Originally Posted by
jsloan
Only in the airline industry do we have this odd fixation that when one company has an issue, they should pay another company to provide service to the customer.
If you want insurance that covers this case, buy it. And in the OP's case, note that he specifically stated that other, lower-status passengers were re-accommodated, whereas he demanded multiple supervisors and was denied. You get more flies with honey than vinegar...
You're right about the fixation with the airline industry but that is what the public wants. We do have rules that regulate oversales when other industries don't. In the end also it does not cost the airlines much if airlines rebook passengers on each others flights as it evens out in the long run. If it turns one airline is paying more because they have more cancelations that would be an incentive for them to get their act together.
Another reason we need is what the OP mentioned: that he was not re-accommodated while others were. Regulations making it clear that all passengers should be re-accommodated would make it a lot easier as there would be one rule that every employee would be required to follow with every passenger getting the same treatment.