Originally Posted by stevendorechester

I wonder if they were OP was offered space on a different flight. Options might have been quite limited at the last minute. I' ve found that AC agents will bend over backwards in situations like this.

Also, was the OP connecting on a separate ticket to Europe. The agent could have had more options with a flight to Europe from YYC.
Eurbrought that up as I had a very good experience once with an AE reward on UA in business class to LA, with a cheap ticket to Singapore the next day. In ORD due to a couple of aircraft swaps. Flights were massive overbooked and gate agents overwhelmed. I went up to a gate agent and told him that I was going to SIN the following day on a UA ticket and that he can take my seat. The agent had a huge smile on his face and asked me to have a seat and they would let me know. After the plane left for LA a manager came to see me, rebooked me the following day from ORD via on a direct routing to Asia in business class, paid for my hotel and gave me vouchers. Just saying it doesn't hurt to ask.