About a year ago was traveling from TPA to YYZ. I preferred the AC nonstop, but it got in after 11 pm. My traveling partner who uses AA (a lot) promised me an upgrade if we took the AA connection through MIA (leaving 5 hours earlier, but only getting in 1 1/2 hours earlier). That's why he's a Platinum Exec. Anyway, the flight (as scheduled) was a fairly quick connection at MIA. Got to the airport, rushed to the ticket counter to buy the ticket (they wouldn't take the AC B-class ticket--grr.) to see an American Eagle plane taxiing in, so assume everything is all right. Get to gate to findout that is the flight 2 before the one we are scheduled on (this being 30 minutes before our scheduled flight time). They work that flight, then announce that they need a bump. I immediately take ($300), tell my fellow traveler "meet you in Toronto", and then tell AA "Please refund me the ticket you just sold me". I flew out later that evening--I got my Star Alliance miles and the ability to spend a few more minutes at work, and a $300 voucher!