Delta's Generous $43K+ Compensation On Overbooked Flight

Why is this written from the perspective of Delta did something they shouldn't have?

I think it's great that they offered good compensation for this. Being bumped from a flight is an overall crappy experience, most people just want to get to their destination on time.

I'm not a Delta sycophant, but this is how they differentiate themselves in situations like this, while UA will always be known for the Dr. Dao situation.

They will also surpass that in positive publicity and morale, so it’s not a bad stance to be generous in such circumstances! Your coverage alone probably makes it worth it!

You best believe somebody at Delta had an email waiting in their inbox the next morning questioning the financials on this.

One has to agree with you yolo and Ben, apparently there is little to fault in the action taken by the Delta management in this scenario.

They got their money's worth in PR.

This is how DL operates. They have a very high rate of VDBs (amongst the highest in the country), but IDB only a handful (or two) people a year. I assume the aggregate numbers (oversells vs what they have to pay out in VDB comp) works out for them.

Compare this to AA, which IDBs thousands of passengers a year, and has the highest IDB rate in the country.

Presumably DL wants to have a zero, if not next to non, involuntary denied boarding number. Other airlines do not seem to be so obsessed with this metric.

As far as the PR aspect. Really, how many people actually pay attention to this kind of metric-or know it is even a "thing?"

I clicked thinking a single pax got $43k to be bumped, which would have made that passenger the GOAT air traveler. Curious what the highest single-passenger amount has been. I have heard tales in the $3k-$5k range for hub-to-hub seats on AA back in the day.

On a related note, I was reading about the late economist Julian Simon this weekend and was surprised to learn that he invented the volunteer/compensation model for overbooked flights in his spare time. Brilliant guy in many ways.

Unusually generous for a Skyteam carrier

I do wonder if airlines give out extra compensation as a publicity move.

Would be expensive, but companies dump a lot of money into marketing. Who knows.

That Gate Agent understood the assignment!

Womp womp, I had a ticket to this flight and changed it the night before to fly out Tuesday instead because as you noted, busy travel day Monday w/spring break/easter etc. Had the flexibility to fly out a day later, I would have taken this deal in a heartbeat at the gate had I been there.

Santos,

Agreed - the way I read the headline, as it was written, had me arriving at the same conclusion that one person received $43K. I don't think this was intended as flaming click-bait (as may be encountered elsewhere) as OMAAT has earned a good reputation with me among the other blogs I follow. Interesting story, and $3K compensation on a personal level is nice.

costs far less than one network tv commercial ... back in the day Herb gave each employee a couple Red Passes (NR-Seats Available) monthly to be given to travelers they saw helping others, cheery and smiling at the Gates, the kind of passengers SW was glad to have. "SW would like to thank you for flying with us." For the future, an empty seat, cost nothing, great PR. That was back in the day when no SW employee was named Mr or Ms. Quaint, huh?

Wait!

Isn't it DL policy to match every volunteer to the highest offer?

This should be Delta CHEATED $29k in compensation.

I recall from here an Atlanta-south bend passenger got 10k or 12k (?) the evening before the notre dame - Georgia game a few years ago.

*Slight* click-bait from Ben, but still pretty cool.

Honestly though they just wanted that plane out of there ASAP to avoid further network disruptions. Smart move.

Note though, that the compensation here is airline vouchers, not cash, so the true cost to Delta is of course much less.

Were those who took the compensation also rebooked at no charge? Or was this to cover a rebooking?

Normally they're rebooked on the next flight

Yup total clickbait headline

Well done, Ben. Title is so clickbaity...

At first blush, I thought you were going to state DL offered one person $43K not to take a flight and then I was expecting some sort of tale about mistake or amazing reason...

Not to mention, DL averted a potential riot at the gate by 22 pax !

I got $800.00 from Delta to arrive in Lansing, MI 3 hours later than usual. Well worth it.

Weird how Delta will gladly give out $43k to overbooked passengers, but Alaska won't even give 800 bucks for a "glitch" for checked luggage.

Incorrect. They're vouchers that can be redeemed at face value into (among other things) Amex or Visa gift cards. They're effectively same as cash.

Here's a guy saying he and 29 others received $4500 for being bumped. (Had to look up Delta's Choice Vouchers)
https://andystravelblog.com/2021/07/09/delta-choice-voucher-options/

Makes you wonder if someone read the post.

That has always been my belief and experience as well.

Note though,
Reading is fundamental.

This is clickbate. $43k was for the entire flight because of the number of people that got asked to deplane. It was not for one person. A couple of thousand dollars per person is kind of easy to get for international flights. As this is a short domestic flight it was unusual.