Late last year was in danger of losing Gold on CO. Needed 3 segments to hit the 40 segment level (CO has since changed Gold to 60 segments). Purchased same day roundtrip on-line (DCA-EWR-Providence) for day after Christmas for $160. Get call from CO at home at 6:45 AM on day of departure - flight to EWR cancelled. They rebook me on AA flight thru JFK to Providence. Walk over to CO counter to get on standby list for earlier flight back to EWR. Bump other standbys (guess they weren't Gold) and make flight. Gate agent also confirms EWR-DCA earlier flight and upgrades me to first.
Received the following miles (in addition to Gold status):
1000 CO miles for on-line booking
320 AMEX MR points($160x2 Rewards+Gold card)
2936 CO miles + Gold bonuses for the segments (includes miles for the cancelled flights)
7500 CO bonus miles (40 segment threshold)
1000 AA miles for the 2 segments
Not a bad day (12,756 miles) for $160!