[QUOTE=exerda;8481914]True, although that is when it pays to have a seat assignment (although in approaching oversell situations, I believe .bomb doesn't allow GMs / non-MP members to even choose seats, claiming they must be assigned at the airport). Pax with a seat assignment are in much better shape than those without![/exerda]IME, being without a seat assignment only really matters for non-elites (in terms of making it on the flight). If they can't get enough VDB's, the IDB pecking order virtually guarantees that any elites won't be the ones who get booted, except maybe on some of those Monday AM / Thursday PM flights where all but 2 pax board in group 1.
Very good point, although I believe if you miss the checkin cutoff, you're not considered "oversold"; you're actually off the flight. In that case, you're not eligible for any compensation is you're not able to board the flight. As exerda pointed out, at that point you have to beg for mercy from the airline gods and hope that you can get back on the flight as a standby.