Chances of getting bumped

HI

Am flying from Gatwick to Barbados tomorrow and I've heard that economy is over booked by 14 seats, and there are only 7 seats left in PE (parents flew out 3 days ago and asked the lady at check in to check the load for our flight)

How often do people get asked to stand down? From what i've heard, the compensation is rather generous (hefty refund on original ticket plus free return flight to any destination). Given that im going on a 2 wk holiday, i would happily sacrifice a day if i were to receive this package! Tempted to offer to stand down at check in

Im a gold flyer so hopefully i would be near the top of the STU list but think i would rather go on the Saturday flight and get the compensation if i got the chance!

VS (**) 29
0
LGW
28/10/16 11:05 AM
BGI
28/10/16 3:05 PM
333
Daily
84% / 32m
J0 C0 D0 I0 Z0 W9 S8 H7 K0 Y1 B0 R0 L0 U0 M0 E0 Q0 X0 V0 N0 O0

VS still willing to sell 1 seat in Economy (Y1) and at least 9 seats in Premium - probably opt-ups will take place.

David

Thanks for this, really useful information. Is this publicly accessible?? I assume cabin upgrades will be offered at a fee first to everyone and then its luck of the draw if they still needed to move people for free?

Yeah, probably some Op-Ups coming. The gold card will certainly help.

My usual tactic is to show up just before check in closes. I don't know if Virgin's IT is good enough to prioritise and decide on these things pre-check in like BA's system does. I doubt it, and I use this tactic anyway for a number of reasons.

You can always ask to switch to BA 2155 leaves at 11.20

Thanks for this, really useful information. Is this publicly accessible?? I assume cabin upgrades will be offered at a fee first to everyone and then its luck of the draw if they still needed to move people for free?

The load info is off expertflyer, so yes accessible albeit with a subscription.

How the upgrades work is a bit of a dark art.

Keep your fingers crossed

David

I am surprised that VS has overbooked a LGW flight to BGI, that's not normal if it is actually the case because it's rare that people fail to turn up or change at the last minute as is more common on more business orientated flights. Please do update us?

I repeat the above comment - very odd for VS to overbook what is more then likely a 100% leisure route flight - so everyone booked in is likely to turn up.

I could understand slight overbookings, on say, the MCO routes as this is also a big convention venue, so business passengers plans could change at the last minute.

I'm surprised the agent gave such a specific figure as loads are normally 'commercial in confidence'

When I've asked in the past at check-in 'how busy is the flight?' all I get are vague answers like 'light', 'about 1/2 full' and 'busy' and the occasional. 'full in economy but plenty of room in your cabin'. On a BA CWLCY once on asking 'is the seat next to me empty' the response was 'everyone has an empty seat next to them today'

On a BA CWLCY once on asking 'is the seat next to me empty' the response was 'everyone has an empty seat next to them today'

Fairly commonplace I suspect. Hence why they've taken it down from two to one a day.

I repeat the above comment - very odd for VS to overbook what is more then likely a 100% leisure route flight - so everyone booked in is likely to turn up.

I could understand slight overbookings, on say, the MCO routes as this is also a big convention venue, so business passengers plans could change at the last minute.

could be Delta booking system rather than Virgin?
Maybe there is a change of planes in mind?