Overbooked flight on United Airlines?

Question

I booked a flight through statravel.com to save a few bucks, since I'm a college student. I'm flying roundtrip, from Syracuse, NY to Dallas, TX and back. But I have a layover in Chicago both ways. I'm leaving on June 21, and I just now received my confirmation number.

When I logged into United Airline's website to reserve my seats, my first Return flight out of Texas says "Seats will be assigned at the airport."

Does this mean the flight is overbooked?

If so, I have a couple questions..

Should I call them now and ask about it? Will they be able to change my flight date with no penalty? I'd be willing to stay a few extra days in Dallas.

Or should I just show up at the airport early and hope to get in?

Should I volunteer to be bumped? If I am bumped, what will happen with my connecting flight?

And will they offer compensation or should I ask for it? What kind and how much?

Any information will help, thanks!

Answer 1

No, This isnt overbooked, It simply means that you will find out where you are seated on the aircraft when you get to the airport.

Answer 2

I believe it means they will assign you whatever seat's left when you get there- if you're travelling alone it's more common.

If they bump you though, they owe it to you to find you a new flight and new connecting flight.  Usually they do take care of this but these days you may have to be a little pushy and remind them to do this!

Answer 3

airlines hold back some seats that are NOT pre-assignable.  some near the front and back, some disabled seating...the exit rows....some bulkheads and the like.  your plane may be full when you get there, but this is NOT an indication of it being oversold.

an airline would almost never change your ticket some days earlier because they know that a certain percent will not show up to the flight anyway.  

many airlines are now $$charging$$ you to get a seat number unless you go on line....even then, there will be some blocked seats.

if you ask for a change becaue you do not have a specific seat location, and you are most likely paying for it.  i have made exceptions when i worked for the airlines, but don't count on it.

go on line the night before and more seats will likely be available from the airlines at that time.  if they are not, then just arrive 2.5 hours early.

in rare cases, you may get denied boarding, but just go with it.....you will likely get a free ticket to use later if you hear an agent ask for volunteers and you run up there to volunteer.

Answer 4

The flight may be overbooked, and it may not.  Seatmaps are not usually reliable indicators of whether a flight is overbooked or not, because they don't tell you whether seats that are blocked for elite members of the frequent flyer program or otherwise blocked for airport control (such as bulkhead and exit row seats).  

Your best bet is to keep checking to see whether you can get a seat assigned before your flight.  If passengers have requested upgrades into the first class cabin, those will free up coach seats.  Cancellations or changes on the part of other passengers may play a role.  And United is highly unlikely to allow a fee-free change to another date simply because there are no seats available on the seat map.

If you can't get a seat beforehand, your best bet is to then check in as early as you can before your flight to get the best seat still available.  You certainly can volunteer to take a later flight if they are, indeed, oversold -- they'll often ask for volunteers shortly before takeoff for people to leave later, in exchange for compensation that is usually in the form of a free ticket or a dollar-off voucher on a future flight.  It's too soon to tell, though, whether that will even be an issue on your flight.

Answer 5

Receive Jesus into your heart today! Pray:

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die for me on the cross. I want to receive Jesus as my Personal Savior. I receive His gift of salvation. I confess that I did many bad things. Please forgive me. Keep me away from evil. Help me in times of trouble. And let me grow in Your grace and knowledge. Amen. "