9/25 UA2014 DEN-SDF 1003-1433

Backstory: This was a ticket actually purchased in April/May 2022 for a trip in August 2022, but I had to cancel due to a family emergency. Before I had to cancel, and due to a schedule change which allowed for one free change, I was actually able to up-fare the whole ticket to F for a nominal amount (like $120). After a few rebookings, I was eventually able to re-book it for this week, and I was also able to up-fare it all the way up to a C fare without any additional OOP costs (besides that $120).

Massive, massive international convention going on in SDF this past week. I was simply trying to travel to HQ for some training. I get to the gate about an hour before departure and ask whether they are looking for volunteers. The GA's eyes lit up and exclaimed, "Yes!" He said $500, and I would be rebooked DEN-EWR-SDF, arriving about 5 hours later than planned. I didn't have to be at the office until Tuesday morning, so it was fine with me. He also said not to board until the end. I said I would think about it. A few minutes later, as I was looking at the United app's flight status page, it appears I was going to be protected on an DEN-IAH-SDF routing instead since that suddenly appeared. The GA came over and said if it was okay if I went through Houston instead (arriving 5 hours later). I said, I'd still think about it--and I also dropped the bombshell that I was traveling in F and whether they would provide downgrade compensation (all flights to IAH and ORD were already booked solid in F). He looked a bit dejected but gave a thumbs up. A more senior GA showed up, and the GA started talking to her, and gesturing in my direction.

When pre-boarding was announced, I went back up to the GA, and he said the downgrade compensation was the deal-breaker. Oh well.

It also turned out for the best. For some odd reason, I kept getting text messages as if I took the bump. As it turned out, the IAH-SDF flight kept getting more delayed and was eventually canceled due to maintenance. I also got a text message that I was rebooked for IAH-ORD-SDF, and I wouldn't have arrived in SDF until Tuesday evening.