Delta has upped their voluntary denied boarding compensation to nearly $10,000 By Giving Up Your Seat on Delta, after United Airlines Passenger Dragged Off Plane Due To Oversell. Delta solicits volunteers on their oversold flights at time of check-in on their website currently (mobile check-in does not support this at this time).

Checking in for my flight, I got the notification that my flight was oversold and I wanted to play around and see how much I could bid. However, after a few trials the maximum amount you’re allowed to bid online is $800. While they may be offering more at the gate, you won’t be able to score nearly $10,000 online.

Anything over the $800 amount results that your bid has failed and to see the gate agent at the airport to be added to the airport volunteer list.

When you do check-in online, if your flight is oversold, you’ll be prompted to select if your interested in volunteering to take a later flight or not. If not, simply choose No Thanks and move on with the check-in process.

If you are willing to take a later flight, you can then select a pre-set amount of either $200, $300, $400, or $500, and based on my trial you can enter up to $800 in the amount box to bid. However, note that you’re only bidding the compensation you’d be willing to take for taking a later flight, not the actual flight. If the flight is oversold and volunteers are needed, Delta will call these volunteers at the gate and go over the flight details for the later flight.

In addition, some hub cities including both New York (JFK) and (LGA), Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Boston offer gift cards to popular merchants including American Express gift cards in lieu of Delta vouchers. If selected, you’ll give the gate agent your email who will then email you the gift card link for you to select your voucher. See How I Scored a $800 Amex Gift Card for Oversold Delta Flight.

Remember, just because you’re on a nonstop flight, doesn’t mean that you might not get rebooked on a connecting flight if that will get you to your destination sooner than the next nonstop flight. If you aren’t content with any of the rebooking options, then you’re able to opt-out from volunteering at the gate, as just by bidding online doesn’t mean you’re committed to giving up your seat.

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Have you been on an oversold Delta flight recently? What’s the maximum compensation they were willing to offer? Feel free to share below!