Some other important points:

Any compensation is for EACH ticket holder. If you are a family or group, each person is entitled to receive compensation. If overnight accomodations are required, they have to give each person a hotel room and meal voucher.

For example:

Our family of four volunteered and got bumped on an international flight. We EACH received $700 flight vouchers and we got TWO hotel rooms, one for the adults and one for the children. Technically, we could have asked for four rooms but that would have been a little ridiculous.

Make sure you request a meal voucher for EACH and EVERY meal period you are delayed. They may not offer (or think) about the fact that you are missing more than one meal.

For example:
On the same trip mentioned previously, we got stuck in an intermediate destination because of the airline's delays. They offered us hotel and two meal vouchers (dinner and breakfast). We pointed out to them that we were also missing lunch so they gave us one for that, too.

Always get all the meal vouchers you are entitled to because they can be pooled at the hotel for whatever food & beverages available...room service, bar tab, restaurant, etc.

One last tip:

If you do get moved to a higher class as part of your compensation, you are entitled to all privileges associated with that class of service. We got moved to Continental BusinessFirst. We made sure we asked for President's club passes for that day. They did not volunteer the passes so make sure you ask. The Continential purser took care of making sure we got the FF miles for biz class so that wasn't an issue. But make sure you get everything you deserve!

P.S. If you are delayed involuntarily and it affects your trip by causing loss of a vacation day at your destination, ask them to rebook you on a later flight with no penalties. This shouldn't apply to voluntary situations, unless you feel like testing your relationship with the gate agent.

For example:
We got stuck involuntarily in an intermediate destination which required an overnight stay. We got the airline to rebook us on a later return flight one day later since they had eaten up one of our travel days with their delays.

I also second the baggage recommendation mentioned by a previous poster. Pack a carry-on with a change of clothes, toiletries and any valuables. Only put the rest of your clothing and non-essentials in checked bags. That way you can let the airline send your checked stuff ahead and not have to worry about it. Matter of fact, that's always a good policy since it helps protect you should they lose your luggage.

[This message has been edited by GeorgeBurdell (edited 10-22-2003).]