None of us want to be bumped from a flight. We have plans; a meeting, a reunion, a funeral, a VACATION!  But it still happens and this information is great to take notes about  who gets bumped, how not to get bumped, and what you're owed.

This immediately brings travel insurance to mind.  Yes, I'm a Travel Guard agent, but I always have travel insurance on a trip. It has paid for itself many times over and has lessened the blow when things go awry.  From my personal experience travel insurance has covered: clothing when luggage goes missing, hotels and meals, reimbursed for missed time on vacations, paid for alternative transportation, provided medical assistance, reimbursed missed flights, and rescheduled everything for me to boot.  So while I will keep all of the tips in this article in my pocket, I will also have my travel insurance to cover the trickle-down effect of a step missed in the itinerary. 

I know this article will be valuable to you - it sheds light on the whole "airline bumping" process.  http://bit.ly/rW03cV.