Originally Posted by PHLGovFlyer

I'll not take sides in all of this since I see points that sway for the OP, the SYD pax, and for UA's handling of this. Clearly, some oddball things happened...

I still can't fathom why a UA agent faced with one or two extra pax, one of them a 1K, all under irrops, and all with a dire need to fly didn't simply overbook the flight by one more and then get VDBs to clear space? That way everyone is happy: The SYD pax make it to their vacation, the OP gets to his meetings, and 2 volunteers that can spare the delay get VDB compensation.