Their policies on this stuff astound me.

Q) What sort of customer is most able to deal with a rebooking smoothly and without danger of the problem just getting worse?

A) The Very Frequent Flier.

Q) Are "free tickets" what VFFs want?

A) Heck no! They can't be upgraded and we've got plenty of miles to use for free trips already.

Q) So what would we want?

A1) Cash is good

A2) Vouchers would be ok if we could actually use them without pain and agony.

A3) CS0007s are good.

A4) So are the old systemwide upgrade certs.

Q) What are the advantages to US of vouchers instead of "free tickets"???

A) (In most cases) the passenger is going to be kicking cash into the transaction when the voucher is used. This is cash that the airline would not otherwise obtain. Bankrupt airlines usually like cash.

Q) Why isn't stand-by allowed at no charge for seats that would otherwise depart empty?

A) Nobody knows. It's one of lifes great mysteries. I asked the Pope but even he was baffled. He did have some interest in obtaining a CS0007 though...