Flew domestic out of LGA on 12/19 during the holiday madness. When I checked in, the app asked if I wanted to volunteer my seat for $300, $400, $500, or $600. I had a feeling the flight was heavily overbooked, but I ignored it and didn’t opt in.
At the gate about 45 minutes before departure, they announced they needed volunteers and immediately offered a $1,050 voucher. For that amount, I was more than happy to give up my 3pm flight and take the 8pm instead (which later slid to 10pm).
On the later flight, they again asked for volunteers and offered $1,050 to take a 10am flight the next morning. I agreed, but in the end they made me board anyway because the plane was downgraded to a smaller aircraft and some people in basic economy got bumped instead.
Still walked away with the $1,050 voucher. Moral of the story: don’t lowball yourself in the app. Sometimes waiting until the gate pays off.
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