United just isn't overselling anymore...

I actually got one bump this year, which is the first in 2 years.

I think you're right on the mark Lucky. Bumps on UAL mainline seem to be down. I too remember not long ago when they were begging all the time for volunteers. The only exception I have noted is United Express where I've seen multiple bumps on PSP-SFO, SFO-RDM and RDM-DEN so far this year. Too bad I've never been able to take advantage. Keep trying!

I dunno. I had a friend just get one last Friday. And I've had two domestic bumps this spring, albeit one of them processed me before they realized that they didn't actually need me. The other, however, was legit.

And then, of course, there was EZE at the beginning of the year! 🙂

But yea, I'd definitely agree that it's gone done. I attribute it to either a.) the new standby policy which ends up forcing more people to fly their scheduled itin, and b.) COntinentalization. In my experience, CO is the best (i.e. worst!) at managing inventory.

I'm sad to say that our days of getting UA to pay us to fly are VERY quickly coming to an end. Fares also seem high. That could make reaching top tier status MUCH harder for the 2012 status year.

Was booked on UX 7680 IND-ORD on Mon 5/31 (day after the Indy 500) on my way back to SFO (on a C-saver award). They were desperately looking for 2 volunteers. They were offering $400 in vouchers, but they wanted to put me on DL to get back to SFO ... NOT!!!

Got to ORD on the flight, but due to weather, missed my connection to SFO.
Was rebooked in C on UA907 ORD-SFO (3-class 767) on Tue 6/1. The flight needed 20+ volunteers. I was one. Got 4 $100 travel vouchers plus an extra night's lodging near ORD (Crown Plaza).

At my request, was rebooked on UA973 (got upper deck on the 747) the next day. Don't know if it was in fact overbooked, but it had 50+ standbys. However, was not taken up on my offer to volunteer.

I don't buy it. I think it's the fare. There's just too darn expensive for the leisure traveler -- the bread and butter of their overbooking. When they were selling L fares like penny candy, there was plenty of overbooking to go around. Now that tcons are in the $300+ range on even simple routings, the leisure folks are going to other carriers.

@unavaca- You are right on the mark! I'm struggling to justify spending $100+ for a flight on UA metal when many other carriers are much lower. Heck, I just paid $205 for a flight from IAD-CLT on USAir where the same was $325 on UA. Doesn't make sense......

United is guilty as charged.

I was actually able to get a bump on a LAX-IAD flight in February, but then I have not experienced many offers in general for bumps in general on UA (but then thats partially because I've been working in Toronto a lot lately, where I will make the effort to get on an Air Canada flight because they have superior service, and decent legroom)

looks like its time to change your handle from "lucky coins" to "normal coins"

I still think the sample sizes mentioned are too small. Receiving x number of bumps out of every twenty flights one year versus another is just statistically insignificant in my book given the total number of flights per year.

This year I have had 5 booked segments on United, and I've gotten three bumps :).

[...] and two friends get a bump totaling $1,200 (only days after he bitches about United not overselling anymore), a flight attendant calls Lucky rude and disrespectful, and a friendly gate agent stalks Lucky [...]

http://airconsumer.dot.gov/reports/2010/May/2010MayATCR.pdf

Check out page 30, it seems like United is overselling this year significantly more than last year!