I’ve heard about this happening in the past on Mesaba/NW Airlink at one of the local airports. If you are a “regular” passenger and take bumps now and then, you might get a call before the flight and be offered a bump.

If you take the bump over the phone, you get whatever they offer during the call. Of course, you can decline and take your chances at the airport –- you might get more money or other people might volunteer ahead of you and then you get nothing! If you take the bump over the phone and they offer more compensation to the volunteers at the airport, you don't get any more than you were offered over the phone.

This seems like a good strategy on Mesaba’s part -- if they are absolutely certain that they will need volunteers. By offering the bump the night before, they will probably pay less compensation to the passenger and reduce the lines at the airport. It is also a nice way to reward a frequent traveler.

I don’t know if they still do this –- a co-worker got called a few years ago, but I haven’t heard of anybody getting called recently.