This is a long story so I'll keep it short.

I was on EK229 from DXB-SEA on July 30 traveling Y and the flight departed late which caused me to miss my onward connection to YEG. Emirates without telling me rebooked me along with nine other passengers who were in the same boat to the same flight departing the following day - which was a full 24h later.

There was no Emirates agent to speak to at the airport and multiple calls to the call center were useless, I was directed to simply talk to an emirates agent at the airport and when I told them there was no agent they told me to send an email in.

So I ended up having to book a hotel and buy meals for myself which wasn't cheap at all.

I sent an email in to emirates customer affairs department complaining and asking for compensation and got a response saying too bad so sad we aren't giving you anything, and they are refusing to even to cover the cost of the hotel and food which I had to pay out of pocket.

Would the fact Emirates moved my flight to the next day (as they clearly knew the connection would be missed) be considered involuntary bumping so I could claim compensation under the US rules?

Any other suggestions to get my costs out of Emirates?