The .bomb itinerary did reflect the change to 7102 but also still listed the original flight. The gate agent, who handled boarding, simply refused to consider helping anyone who had a reservation on 7103, saying that flight was going to depart minutes later.

Several 7103 passengers who tried to engage the agent in discussion were simply ignored. When I asked that my record be checked to confirm my switch to 7102, the flight that was actually departing, the agent noted the original booking still in the record and repeated the "no plane hopping" mantra.

(Don't know if this is true, but one of the stranded 7103 passengers said he talked with a relative who is an United employee and that for a couple of hours, at least, operations believed all 7103 CAE passengers had been accommodated by "plane hopping" on to 7102!!)

Finally, I received word today about compensation -- a $200 e-certificate.