Originally Posted by
g_leyser
They obviously ended up not needing his seat, since he was put back on the original flight. No VDB, therefore no VDB compensation.
If they didn't need the seat then they shouldn't have processed the VDB. @:-) That's why they ask for volunteers and process them later - they usually wait until boarding has started (or finished) to process.
My hunch is that they simply would not ask a well-dressed business man in his 50s to return the VDB. Just a hunch. And that's what the OP is asking about
: did his son get screwed because he is young, looks young, and so forth. None of us knows, obviously, but my guess is yes.
Edited to add: Being 1P makes the situation worse as well. UA should have said, "We goofed. Here is your original seat back. Enjoy the VDB."