Friday I flew from LGA to ORD to LHR with my wife to celebrate our anniversary in London. Our flight from LGA was delayed due to winds in Chicago. We were intially told that we'd sit in the bullpen for 3 1/2 hours before departure. As we were only going for one night I called the EXP desk to make sure that if we missed our first flight we could still get on the next (and last) flight out. I was told no problem, we'd have confirmed business class seats on our scheduled flight and they'd block 2 seats for us on the later flight just in case.

After two hours in the bullpen, we got an earlier slot and took off. We arrived in Chicago in time for our regularly scheduled flight and made it to the gate before they began boarding. When business class was called, we tried to board. The scaning machine flashed "duplicate" and we were sent back to the counter. Obviously they had given away our seats.

We finally got to speak to someone at the counter. I was told we had voluntarily given up our seats on BOTH flights that night and since both were oversold we have no chance of getting on a plane. I asked to speak to a supervisor and she replied that she was one. I asked to speak to her boss and was told "you're preventing me from doing my job, leave now or I'll call security!" At no point did I raise my voice, threaten or even become angry with the GA yet this is how she chose to respond to me. She and the other GA did the same thing to 5 or 6 other people waiting in line.

Eventually I got her boss but it was obviously too late. The plane had already shut it's door. Finally she put us on the next plane (and bumped 2 others). In my opinion, we were involuntarily denied boarding and then treated horribly.

This morning I spoke to customer service who first claimed I asked to switch flights and then said I wasn't at the gate in time for departure. Eventually she hung up on me.

Other than sending a letter to the DOT along with my original boarding passes and disputing the charges on my CC, what are my options?