We were traveling from TUS to Rome last year on Continental BizFirst reward tickets when when a change of aircraft resulted in 20 fewer F/C seats on the IAH-EWR segment.(Domestic DC-10 instead of International DC-10) At the gate we were offered $100 or a future upgrade since "We hadn't paid anything for our tickets" I declined the offer, and called customer service after we arrived at EWR and negotiated for 20,000 miles each to be deposited in my OnePass account.

As a member of the grumpy group of 20, we got little sympathy from the rest of the coach cabin. It was announced that earphones would for the movie were complementary, and drinks were served without charge,(this fact was not made public) depriving me the opportunity to refuse to pay! I was told that 15 of the 20 were CO Platinums.