flyrights:

From reading this thread, I don't think it matters whether they choose it by status, or by who checks in first, or by drawing names out of a hat. You wouldn't be complaining if you had gone out on the next flight.

Suppose your complaints, though, get heard. Let's say that they decide to do it in order of who checks in first for a flight, let's say, JFK-SFO. Of course, if you're flying that route and it gets cancelled, you may well have showed up two hours early and checked in first, but - guess what - the 12 people who are flying in from LHR (and checked in there) will get priority over you.
Somehow, I think people will complain because it's not fair that other people got a four or five hour time zone advantage that they didn't get.

The reality of the situation - not everything works out the way we want it to in life. Some people take what they get and go on. Other people will jump and scream until they get their way, no matter how unreasonable.

I think we know where the cards fall on this one.

Mike