I’m on UA 310 from ORD-LAX, about to take off. After everyone was boarded, they announced they needed 1 volunteer to take a flight tomorrow, and they were offering $5000 + hotel. After that got no takers, they upped it to $7000. At that point one of other passengers in first class took it, leaving his wife and their lap child on the plane. As the wife said after he left, they can stand to be apart for a night in order to get their Christmas vacation paid for!

But seriously - has anyone ever heard of such a generous offer in an oversold situation? And what would motivate United to offer that?!?