Originally Posted by ctuttle

Thanks to all for the information.

I have faxed a letter to American Airlines Customer Service but have heard nothing from them. I did speak to one person on the phone and was told that my passener record showed that I had "volunteered" to go on a later flight so they considered the matter closed.

That is when I decided I need to do everything in writing as it sounds like this is going to be difficult to get this resolved. If I don't hear from them in a few days I will make a complaint to the Department of Transportation. I am going to make sure that I was properly reported as an Involuntary Denied Boarding to the DOT. I would hope that this is an isolated case where an agent played a little fast with the rules, but I have a feeling that this happens frequently and most people don't know their rights.

If the majority of the flying public understood there is cash compensation when you are removed from a flight I have a feeling the value of the vouchers for the true volunteers would go up dramatically, and the airlines would be a little more careful about overbooking. Both of these things would benefit the public.