Originally Posted by J-M
Before everyone goes too far off the deep end on the "theft by deception" legal issues, let's remember that we're basing the entire thing of the word of some professor. They are not necessarily the most reliable sources and sometimes just enjoy seeing their names in print.
But on this occasion, the issue he raises is definitely worth considering.
If you buy a ticket and you get bumped (vol or invol) and compensated because of the disruption to your travel plans, that's fine. But if you buy a ticket for the sole purpose of collecting bump compensation, when you actually had no intention ever to fly to begin with, you're definitely on dodgy ground.
Whether "dodgy ground" translates into criminality, and whether anyone could ever prove (let alone prove to the criminal standard) that you had transgressed the criminal law, are two entirely separate issues. They might mean that you would get away with it. But it seems to me that the issue raised by the professor, on its own, is something which should be considered - he shouldn't pooh-poohed quite so fast.