My best bump comp. was in 1998 -- LGW-EWR in BF (award seats). Arrived to checkin and was handed a letter informing pax on flt that due to mechanical problems the flight was "delayed". It was the first day of the World Cup, so we went through security to the lounge (Y pax weren't allowed to clear security!) to watch Scotland v Brazil. They set up a buffet, kept the bar going, and gave food vouchers for airport shoppes.

1 hour before scheduled departure they began to reaccommodate full-fare pax. Then, others who wanted to switch. Finally, 2 hours after scheduled departure, we were down to about 6 BF pax in the lounge when they announced that they were going to have to replace an engine, so the flight was ppd until the in-bound DC10 arrived from EWR at 9:45 that evening and was turned around for us.

All along they refused to discuss comp. Finally, we boarded. The concierge came around, addressed us by name, and apologized for the delay one more tiime. We were offered a choice: $800 voucher each, or 25,000 miles. We took vouchers - handed him business cards, and were told 3-4 weeks.

4 weeks later, no voucher. Called CS, told to allow extra 2 weeks for vouchers in mail from UK. 2 weeks later, called CS -- was told that "there's no record that flight XX was delayed on that day". Got run around for 2 more weeks. Then, at about 1am one morning, I got a call at home from a client in Calif. who wanted me in SF at noon that day. I called Res to book a flight, and while I was paying $2200 for a r/t ticket, asked if they could figure out what went wrong here. The Res agent paused for a second and said "Sir, I really couldn't say...but did you know that when you travel on an award ticket, you're not entitled to compensation for being bumped?" I said "are you telling me that my file reflects that I'm not getting the vouchers we were promised b/c I was on an award?" Her response was "Sir, I'm just telling you the rules. But some of us do appreciate your business."

When I got back from SF, I wrote a nasty letter to CO, telling them that the 4 reservations in the system were the last 4 CO flights I would ever take if the vouchers didn't show up fast.

3 days later I got an overnight package with a letter apologising for the delay in processing the vouchers -- and telling me that they were sending us an extra $150 per person on top of the $800 to make up for the delay. $1,900 for the 8 hours we were delayed was almost worth it...