel might have some ideas on this one!

This is an excellent innovation from Delta. I will certainly submit bids on some upcoming DL trips.

Hope other carriers start using the same approach. I hate those cattle calls at the departure gate for volunteers.

[jmbklj]

Northwest used to do this pre-merger. With this bidding system, a volunteer might expect to receive less, not more, compensation for agreeing to be bumped. It should save the airlines some money.

[kyshel]

Northwest used to do this pre-merger. With this bidding system, a volunteer might expect to receive less, not more, compensation for agreeing to be bumped. It should save the airlines some money.

I'm pretty sure DL has profitability in mind!! It also solves that cattle call, late departs, etc.
Yeah, I'm with you Shy: on the Bride of Frankfurt--somebody should have stepped up--upgrade/vouchers--those were some nice goodies!!
I think the whole point of bidding is there is only the low $ you're willing to settle for in this case...

[[email protected]]

I would have stepped up especially since they offerd the voucher and a guaranteed business class seat for the next day - it was a good deal offered and I am suprised no one took it.

Will have to see what happens with this in the future

[travel2fun]

Anyone taken the opportunity at a Delta check-in?

"If a flight is overbooked, travelers checking in at an airport kiosk or online see a screen asking them if they'd like to submit a bid for the value of a travel voucher they would take to be bumped. Customers enter a dollar amount. Delta makes clear that it accepts lower bids first."

kyshel might have some ideas on this one!

Bet no one was bidding for a bump on Delta's last flight out of Egypt.

[thepiranha]

I don't like this policy. I ask at the gate whether or not the flight is full and, if it is, ask the attendant to put me on the bump list. I've had good success with this strategy and have been generously rewarded.