[The_Judge]

I agree with the first part of your response, BCSH. There should be penalties to the airline for involuntary denied boardings. I.e., if a passenger books his flight, shows up on time and is bumped because no one else volunteered to stay behind on an overbooked flight.

But the comment...."A customer should have the right to demand CASH (check) compensation with getting an argument, or threats, from the airline rep. Fines should also be imposed when an airline offers only a free flight voucher with the comment "take it or leave it,"and refuses to pay cash.", are kinda the same. I think you are saying the passenger deserves cash compensation in lieu of free tickets or vouchers and the airline should be fined if not offering cash.

I disagree whole-heartedly with this. This is a volunteer program and what the airline offers is up to them. If they don't offer enough and somebody is denied to board against their wishes, then yes, fine the crap out of the airline, pay the customer cash compensation in addition to getting them to their final destination. But if an airline only offers vouchers, hotel, meals and/or more or less to get the volunteers they need, who cares?? If a passenger takes the offer, it is on them. It is totally voluntary. They don't have to take it. Why should an airline be fined for this?

As far as the arguments, threats and take it or leave it attitude, I can only speak for myself. At the end of my career, I had an admittedly bad attitude. But my attitude in these cases was completely indifferent. If I got the volunteers, great. If I didn't and I had to pay cash out or whatever was necessary, fine too cuz I just didn't care anymore. I was gonna go home at the end of my shift and see my kids. I know it's not right and that is one reason I left.